TURIN – Samir Handanovic has praised Inter’s fightback in Turin after Roberto Mancini’s half-time team talk helped turn things around, but urged his team-mates to show that same determination for the entirety of the match.
Speaking after the 1-1 draw at Juventus Stadium, the big Slovene began: “The first half wasn’t good but in the second we came back into it and might even have won. We have to improve and if we keep on working like this we will improve. There’s still a long way to go this season.
“Mancini’s half-time team talk? He just explained to us very calmly what wasn’t working, then we went back out there with a different approach. But we need to have that appoach from the start of the first half.
“Can Inter still finish third? First we must focus on improving, then we’ll see.”
The goalkeeper was then asked about talks to renew his contract (“You’d have to ask my agent. I just focus on my football”) and the heated exchange of words between Icardi and Osvaldo: “Sometimes you get a bit of tension on the field.”
Finally, the keeper discussed his positioning and movement on the free kick of Pirlo’s that he saved: “Unless you’ve played in goal it’s hard to understand. Pirlo’s shots swerve differently in the air. It looked like it was going left but then it went right and I had to change direction.”
TURIN – Inter leave Turin with an important point in the bag but Roberto Mancini was only half pleased after the game having seen his team produce only one good half.
“In the first period we struggled to get the measure of them. We only had about ten minutes when we did quite well, then after the break we did much better. It’s a decent point but I’m not completely happy because games last 90 minutes and in the first 45 we didn’t play as well as we should. Without the help of the strikers, it’s hard to stretch teams.”
The game seemed to change when the coach tinkered with the side’s tactical set-up. Was replacing Kuzmanovic with Podolski the key? “We had more control of the wide areas and they found it harder to push up, that’s all. After that we went on to create some good chances.”
On Hernanes: “In the second half he was playing in a position he doesn’t normally play in but once he finds his best form again he’ll be very important for us because he has fantastic ability.”
What positives are there to take? “I’m pleased because I know you can’t change things in a month but I think the players are showing lots of improvement. We just need to capitalise better on the chances we’re creating.”
Mancini was then quizzed on Shaqiri again: “I don’t know if we’ll be able to do things quickly, although as a coach that’s what you always want. Quality players are always useful. Look at Podolski: even though he’s not at his best, he gave us and he’ll give us a big hand. You need good players to win in football. You can’t win trophies without them.”
TURIN – The Nerazzurri staged a superb second-half comeback to cancel out Carlos Tevez’s early opener and take a point home from Juventus Stadium thanks to a fine finish from Mauro Icardi.
Having fallen behind in the 5th minute and soaking up plenty of Bianconeri pressure in the first 45 minutes, Roberto Mancini’s men looked a different side after the break. Icardi latched onto Fredy Guarin’s smart through ball to clip past Gigi Buffon midway through the second period and Inter ended the game on the front foot – with substitute Lukas Podolski lively on his debut – but couldn’t find a winner.
Juventus began at full pelt and fired off an early warning shot when Tevez teed up Marchisio, who sent his effort wide from the edge of the box. Within a minute Guarin lined up an effort of his own down the other end which flew wide from all of 30 yards. No doubt about it: this was a high-octane encounter from the off.
The hosts took the lead five minutes in as Vidal did brilliantly to knock the ball past his man with his heel and deliver a low ball into the path of Tevez, the Argentine making no mistake and steering home from close range.
Inter backed off, the Bianconeri upped the tempo and went close to adding a second through Vidal, his goalbound effort blocked by D’Ambrosio.
The Nerazzurri had the chance to break with purpose in the 27th minute when Mateo Kovacic carried the ball forward and looked to play it in behind for Icardi but his pass was too heavy.
Juve continued to pile on the pressure and Paul Pogba had a golden opportunity to double their advantage after shimmying between Andrea Ranocchia and Juan Jesus to find himself one on one with Handanovic: the keeper did well to stay on his feet and make the save.
After the restart Podolski came on for his debut (53) and Inter advanced further into enemy territory. D’Ambrosio was finding some joy down the left flank and on one occasion managed to put a decent cross onto Hernanes’ head, only for the Brazilian to loop over.
The equaliser came on 64 minutes. Guarin picked out Icardi’s run with a delightful threaded pass and the Argentine knocked it past Buffon from a wide angle with his first touch.
That was the cue for the start of a different match. Inter grew in stature and after Handanovic beat away Pirlo’s free kick and Pogba headed wide Mancini’s men fashioned themselves several chances to clinch victory.
Podolski won the ball in midfield and sprinted away down the left before driving a pinpoint delivery across towards Icardi at the far post. The Argentine came sliding in but knocked the ball just wide of the post.
Immediately afterwards Guarin tried his luck from distance before Buffon clawed Icardi’s strike away from the top corner and Inter caught Juventus on the break again but failed to make the most of it as Icardi’s effort finished well wide.
With four minutes left on the clock, Kovacic’s lunge on Lichtsteiner was punished with a red card and the Nerazzurri had to see out the game with ten men.
Yet it was Inter who very nearly caught the Bianconeri on the counter in stoppage time as Podolski raced onto a hoofed ball upfield: Buffon was forced to come out as far as the centre circle to boot away the danger.
It was a creditable point to start 2015 but Inter will be determined to take all three when they host Genoa at the Meazza for Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off.
Juventus 1-1 Inter (HT 1-0) Scorers: Tevez 5, Icardi 64.
52% Ball Possession JUVENTUS and 48% Ball Possession INTER Juventus 1 – 1 Inter
5′ Carlos Tevez 64′ Mauro Icardi
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Juventus 1st position with 39 points and a positive goal difference of +27
Inter, 11th position with 21 points and a positive goal difference of +2
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
Goals
DIFF
Points
1
Juventus
16
12
3
1
34:7
27
39
11
Inter
16
5
6
5
25:23
2
21
It’s a fresh start for Juventus in 2015 after losing the Supercoppa Italiana in Dubai against Napoli. Juventus lead the Serie A and is the only team in Champions League while Inter struggling to make it to the top 5 teams. The Derby d’Italia seeing Argentinian players as key players with Tevez scoring for Juve and Mauro Icardi scoring for Inter. Inter ending with 10 players after Referee Luca Banti gives a red card to midfielder Mateo Kovacic after bringing down Juventus defender Stephan Lichsteiner in the 86th minute.
Great way to motivate the fans! It is Juventus forward Carlos Tevez to open the score in the 5th minute defeating Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic with a left footed shot in the bottom right corner. This is the 11th goal for Tevez.
Photo: facebook.com/Juventus
Inter forward Mauro Icardi equalizing the score for the 1 – 1 defeatig Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner. The assist is by midfielder Fredy Guarin. This is the 9th goal for Icardi this season.
Photo: facebook.com/InterOfficialPage
Inter forward Mauro Icardi celebrating after equalizing the score against Juventus
Click the video to watch the highlights of the game Juventus vs Inter, Derby d’Italia on Tuesday 6 January 2015 at the Juventus Stadium.
Stats in Turin are in favor of Juventus. A precedent of 81 games seeing Juventus winning 56, Inter winning 11, and 14 draws. It will be a big upset for Juventus in case of Inter grabbing a victory or even a draw.
Disciplinary Situation BEFORE the game. No suspended players.
Here is JUVENTUS official starting lineup by coach Massimiliano Allegri:
]]>
Juventus 1 – 1 Inter 
