· 2 min readIn this Venezia vs Inter match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
Inter came into matchday nine of Serie A with a clear objective: win and draw level with Lazio at the top of the table. Their opponents were bottom of the league, Venezia, with just three points from eight games. The change of manager had already brought some positive signs, with Davide Nicola beating Napoli in his first game in charge, but the Italian champions had enough quality to get the job done without too much drama. Especially after conceding ten goals in their first eight matches, they needed to start managing games better.
Venezia, however, had no intention of making things easy. In the seventh minute, Akor Adams got into the box to head a cross from the right, with the ball going narrowly wide of the post. Inter responded with a shot from Dimarco but struggled to find space against their opponents’ defensive block. They had more possession and reached the final third, but lacked the creativity to turn their dominance into clear-cut chances.
In the 26th minute, Akor threatened again on the counter-attack and forced a good save from Provedel. Three minutes later, Venezia actually found the net. From a free-kick, Provedel saved the initial shot, but Lauberbach was there to score the rebound. The goal was ruled out for a marginal offside, a decision that saved Inter.
And things were about to get even worse for them. In the 36th minute, Lauberbach shot from inside the box, Provedel produced an extraordinary save and the ball then struck the crossbar. Venezia were exploiting transitions very well, while Inter continued to struggle for convincing answers.
At half-time, Inter had 65% possession, but Venezia had managed more shots on target. Chivu’s side needed to offer much more. The triple substitution, bringing on Barella, Çalhanoğlu and Akanji, showed that the manager wasn’t satisfied either.
The second half, however, brought more of the same. Inter continued to move the ball around without finding a way through the bottom side’s defence. Bonny had a poor game and was eventually replaced by Pio Esposito, while Thuram wasted an excellent chance in the 73rd minute with a dreadful finish.
Shortly afterwards, he appeared in the box again to head the ball, but failed to hit the target. It was difficult to justify such a lack of clinical finishing against an opponent who had spent much of the game defending.
And when the goal finally arrived, Inter needed help from their opponents. In the 79th minute, Thuram drove down the left and sent a low cross into the six-yard box. Moreno tried to clear it but ended up putting the ball into his own net. Inter were ahead without having done enough to deserve the lead.
Two minutes later, another stroke of luck. From a corner, Carlos Augusto headed the ball, which took a deflection off Redouane Halhal before going in. Two own goals in two minutes settled a game that Inter had failed to win through their own efforts.
Post-match
The final score was 0-2, but the performance fell well short of expectations.
