this is how Inter wins, the breadth of Dumfries and Di Marco, the combinations of the forwards – Corriere.it

Inter and Milan have very different formations, this involves a series of tactical adaptations in the non-possession phase from which the destinies of the semifinal will pass.

Let’s start from the bottom: the construction of Inter, one of the best in Italy, it doesn’t encourage Milan to apply very high pressure, also because the players (Giroud and Leao) don’t have the characteristics. Inter have two main outings: Bastoni who pushes the ball and the participation of a double playmaker, or rather an alternation between the lower top (Brozovic or Calha) and the left midfielder (the Turk or Mkhitaryan). Barella, the box-to-box midfielder, has the task of attacking the area as a third man who joins the two strikers.

With the Third Part Entries, i.e. the attack through insertions in the last 20 metres, Inter can put Milan in difficulty in two ways. The first is the width of the laterals on the quick overthrow to the side, where above all Diaz will be forced to do extra work to support the midfielder, which is why Dumfries and Dimarco, as they have often shown in the Champions League against teams that play with four, can be very dangerous. The second – and main – focuses on the combinations and the extraordinary finishing skills of the two attackers, Lautaro plus one between Dzeko and Lukaku, with the former being a slight favorite in my opinion: if they were to be able to play in numerical parity isolating the two central defenders, they would become very dangerous.

In the non-possession phase, Inter will have to organize themselves to stem Milan’s two great strengths, starting from the left wing with the Hernandez–Leao speed camera-proof axis (provided he recovers): I am convinced that in that area he will try to come out under pressure with the midfielder on Theo, leaving the low top on Bennacer and having with Dumfries and Darmian a doubling in the Portuguese area. The problem is Leao’s position and the 1 against 1 that is created when the fifth is up or out of position, a very common situation on the lost and decisive ball against Napoli.

If Inzaghi confirms Darmian, Inter would gain in speed in the duel and would lose in physicality: an interesting tactical theme. The second point Giroudwith his ability to create situations in which the central defender is isolated to have a 1 against 1 in the penalty area: he has already been decisive in other derbies.