Analysis: Nice, but imperfect Barça. Now Inter are rubbing their hands...

2022-09-14 17:32:42Sport SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Analysis: Nice, but imperfect Barça. Now Inter are rubbing their hands...
Robert Lewandowski in the match against Bayern

Sebastiano Vernazza – Gazzetta dello Sport

It is too early to say whether Inter are back, but the victory in the Czech Republic confirms that the resurgence is on the way. Winning is not easy at all, even less so in the Champions League. Viktoria Plzen is not an opponent for walks. There is a rich history of cases in trips to the East, seemingly easy and closed with bad results.

The stadium is small and full, the pressure on the opponent, the opponents run like hell. Inter have demonstrated superior technical caliber and a physique that can withstand many blows. The 0-1 goal was scored by Edin Dzeko, with 36 years of life on his shoulders and 26 goals in the Champions League.

A precise, cold shot, the result of experience. A gesture memorized over time. It is important that for the second time in a row no goals were conceded, 1-0 against Torino and 2-0 yesterday, with alternating goalkeepers. On Saturday Handanovic, best of the match; yesterday Onana, almost inactive.

Promoted - Acerbi, strongly contested by the black and white fans, passed the first test, his performance was without ambiguity. More tests will be needed, but in the near future the choice of Acerbi is confirmed as logical and functional. The centre-back replaced De Vrij and played most of the game, with reports showing him as the Inter player who has touched the most balls (126) and made the most passes (110).

In the first half, he could score with a shot in the Czech zone. These are the numbers and traces of an unexpected accommodation. Acerbi has played 135 games at Simone Inzaghi's Lazio and many commonalities can become valuable, if we stay in the present and not go into the distant future. The evening in Plzen has only one critical note: Inter took too long to score the safety goal.

Inter dominated, enjoyed numerical superiority from quarter of an hour into the second half. A lapse in tension, then Dumfries reignited it 2-0 to Dzeko's assist and it was all over there. In a more difficult context, the momentary mentality deficit would have paid off.

In any case, two consecutive victories, against Torino and Viktoria Plzen, without conceding a goal, are the right answer to a false start. On Sunday in Udine, the test of "there is no two without three", against an indigestible opponent, because he is muscular and fast.

Another good news for the black and white, late in the evening, was the clean victory of Bayern against Barcelona. A result that pushes the Germans towards a quick qualification. Better that way, Bayern is unreachable. Inter has caught Barcelona in second place in the group, as these two teams will compete hard to qualify for the 1/16.

Scenario- Things will be clarified a little more in the two direct confrontations, on October 4 at "San Siro" and October 12 at "Camp Nou". Barça is a beautiful but imperfect team, not yet fully immersed in coach Xavi's ideas.

It is difficult to determine today whether Inter can beat the Catalans at least once, a mandatory condition for passing the tour. The impression is that Barça is a level above, but the return of Lukaku, who "disappeared from the radar" due to injury, should not be underestimated.


Video