29 February 2016
Backline brilliance
This was the 11th match out of 13 in all competitions this calendar year in which the Bianconeri have not conceded and the eighth on the bounce in Serie A, just one game away from equalling an all-time club record for clean sheets (recorded in 1972/73).
Further proof of another excellent defensive display was the fact that Inter managed their only shot on target in the 89th minute courtesy of Adem Ljajic’s free-kick.
As alert as ever between the sticks to keep the Nerazzurri at bay was Gianluigi Buffon, who has now not been beaten in the Bianconeri goal for 746 minutes in the league, surpassing his previous personal record of 745 and sitting sixth in the all-time standings.
The match-winners
Leonardo Bonucci’s 47th minute opener had all the hallmarks of a striker’s finish, seizing the opportunity presented by Danilo D’Ambrosio’s backward header to volley with power and accuracy past Samir Handanovic.
This was the 28-year-old defender’s first ever goal against the Nerazzurri, but the setting of the scene was extremely familiar, as all of Bonucci’s last seven Serie A strikes have come at Juventus Stadium.
If there was some element of déjà vu for Alvaro Morata too on the night, it was the identity of Juve’s opposition. The Spanish forward has now netted three times in two outings against Inter in 2016, with the opportunity to potentially add to this tally when the Bianconeri travel to the San Siro on Wednesday night for the return leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final.
The key to victory
Besides the flurry of shots registered at the very beginning and end of Sunday’s encounter, there were long spells in which the sides cancelled one another out in midfield.
Indeed, evidence for the intensity of yesterday’s battle is not exactly lacking, with areas such as possession, number of shots, tackles and balls won back all extremely even, as a glance at the drop-down menus below highlight.
In a tight affair such as last night’s, the Bianconeri utilised their right wing as their main outlet going forwards, with 46.9 per cent of their attacks coming down the flank in which Stefan Lichtsteiner was stationed. The Swiss Express’ busy evening is backed up by the fact that he whipped in five crosses and played 66 passes over the 90 minutes.
The key moments
Given the hosts’ preference for hitting Roberto Mancini’s men from the right, it came as little surprise that their opener originated from an attack down that side, leading to the free-kick, taken by Paulo Dybala and from which D’Ambrosio headed unwittingly into the path of Bonucci.
It ought also be noted that, on Juve’s other flank, Alex Sandro had a hand in three other key goalscoring opportunities, the Brazilian wing-back continuing to build a reputation as a creative force from out wide.
