Four underrated tactical keys in Inter-Juventus

La Gazzetta dello Sport predicts that midfielders’ late runs inside the box will be crucial for Inter and Juventus in tonight’s Serie A meeting at the Stadio Meazza.

It’s the big game of the season in Serie A as Inter and Juventus meet in a Derby d’Italia which could be decisive in the title race.

Sunday’s printed edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport on page eight previews the match claiming that midfielders’ late runs inside the box will be crucial at San Siro tonight.

Even if all eyes will be on strikers Lautaro Martinez and Dusan Vlahovic, Gazzetta’s Fabio Licari believes Inter’s Nicolò Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso and Adrie Rabiot will have key tactical roles.

Inter are expected to keep possession tonight, trying to dominate the play. The Nerazzurri have averaged 689 touches per game this season and the link-up between Barella and Matteo Darmian on the right, Hakan Calhanoglu and Mkhitaryan in central midfield can help Simone Inzaghi’s men open spaces in the final third.

On the other hand, Juventus are expected to sit deep and hurt Inter with ‘lethal’ counter-attacks led by Rabiot and Cambiaso. Similarly to Barella, Rabiot will be a box-to-box midfielder with attacking and defensive duties, while Cambiaso will often switch roles with Weston McKennie playing on the right wing or in central midfield trying to beat Dimarco and create trouble for Inter.