Inter Milan vs Juventus: Match Preview

Inter will have a chance to get its hand on a second trophy in short succession after ten years without touching silverware. In return for hoisting the Scudetto last season, the Nerazzurri booked a ticket to the 2021/22 Supercoppa, where it will face Coppa Italia champs Juventus. Technically this game isn’t much more than a glorified friendly, but Inter has plenty of incentive to win. For one, a nice shiny trophy is on the line and who doesn’t want one of those?? And two, the opportunity to beat Juve should be more than enough motivation for Inter to put its best effort into Wednesday’s clash.

Photo by Giampiero Sposito/Getty Images

The bianconeri slowly rebounded from a disastrous start to the season and has put itself back in contention for the top four. A wild 4-3 win over Roma on the weekend brought it within three points of 4th placed Atalanta but Federico Chiesa’s season-ending injury put a dampener on the celebrations in Turin. Massimiliano Allegri’s defensive tactics mean Juve relies heavily on individual magic from a combination of the Italian, Paulo Dybala, and Juan Cuadrado to make much of anything happen in the final third. It hasn’t quite gone to plan, however, as the Old Lady boasts the 11th best attack in the league with just 32 goals (12.5% of which came against Roma) from 21 games. Dybala is the main dangerman with 6 goals and 3 assists, while Alvaro Morata (5g, 1a) is liable to find a goal every now and then.

As you would expect with Allegri at the helm, Juve has fared much better defensively with the 4th fewest goals conceded (21) in the league. Defensive stoutness has been the catalyst for the bianconeri’s recent seven-game unbeaten run, with Juve outscoring its opponents 14-5 and going 5W-2T-0L in that span. With Chiesa and the suspended duo of Cuadrado and Matthijs de Ligt out, Inter will need to keep Dybala under lock and key tomorrow night. Morata can cause problems as well but the Argentine will be the center of anything Juve does in the final third.

Previous Results

• 1-1 (H), 24/10/21
• 3-2 (A), 15/5/21
• 0-0 (A), 9/2/21
• 1-2 (H), 2/2/21
• 2-0 (H), 17/1/21

Predicted Starting XIs

Prediction: Inter Milan 2-1 Juventus

Dybala will snag a goal for the visitors but a Dzeko brace will see Inter prevail on home turf at the San Siro (speaking of which, the pitch at the Meazza has resembled a potato field more than a football pitch in recent times).

Forza Inter!