Lautaro Martínez’s Inter is a fundamental step towards the Scudetto: with a goal they win the Italian derby against Juventus

In the key match of the season, in the most awaited ‘Derby d’Italia’ of recent years, the Inter captained by Lautaro Martínez was higher than Juventus (1-0) at San Siro and, with one game less, they drop in the standings, taking a 4-point advantage over their pursuers, who despite having left that gray version of last season behind them, were unable to harm the best team in the Italian football.

Inter and Juventus were the clear candidates to lift the ‘scudetto’, to be the heirs of Napoli. They also arrived in the standings, with a decisive match ahead of them that could have been decisive. But Inter emerged from the duel stronger, once again physically and tactically superior, and found themselves as the only favourites; and with a Marcus Thuram once again protagonist.

It is no longer surprising that it is always Inter that imposes its game, its pace and its design on its rival, in any scenario. In the Italian championship they are clearly superior and only ‘Juve’ aimed to slow down their rise, but despite the Bianconeri’s attempts, Inter once again found the path to success with their usual performance.

Always with the wingers as protagonists, Dimarco and Darmian were a dagger on the flanks. And with the dominant midfield, ‘Juve’ can hardly resign themselves to resisting local attacks. First Bremer saves a clear chance from Thuram; and Danilo and Szczesny had the task of maintaining the routine block of a ‘Juve’ against which it is more difficult to score a goal every day. Only one chance from Vlahovic, in which the Serbian loses control, slightly disturbs Sommer’s goal.

But Inzaghi’s team is the one that scores the most goals and the Nerazzurri’s insistence ended up bearing fruit. At the end of the first half, a new play born on the right lane ends with yet another central midfielder looking for Lautaro and Thuram. Pavard attempted an overhead kick but failed to connect the ball and in the fight between the French attacker and Gatti it was the Italian defender who, trying to avoid Thuram’s shot, ended up scoring an own goal to get the match back on track .

Inter then began to enjoy the open field with the score in their favour. ‘Juve’ came out with more troops and this Inter team doesn’t need to always have ball possession to do damage. With Lautaro playing on the back, with Dimarco unleashed on the left wing and Mkhitaryan arriving on the second line, Inter had numerous options to increase the response, but between the post, which prevented Calhanoglu’s goal, and Szczesny, who brought the ball to Barella point-blank shot and shot by Arnautovic in the small area, the scoreboard didn’t move.

‘Juve’ could do little to stop the Inter torrent and turn the situation around. Not even with the debut of Carlos Alcaraz Allegri managed to do any damage. Inzaghi was once again the best coach, he pulled out of his long wardrobe to introduce fresh legs, maintain the level at the end and begin to savor an ever closer ‘scudetto’.

Inter have scored at home, in the legendary San Siro, a breakthrough in the standings which could prove decisive in Italy. They have been superior to ‘Juve’, their main rival this season, and are the only leaders with a 4 point lead and a game in hand. The ‘Derby d’Italia’ was for Inter, the ‘Scudetto’ is closer to Milan.