Serpents of Madonnina - Inter Milan vs. Benevento, Sunday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. (ET)An Inter Milan community.2017-10-02T22:49:07+02:00http://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/rss/stream/161395072017-10-02T22:49:07+02:002017-10-02T22:49:07+02:00Five Takeaways: Benevento 1-2 Inter
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<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xOnosee3FAhdMe4aARspZitqVM8=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56959557/856281240.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Immaturity, Marcelo Brozovic and lots and lots of points on the board.</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="cFOXaa">Despite producing another unconvincing performance, Inter made it 6 wins from 7 in Serie A this season by beating Benevento 2-1 at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito on Sunday. Marcelo Brozovic’s first-half brace was enough to secure all three points on a nervy afternoon for the <em>Nerazzurri</em>, which saw them draw level on points with <a href="https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/">Juventus</a> heading into the October international break thanks to the <em>Bianconeri</em>’s draw against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/atalanta">Atalanta</a> later in the day.</p>
<p id="mv4v57">If you’d like to read our <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/10/1/16392446/brozovic-brace-gives-inter-milan-2-1-in-at-benevento">match report</a> and <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/10/1/16392810/inter-milan-2-1-benevento-player-ratings">player ratings</a> for Sunday’s match then you can find them via the two links provided, but below are our five takeaways from Inter’s narrow victory.</p>
<p id="r2T1t7"><strong>1. Inter started the game strongly and scored some early goals</strong></p>
<p id="rgBeaU">During these first few weeks of the season Inter have gained a reputation for being the kings of late goals; a reputation that is emphatically vindicated by the graphic on the right, which breaks down exactly when each of Inter’s 12 goals scored before this weekend had arrived.</p>
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<cite>Graphic taken from Sky Sport 24.</cite>
<figcaption>Before Sunday’s match with Benevento, two thirds of Inter’s goals scored this season had come in the final 15 minutes of games (8/12).</figcaption>
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<p id="Wc2hHd">In 4 of our 6 games before Benevento (Roma, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/crotone-serie-a">Crotone</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/bologna">Bologna</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/genoa">Genoa</a>) we had managed to gain a whopping seven points from goals scored in that final time bracket (from the 75th minute onwards), demonstrating our newfound ability under Spalletti to withstand pressure thrown at us by our opponents, remain mentally attached to the game throughout and then strike with the force of a thousand suns at the death.</p>
<p id="6XFIzW">But while it’s great that we can do that, it’s also great to be able to impose yourself on a game immediately and ‘oblige the match to take a certain direction’, as Spalletti put it in his post-match interview. It makes things significantly easier - both for the players out on the pitch and for all of us watching on TV.</p>
<p id="H8pa3m">For that reason we should be encouraged by how well Inter started this match, pinning Benevento back in their own half with high intensity and quick possession until we found the opening goal. Unlike against Bologna and Genoa, where the majority of the chances we created in the second half came as a result of our opponents tiring and losing their discipline, on Sunday we decided not to wait an hour before accelerating and took the bull by the horns, and were rewarded with a 2-0 lead after 22 minutes.</p>
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<p id="fZaR5e">Given that Inter’s tendency to start games sluggishly is a problem that both <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/25/16358988/five-takeaways-inter-defeats-genoa-1-0">Sanat</a> and <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/20/16336788/five-takeaways-bologna-1-1-inter">Nick</a> have discussed in our last two ‘Five Takeaways’ articles, I’d like to think we at Serpents of Madonnina played an integral part in yesterday’s impressive opening half-hour. But Spalletti probably doesn’t have the time to browse our website at the moment, so it’s unlikely.</p>
<p id="FhPiFj"><strong>2. Inter still have a lot of maturing to do</strong></p>
<p id="7H9Y8G">Despite such a positive start, however, Sunday’s match turned out to be anything but straightforward for Inter. Despite securing a two-goal cushion midway through the first half we were made to suffer through the remainder of the match, and that’s because this team has still yet to complete the process of maturation that will make it a bona fide Top Team. We’re not close to completing it on Sunday’s evidence, either.</p>
<p id="maQW1G">Sebastiano Vernazza summed it up perfectly with the opening line of his match report in Monday’s <em>Gazzetta dello Sport. </em>“Inter have reopened UCAS,” he wrote - a satirical acronym that in Italy stands for <em>Ufficio Complicazioni Affari Semplici</em> - The Office for the Complication of Simple Things. Except we didn’t reopen it yesterday; that is an office that this team built and have paid the rent for every month since May 2010.</p>
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<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VoM1mZaVt763OJxdnuEc4C-TV10=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9373293/856281398.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Inter made life very difficult for themselves on Sunday by failing to kill the game off in the first half.</figcaption>
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<p id="NRN1OI">In the fortnight leading up to this match Benevento played two games away to <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a> and at home to Roma, and lost both with an aggregate score of 10-0. At the same time as this match around 100 miles to the north, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/lazio">Lazio</a> were demolishing <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sassuolo">Sassuolo</a> on the way to a 6-1 success.</p>
<p id="HhIDXm">What Benevento-Inter told us - not to mention Inter-SPAL, Crotone-Inter and Inter-Genoa - was that we are incapable of swatting Serie A’s also-rans aside like the rest of the division’s big hitters do. Like the others we do tend to beat the smaller teams, but unlike the others it requires a monumental effort to do so.</p>
<p id="vJS4Jq">The moment Brozovic’s free-kick hit the back of the net to make it 2-0, the team’s levels of concentration and intensity nosedived. Instead of stamping down on the accelerator pedal even harder and finishing the game off with a third goal, we eased off, allowing Benevento back into a match that had already been 95% won. Inexplicable mistakes were made and a truck load of stupid counter-attacks were conceded, one of which led to their goal.</p>
<p id="n7aUta">If this team wishes to finish in the top four this season then they must acquire the determination to kill games off, as well as the ability to manage them what that isn’t possible. Better teams will make us pay for the slackness we showed on Sunday.</p>
<p id="7N2Usp"><strong>3. Marcelo Brozovic is Inter’s most suited player to the trequartista position</strong></p>
<p id="7ruhmD">You would have been hard pressed during the summer to find an Interista who didn’t despise Marcelo Brozovic and want him out of the door as quickly as possible.</p>
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<cite>Image taken from <em>Gazzetta dello Sport</em>, Monday 2 October, page 17.</cite>
<figcaption>Marcelo Brozovic’s match stats against Benevento.</figcaption>
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<p id="11HqeL">In his first two-and-a-half seasons at Inter the Croatian midfielder had proved himself to be talented, versatile and decisive but also inconsistent and awfully unprofessional, and virtually everyone had had enough. And so had the club; ultimately Brozovic only stayed at Inter this summer because there were no serious takers for him.</p>
<p id="WxXwG7">But his match-winning performance on Sunday provided a very strong argument that, in purely footballing terms (if not moral or psychological terms), the man we used to call ‘Epic’ currently represents Inter’s best option in the no. 10 position behind <span>Mauro Icardi</span>.</p>
<p id="9CDjpU">If Inter were so creative and efficient in the first 25 minutes, before giving themselves a pat on the back at 2-0 up and taking the rest of the match off, Brozovic was a very significant part of that. Spalletti has tried both <span>Borja Valero</span> and Joao Mario in the ‘trequartista’ position during Inter’s first 7 games of the season, but neither of them have been anywhere near as decisive as Marcelo was yesterday (and few people love Joao Mario more than I do, let’s be clear).</p>
<p id="QTX0mU">During yesterday’s match Brozovic scored two goals - the second of which was Inter’s first goal scored from a direct free-kick since Ever Banega on 12 March (Inter 7-1 Atalanta) - and created eight further goal-scoring opportunities on top of that, according to <em>Gazzetta dello Sport</em>, as well as completing 59 ‘positive passes’ in comparison to just 3 ‘negative passes’. In other words he was incredibly incisive. The touch map to the right, meanwhile, shows how he successfully swapped positions with <span>Antonio Candreva</span> and in particular Ivan Perisic to avoid giving Benevento defensive reference points, just as Spalletti was asking his attacking midfielders to do from the touchline.</p>
<p id="b2Mn28">The key thing which makes Brozovic preferable to Joao and Borja in that role is his goal-scoring record, because Inter cannot rely on Icardi and Perisic to do the goods for us all season.</p>
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<figcaption>With 11 goals in 75 Serie A appearances, Marcelo Brozovic has a significantly superior goals-per-game ratio than all of Inter’s other central midfielders.</figcaption>
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<p id="gMuaUZ">The numbers show that the Croatian is a far greater threat in front of goal than every other central midfielder we have in the team, which I would personally put down to three things - his ability to time his forward runs into the box to perfection (see the first goal yesterday); his prowess from free-kicks* (see the second goal yesterday); and his willingness to shoot when he gets a sight of goal (see the images below).</p>
<p id="oo7yY6">For visual proof of the latter, compare the different ways in which Brozovic and Joao Mario reacted yesterday when receiving the ball inside the D on the edge of the box.</p>
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<p id="ekRluv"></p>
<p id="rQqfCK">I accept that they’re not <em>exactly </em>identical situations, but nevertheless: these freeze-frames illustrate the difference between players who first think to shoot and then to pass and players who first think to pass and then to shoot.</p>
<p id="yu8IRl">While Brozovic unleashes a first-time shot without any hesitation, despite being charged down by three Benevento players, Joao inexplicably hesitates - despite having all space in the world to go for goal - and ends up setting up Perisic instead, who then has his effort saved from a much less favourable position. It’s no wonder he scores so much more regularly than the other midfielders.</p>
<p id="Rzm0sB">From a technical and tactical standpoint, there’s absolutely no question that Marcelo is the most suited player in the squad to play behind Icardi (at least not in my mind). The question is whether he’s the most suited player in the squad from a temperamental standpoint. If Brozovic can ditch his tendency to be inconsistent - and I appreciate that that’s like asking Spalletti to ditch his tendency to be bald - then he could end up being an important weapon for us this season after all.</p>
<p id="Zqpsl6"><strong>4. Mauro Icardi is showing signs of improving his all-round game</strong></p>
<p id="2t4oU9">The debate surrounding Mauro Icardi and his perceived lack of team play is destined to carry on until the end of time; we will never reach an agreement on it.</p>
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<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tgS_IyGM8H-XxygKgROBma7EXHY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9371891/856281246.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Were you encouraged by Mauro Icardi’s performance against Benevento?</figcaption>
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<p id="wEWpRw">Personally I stand roughly where Spalletti does on what is a complex and multilayered issue: he completely disagrees with those who say Icardi is a ‘problem’ for Inter, but he does still want Maurito to come short and link up with his team-mates a bit more than he traditionally has in the past, because he himself will be the first man to benefit from it. </p>
<p id="XVmg8x">Spalletti also said in his pre-match press conference though that Icardi is taking those directives on board and doing his best to put them into practice - and Sunday’s match appeared to back up that claim.</p>
<p id="xo8Kn6">According to WhoScored.com, Icardi had 38 touches of the ball against Benevento - which, as if by magic, happens to be the exact number of touches he had in Inter’s two matches against Crotone (20) and Bologna (18) put together. [For the record, against Genoa last weekend he had 24].</p>
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<cite>WhoScored.com</cite>
<figcaption>Mauro Icardi’s heatmap vs Benevento.</figcaption>
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<p id="VXPjEy">Sheer coincidence or a conscience change in Icardi’s style of play? Only time will tell, but it strikes me as slightly too significant and sudden an increase to be pure chance. Watching the match I got the feeling that he was moving into wide areas far more than he had in recent weeks - and again, that feeling is backed up to an extent by his heat map (again courtesy of WhoScored).</p>
<p id="JRXh52">Icardi was far more active outside the box than he had been against Crotone, Bologna or Genoa, and it seemed to make our forward play far more fluid in that opening 25 minutes when the team was properly switched on. As well as Brozovic, credit needs to go to him too.</p>
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<cite>WhoScored.com</cite>
<figcaption>Mauro Icardi’s heatmap vs Crotone (left) and Bologna (right).</figcaption>
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<p id="eCeSE8">Sunday’s was in fact an extremely un-Icardi like performance: he moved around and combined with his team-mates, but he missed a couple of good chances.</p>
<p id="GoNUoZ">If Maurito can find a happy medium in the coming weeks between what he does best (penalty box prowess) and what Spalletti would like him to do (all-round play), then Inter’s ‘gioco’ will benefit greatly from it.</p>
<p id="Oe2I0p"><strong>5. We have 19 points from a possible 21 and are second in the table</strong></p>
<p id="44oias">This last takeaway feels like stating the bleeding obvious, but it’s worth reiterating and how.</p>
<p id="k4hlFp">Considering the foul mood amongst Interisti on Twitter at the full-time whistle, one would be forgiven for thinking that Inter were marooned in mid-table as we head into the international break.</p>
<p id="1As81Y">As it is, the <em>Nerazzurri </em>have dropped just two points from their opening seven games and have their highest points total at this stage of the season since the 2002-03 campaign, when Hector Cuper was still at the helm.</p>
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<figcaption>Sunday’s victory left Inter with their highest points total after 7 matches in 15 seasons.</figcaption>
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<p id="RdMAy7">Sure, our calendar has been favourable since the opening two matches against <a href="https://www.violanation.com/">Fiorentina</a> and Roma - and sure, we’ve not completely convinced yet - but the bottom line is that we’ve collected 4 wins and a draw from that run of games, like a serious team does. Do you remember when we took one point from two games against Chievo and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/palermo">Palermo</a> at the start of last season?</p>
<p id="35RTjd">When asked what he made of Inter’s lofty position in the league table, Spalletti said yesterday: “the team must be proud of what they’re doing because nobody has given us anything; if we’re where we are now then it’s fully deserved. I applaud them.”</p>
<p id="tggo0D">And just look exactly where we are now, heading into the derby. How many of us would honestly have predicted this two months ago?</p>
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<cite>Image taken from Serie A TIM’s official Twitter account (@SerieA_TIM)</cite>
<figcaption>The Serie A table after Matchday 7.</figcaption>
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<p id="poYUEh">We cannot ignore the fact that we have various problems to resolve, but neither can we ignore the fact that Inter are winning and have done virtually nothing but win since the defeat to Nuremberg back in mid-July.</p>
<p id="SgteA2">The next month of matches will be far more challenging for Inter in terms of opponents (Milan, Napoli, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sampdoria">Sampdoria</a>, Verona and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/torino">Torino</a> before the next international break), and they will give us a better idea of where we stand and what ambitions this team can have for this season.</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="DLVTUx">But until then, let’s not go overboard with the criticism. We’re not doing that badly you know...</p>
https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/10/2/16398074/five-takeaways-benevento-1-2-interWill Beckman2017-10-01T19:04:26+02:002017-10-01T19:04:26+02:00Inter Milan 2-1 Benevento — Player ratings
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<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TyQuAUr9Qut1H-B0cKLebDEDXo8=/0x35:3000x2035/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56934443/856257340.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The mediocrity continues.</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="OBXDyq">Yes, Marcelo Brozovic broke <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/">Inter Milan</a>’s first-half scoring drought, but the defense didn’t do us any favors as bottom-of-the-table Benevento had several opportunities to equalize and only their lack of attacking experience was the only thing stopping the <em>Nerazzurri</em> from giving the southern Italians their first points of the season.</p>
<p id="vyK6kt"> </p>
<h4 id="zXNzvP">Handanovic — 6.5</h4>
<p id="DZqY5i">The <em>Nerazzurri</em> net-minder struggled to keep the defense in line as Christian Lombardi and Marco D’Alessandro tested the backline from late in the first half thorugh the rest of the game. The lone goal wasn’t really his fault as D’Alessandro took advantage of some miscommunication between defenders to work around and into an angle to score. Otherwise, the most Handanovic had to battle was the sun in the second half.</p>
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<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
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<h4 id="g0j1aR">D’Ambrosio — 6</h4>
<p id="7fUkHx">Had solid passes and had a great feed to Brozovic on his second goal. But, overall the defense was unimpressive against a team that scored just one goal, ONE, coming into the game. Struggled with D’Alessandro throughout the entire game.</p>
<h4 id="lIMGR9">Skriniar — 7</h4>
<p id="aFQYIf">This kid continues to impress. Had a good strike in the first half, but Belec was able to come up with the save. Could keep Benevento off one side of the field, but it left D’Alessandro to challenge on the right side where D’Ambrosio struggled to keep pace with.</p>
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<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/esK6Fnwf2SHGrnhfEV_49vorzPc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9365503/856257338.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
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<h4 id="cYaWA5">Miranda — 6</h4>
<p id="PDkHnG">If not for him getting tied up by D’Alessandro, Inter would have likely had a clean sheet against Benevento. But, Joao Miranda got caught up in some miscommunication — which is a little unlikely — and allowed the home side some hope in the first half.</p>
<h4 id="GJ8K1L">Nagatomo — 6</h4>
<p id="tFcmmN">He started strong then, well, he became Nagatomo. As the season goes on, the Japanese international continues to show signs of weakening earlier and earlier in the game. Otherwise was inconsistent on the attack and was subbed for Dalbert late in the game.</p>
<h4 id="POQtQU">Vecino — 6</h4>
<p id="CFmbGA">While he puts himself in position to make plays in the midfield, one thing the Uruguayan doesn’t do is fight back when dispossessed. The trend is when the ball is taken away from him, Vecino tends to not give chase, which happened a few times against Benevento.</p>
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<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CIQ-L7Ayr3cbqMg6c8iEVGtqfWg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9365497/856257392.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
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<h4 id="lr8AV2">Valero — 6</h4>
<p id="c38gLw">Moved with little haste during the game. He has come close to scoring, but can never seem to finish. He can make something happen, but didn’t seem to move too quickly to actually make something happen.</p>
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<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/J2uh2oOBQHF_2CUxeqaUcHy9DNA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9365477/856239662.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
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<h4 id="DgMA7n">Candreva — 6.5</h4>
<p id="xx3BHc">Had a nice feed to Brozovic for a goal in the first half and found himself battling a few times. Overall, not a bad performance.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_Mdq4RVrUQkVqCrWeeVhvm3dE6s=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9365481/856281208.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<h4 id="D3Det1">Brozovic — 7</h4>
<p id="WiAH8i">Well, he finally came through. Had two nice goals in the first half and was the difference-maker in giving the <em>Nerazzurri</em> enough of a cushion to win the game.</p>
<h4 id="HWSC5N">Perisic — 6</h4>
<p id="beLPFb">Was never really present on the field. Didn’t create much and didn’t show the attacking prowess we have seen from the Croatian before.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k1EXMErVwkMPZmV39I5p75BMv3A=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9365483/856281246.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<h4 id="8OtDZY">Icardi — 6</h4>
<p id="TC8bqz">This is another case of not really being present on the field. Wasn’t really neutralized by Benevento’s defense but did a good job neutralizing himself.</p>
<h4 id="vdNrwZ">Luciano Spalletti — 6.5</h4>
<p id="6yoIeC">I really hope the boss has a shortlist for some midfield and defense backups when the transfer season opens in a few months. We have done a good job keeping our weaknesses from making a big impact, but you have to figure our luck is going to run out at some point.</p>
<p id="wPDG8x"> </p>
<h3 id="nskTwX">Substitutes:</h3>
<h4 id="vsGisq">Gagliardini — 6</h4>
<p id="XQZYQO">Came on for Valero in the 78<sup>th</sup> minute. I’m not sure if it is just me, but it seems the <em>Nerazzurri</em> seem to put on a better, more balanced attack when he is on the field. The downside — and most likely the reason he isn’t starting — turnovers and silly mistakes. Stop trying to be cute with the ball and actually make something happen with it.</p>
<h4 id="BlIs0J">Joao Mario — 6</h4>
<p id="ODzBPB">Kind of a ‘meh’ game for the Portuguese. We’ve seen the flair and potential for special play from Mario. Today was not one of those days.</p>
<h4 id="ieRlKk">Dalbert — N/S</h4>
<p id="0qNDpB">Not really on the field long enough to give a score. </p>
<h3 id="pPeWp7"></h3>
<h3 id="eVZddL">Man of the Match:</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8QPNE6ETp-Kn-t6K3ZpRCIAVHqk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9365511/856232408.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<h4 id="SGCxbI">Skriniar</h4>
<p id="7miM0H">I know, I know, Brozovic scored the two goals, but I am not one who believes just because you score makes you the most important player on the field. </p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="78jLWD">Skriniar continues to impress with his smart play and his ability to learn and adapt to the system quickly. He’s not trying to do too much and has been a player opposing coaches have to plan for now. He nearly found the back of the net for the second time this season with a shot that was smart, just lacked that little bit you would expect from an attacking midfielder. I have a suspicion that will come soon from Skriniar.</p>
https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/10/1/16392810/inter-milan-2-1-benevento-player-ratingsM.A. Clark2017-10-01T17:25:19+02:002017-10-01T17:25:19+02:00Brozovic brace gives Inter 2-1 win at Benevento
<figure>
<img alt="Benevento Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-46hv-xGwgxzvZJll54UMggvzu8=/182x0:2818x1757/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56933643/856232412.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>That could have been bad as <em>Nerazzurri</em> defending slips in the second half.</p> <p id="4OBqjE">In the span of two minutes, Marcelo Brozovic put <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/">Inter Milan</a> up by two … in the first half.</p>
<p id="hzbjuy">Usually waiting until late in the second half to score and put games away, the <em>Nerazzurri</em> got goals in the 19<sup>th</sup> and 21<sup>st</sup> minutes from Brozovic at the Stadio Ciro Vigo in the south of Italy to pace Inter to a 2-1 win over Serie A bottom team Benevento.</p>
<p id="nClr2A">The first half strikes were the first since Mauro Icardi’s strike in Inter’s 2-0 win over SPAL on Sept. 10.</p>
<p id="FXqrsp">Inter’s offense maintained pressure against the defensive backline of Benevento from the start of the first half. </p>
<p id="sGjy73">Milan Skriniar nearly picked up his second goal as a <em>Nerazzurri</em> in the 9<sup>th</sup> minute, but his delivery was a little weak and right into the hands of Belec.</p>
<p id="jx7pd5">Brozovic scored his first on a cross from <span>Danilo D’Ambrosio</span> that was rocketed past Belec. It was <span>Yuto Nagatomo</span> who started the play with a feed into D’Ambrosio that freed him to make the cross to Brozovic.</p>
<div id="WP0wn3">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"<a href="https://twitter.com/FansNerazzurri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FansNerazzurri</a>: Goal Brozovic! assist Candreva.<br><br>Benevento 0-1 Inter <a href="https://t.co/Hm0u8rkdFr">pic.twitter.com/Hm0u8rkdFr</a>"</p>— Alex (@alex_parikesit) <a href="https://twitter.com/alex_parikesit/status/914483153619755008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="I44mmX">He wasted no time in getting his second — again assisted by D’Ambrosio — with a shot from the left side.</p>
<div id="f5zqT7"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ymsy4SlyoAE?rel=0&" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="U7ezqi">Benevento came alive after Brozovic’s second goal and had one shot by Memushaj rebounded a shot from the crossbar into the back of the net, but was ruled off-side in the 25<sup>th</sup> minute. </p>
<p id="b5CO2T">Marco D’Alessandro broke free of Inter’s defense but Samir Handanovic stepped off his line and cut the angle forcing the ball out of play.</p>
<p id="ioBrXj">In the 33<sup>rd</sup> minute, Icardi played a nice ball past Belec for what should have been the third goal of the half, but he was ruled off-side.</p>
<p id="wlXpv7">But, D’Alessandro scored Benevento’s second goal this season after some confusion in the Inter defense allowed the striker to beat an off-side trap and to slide a ball off the fingertips of Handanovic and off the post into the back of the net, cutting the lead to 2-1 in the 42th minute.</p>
<div id="ZCvGRW">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">567 - Marco D'Alessandro's goal ended a 567 minutes long goal drought for Benevento in Serie A. Relief. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeneventoInter?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeneventoInter</a></p>— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaPaolo/status/914490325162487819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="GGOs1r">In the first half, Inter nearly doubled the possession of Benevento and outshot them, 11-7. All of Inter’s shots on target (8) were from Skriniar and Brozovic, according to WhoScored.com.</p>
<p id="s3XAcL">In the second half, Benevento stepped up their attack, peppering Handanovic with a few shots midway into the half.</p>
<p id="wKKHxe">Inter’s defense seemed put back on its heels more often than not, but Benevento’s lack of attacking prowess seemed to be the saving grace for Luciano Spalletti’s side.</p>
<p id="7jd5w9">Vittorio Parigini made nice attempts into the back half of the field, but lacking any other attacking option, substitute <span>Roberto Gagliardini</span> nullified the attack with a pair of slide-tackles.</p>
<p id="ViT5yf">Achraf Lazaar had a good run in the 92<sup>nd</sup> minute, but found no support to off-load a pass to and was stripped by Dalbert. D’Alessandro made an attempt in extra time, but his shot was weak and went right to Handanovic.</p>
<p id="vbkqhT">The loss denied Benevento from their first points of the season as they continue to inhabit the bottom of the Serie A table.</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="rlV6Nj">Inter gets a week off before Derby week begins as the Nerazzurri will take on <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com/">AC Milan</a> on Oct. 15 at the San Siro.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="x1dL9G">
<h3 id="B0LDOI">Highlights</h3>
<div id="LiCinG"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8ZUJthJ9t9E?rel=0&" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="HXdbhs">
<h3 id="tV8VEj">Gallery</h3>
<div id="4PrHZ5"><div data-anthem-component="gallery:679734"></div></div>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="07La3N">
<p id="9Pkjm4"><strong>Serie A</strong></p>
<p id="cNs0mf"><strong>Oct. 1, 2017</strong></p>
<p id="VyCVMN"><strong>Inter Milan 2, Benevento Calcio 1</strong></p>
<p id="NxUMmm"><strong>Benevento 1 0 — 1</strong></p>
<p id="KTYrxi"><strong>Inter Milan 2 0 — 2</strong></p>
<p id="T0HLbc">First half: Brozovic (19’) INT, Brozovic (21’) INT, D’Alessandro (42’) BENE.</p>
<p id="mkLVFG">Cautions: INT — Vecino, Valero, Miranda; BENE — Costa, Lombardi.</p>
<p id="S49bXn"><strong>BENEVENTO</strong>: 1 Belec, 3 Letizia, 6 Djimsiti, 7 D'Alessandro, 8 Cataldi, 14 Viola, 20 Memushaj, 21 Costa, 23 Venuti, 33 Iemmello, 87 Lombardi.</p>
<p id="uJKFVv"><strong>Bench</strong>: 22 Brignoli, 4 Del Pinto, 11 Coda, 13 Chisbah, 17 Di Chiara, 18 Gyamfi, 26 Parigini, 32 Puscas, 77 Lazaar, 90 Armenteros, 95 Gravillon.</p>
<p id="PeHAKf"><strong>Coach</strong>: Marco Baroni</p>
<p id="4fbGvV"><strong>INTER</strong>: 1 Handanovic, 9 Icardi, 11 Vecino, 20 B. Valero, 25 Miranda, 33 D'Ambrosio, 37 Skriniar, 44 Perisic, 55 Nagatomo, 77 Brozovic, 87 Candreva.</p>
<p id="gzycU2"><strong>Bench</strong>: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 5 Gagliardini, 10 J. Mario, 13 Ranocchia, 17 Karamoh, 21 Santon, 23 Eder, 29 Dalbert, 99 Pinamonti.</p>
<p id="m5NZ5f"><strong>Coach</strong>: Luciano Spalletti</p>
<p id="pSVRQO"><strong>Referee</strong>: Doveri</p>
<p id="VAjU4j"><strong>Assistants</strong>: De Meo, Di Vuolo</p>
<p id="OnXKYk"><strong>Fourth Official</strong>: Fourneau</p>
<p id="NhabL8"><strong>VAR Operators:</strong> Valeri, Giallatini</p>
https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/10/1/16392446/brozovic-brace-gives-inter-milan-2-1-in-at-beneventoM.A. Clark2017-09-30T23:40:32+02:002017-09-30T23:40:32+02:00Benevento vs. Inter: Match preview, how to watch, and live thread
<figure>
<img alt="FC Internazionale v Genoa CFC - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6fcVBwJE8Hpn0Na9DSFCKcOlEKo=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56927945/853036272.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We can’t possibly mess this up, right?</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="eAWRbm">While most Italian football fans and pundits are rightfully focusing on <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a> and <a href="https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/">Juventus</a>’ perfect starts to the season, Inter have found themselves in third place after the club’s opening six Serie A matches, trailing the pacesetters by just two points. No, the performances haven’t been all that great as of late, but 16 out of a possible 18 points to begin a campaign is always encouraging.</p>
<p id="14SHVF">On Sunday, Inter will have the opportunity to extend their early-season point total to 19 out of 21. Make no mistake about it, Benevento are the worst team in Serie A, and anything less than a victory would be completely unacceptable. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Benevento Calcio v AS Roma - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/O8bh1PrzlgWoRVIScXp4wy4b8V8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9356939/850161682.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Benevento have yet to earn a Serie A point, and own a staggering -15 goal differential so far.</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="W8C2AK">Sunday’s hosts are off to a dreadful start in their first-ever season in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/italy">Italy</a>’s top flight. Benevento have yet to earn a Serie A point, and have scored just one goal in all competitions since securing promotion in June. In addition to their six defeats in six league matches and -15 goal differential, Benevento were also thrashed 4-0 at home against Serie B side Perugia in the third round of the Coppa Italia. While football can be a crazy game at times (this is Inter after all), and it’s dangerous to overlook any opponent, the <em>Nerazzurri</em> will be extremely strong favorites on Sunday. If Benevento’s recent 6-0 and 4-0 losses to Napoli and <a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com/">AS Roma</a> are any indication, this match <em>could</em> (and frankly, <em>should</em>) be over by halftime.</p>
<p id="W1Nn8w">With <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com/">AC Milan</a> hosting Roma in Sunday’s early evening clash, Inter have a golden opportunity to further distance themselves from one (or both) of the club’s traditional top-four rivals. An Inter win, coupled with a draw at the San Siro, would see the <em>Nerazzurri</em> lead Milan and Roma by six points — a nice early-season cushion.</p>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="FC Internazionale v Genoa CFC - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-6UND7Ze7ejHFLaT2UIszDIdHFg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9356955/853052538.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Yann Karamoh impressed on his debut last week. Will the young French winger see more playing-time on Sunday?</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="rWK1PH">There’s so much on the line for Inter this season, so I expect Luciano Spalletti to once-again field a strong XI, but it will be interesting to see if the Italian manager uses his three substitutes to give minutes to several fringe players. Yann Karamoh had an <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/24/16357966/inter-1-0-genoa-player-ratings-and-man-of-the-match">excellent substitute appearance</a> last weekend against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/genoa">Genoa</a>; will Spalletti give the 19-year-old French winger another chance to shine? <span>Davide Santon</span> has now fully recovered from his injury, so Sunday’s match may offer Spalletti an opportunity to test the fullback’s fitness, and see if he should be included in Inter’s plans for the season. If the match is decided early, I would also love to see Spalletti swap <span>Mauro Icardi</span> for Andrea Pinamonti. Inter’s captain has played all but 6 minutes of the campaign, so it would be nice to give Icardi a bit of a breather before the extended international break. </p>
<p id="GuPuQP">Regardless of what Spalletti chooses to do, anything short of a dominant Inter victory would be a massive disappointment. Here’s hoping we aren’t fuming after the result.</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="vE9Sx1">Forza Inter!</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="2B9T0P">
<h3 id="pkeies"><strong>Match Info</strong></h3>
<p id="XpQljp"><strong>Date and Time</strong>: Sunday, October 1, 2017, 3:00 p.m. CEST (9:00 a.m. on the U.S. East Coast)</p>
<p id="GzAtYP"><strong>Location</strong>: Stadio Ciro Vigorito, Benevento, Italy</p>
<p id="z6zNQa"><strong>TV/Streaming</strong>: In the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a>, the game is available on beIN Sports 3, with streaming through beIN Sports Connect and fuboTV. In the UK, the match will be shown on BT Sport 3 with streaming through BT Sport Live. <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/2548698/benevento-vs-internazionale/">Click here</a> to find out where you can watch the match everywhere else in the world.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="dz5lrV">
<h3 id="oTFR5g">
<a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/"><strong>Inter Milan</strong></a><strong> Squad</strong> </h3>
<p id="TQUNdU"><strong>Goalkeepers</strong>: Handanovic, Padelli, Berni.</p>
<p id="fP2aYb"><strong>Defenders</strong>: Miranda, Dalbert, D’Ambrosio, Skriniar, Nagatomo, Ranocchia, Santon, <s>Vanheuseden</s> <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/29/16375192/zinho-vanheusden-suffers-cruciate-knee-ligament-injury">:(</a>.</p>
<p id="V3v8bz"><strong>Midfielders</strong>: Gagliardini, Joao Mario, Vecino, <span>Borja Valero</span>, Brozovic.</p>
<p id="hvUpZ2"><strong>Forwards</strong>: Icardi, Eder, Perisic, Candreva, Karamoh, Pinamonti. </p>
<p id="eKKFOO"><strong>Potential Starting XI</strong>:</p>
<p id="WBDFIP">(4-2-3-1): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Skriniar, Miranda, Dalbert; Vecino, Borja Valero; Candreva, Joao Mario, Perisic; Icardi.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="7kQSSv">
<h3 id="gGhGGy">
<strong>Match Thread Rules</strong> </h3>
<p id="ET0JGH">There are only three rules: don’t be hateful, don’t disrespect anyone else’s opinion and enjoy the game!</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="9YiZMu">
<p id="qtbJnG"><em>Want to contribute? Sign up for an SB Nation account and join the conversation on Serpents of Madonnina. Whether it is match coverage and analysis, breaking news, mercato or you just want to be immersed in all things Inter, we have it right here.</em></p>
https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/30/16387160/benevento-vs-inter-match-preview-how-to-watch-and-live-threadTim Kraus