Serpents of Madonnina - Inter Milan vs. Benevento, 2:45 p.m. (ET), Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018An Inter Milan community.2018-02-25T15:31:11+01:00http://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/rss/stream/168079872018-02-25T15:31:11+01:002018-02-25T15:31:11+01:00Inter 2-0 Benevento: Player Ratings
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Benevento Calcio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q3gnQ3U4d3o0BAj2axIrl9g_v8Q=/0x0:2861x1907/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58812587/923881534.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>When defence is the best form of attack</p> <p id="Leg7oa">Despite a performance at times that was verging on the disgraceful, Inter scraped past bottom-of-the-table Benevento at San Siro thanks to two set-piece goals that momentarily returned them to third place in the Serie A table.</p>
<p id="Q3Fw1y">Below you can check out our player ratings from a truly terrible game of football at San Siro, while if a match recap is what you’re after then you can find it <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2018/2/24/17048938/defensive-supply-pair-of-goals-lift-inter-milan-over-benevento-calcio-serie-a-internazionale-milano">here</a>.</p>
<p id="6nVq8k"><strong>Starting XI</strong></p>
<p id="VbHJc5"><strong>Samir Handanovic - 6</strong></p>
<p id="9CrCCh">A straightforward save from Massimo Coda and little else. For all the promising positions Benevento got into they didn’t actually give him much work to do, their best chance of the match ending with Coda clearing the crossbar.</p>
<p id="tYmvYZ"><strong>Joao Cancelo - 6</strong></p>
<p id="P2QyTf">Another decent display from Inter’s most in-form player. In the first half he was probably bogged down by the general malaise plaguing the team but thankfully he woke up in the second, providing his usual supply of overlapping and crossing before an inch-perfect free-kick delivery enabled Ranocchia to make it 2-0. Any chance we can keep him?</p>
<p id="z210p2"><strong>Milan Skriniar - 6.5</strong></p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Benevento Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tNsCmPVyoCKulId6uJCNYbMSvm8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10294499/923881536.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="EuavbS">Often it’s said that attack is the best form of defence, but on this occasion it was defence’s turn to be the best form of attack.</p>
<p id="L1pcNr">Skriniar didn’t meet his usual high standards in the first half, carrying on from where he had left off last weekend with an uncertain display (although not having any kind of midfield filter in front of him didn’t help), but he more than redeemed himself 25 minutes from time when he headed in unquestionably the most important goal of his young career to date.</p>
<p id="jHU0oG"><span><strong>Andrea Ranocchia</strong></span><strong> - 7</strong></p>
<p id="R2KEoO">He was the only player - the <em>only </em>player - to come out of the first half with any kind of dignity, putting in a more secure defensive display than Skriniar which helped Inter to keep their head above water while Benevento controlled the game. Tidy, punctual, concentrated and clear-headed.</p>
<p id="wSARtz">And then he scored the goal that secured an undeserved but indispensable win with 20 minutes left - his first goal of any kind for Inter since December 2014. Despite everything he continues to demonstrate that he cares for the shirt and for that reason above all others he honoured the captain’s armband he was wearing on this occasion. Bravo.</p>
<p id="BaedKy"><span><strong>Danilo D’Ambrosio</strong></span><strong> - 5</strong></p>
<p id="Rn063M">Between his inability to use his left foot and Perisic’s indolence Inter’s left-hand side was nonexistent during the first hour. One of the worst offenders in recent weeks when it comes to elementary mistakes on the ball. At least he cleared up a couple of dangerous Benevento counterattacks.</p>
<p id="Fl1vhk"><strong>Matias Vecino - 5</strong></p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Benevento Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GQkO2WKQjVGdP_IzgRZijJ_7MaQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10294501/923881486.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Matias Vecino is no longer the player he was during the autumn.</figcaption>
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<p id="JGNl1G">Next week is the Milan derby, the match Vecino helped Inter to win four months ago with a spectacular coast-to-coast run that produced the corner from which they earned their last-minute penalty. Where on earth has that player gone? The done thing here would be to say that he’s a shadow of the midfielder he was at the start of the season, but he’s not even that. Awful, again. Without the flick on for Skriniar’s goal he’d have 4.5 too.</p>
<p id="NqH6lV"><span><strong>Roberto Gagliardini</strong></span><strong> - 4.5</strong></p>
<p id="dVyHae">A performance in keeping with his last three months. Absolutely horrific, in other words. Slow, scared and desperately clumsy - quite how he didn’t receive a booking in this match is anyone’s guess, because he would have deserved at least four of them. Although to be honest the first-half tackle on Sandro was more orange than yellow.</p>
<p id="LEK4yE">If Inter are to qualify for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> this season then they’re going to have to do it without a midfield, because neither Gagliardini nor Vecino can be classed as midfielders anymore. There’s virtually nothing Spalletti can do to solve this problem with the material at his disposal.</p>
<p id="0gaLyn"><span><strong>Antonio Candreva</strong></span><strong> - 5</strong></p>
<p id="mn3t3t">When Candreva is bad, he’s really bad. It’s not the effort that’s lacking, just virtually everything else, with a multitude of poor crosses and basic mistakes characterising a pitiful display. But then Spalletti moved him into the centre when Karamoh replaced Rafinha and his match got a little better. Could he be the trequartista we’re looking for? Based on those 20 minutes it’s an experiment worth retrying.</p>
<p id="id3jVw"><strong>Rafinha - 5.5</strong></p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Benevento Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3Qfpj1o5-2rTMRC2LTo0jcOR0Ss=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10294503/923877680.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="NjMqPR">If there was still anybody who didn’t understand why Spalletti had been keeping him on the bench so far, hopefully they understand now. Rafinha is not ready to play matches from the start at the moment and it was plain for all to see on Saturday evening.</p>
<p id="hCtH6h">The appalling performance from Inter’s central midfielders forced him to keep coming deep in order to get attacks going, leaving the team with a chasm of empty and unexplored space on the edge of Benevento’s penalty area, but the biggest issue was his lack of match fitness. He worked hard and won a few free-kicks here and there, but in this condition he isn’t the answer to our attacking woes.</p>
<p id="9oYqo3"><strong>Ivan Perisic - 4.5</strong></p>
<p id="GoBcos">He returned to the starting XI after missing the trip to Marassi, but it looked as if he was still struggling with the shoulder issue he sustained against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/bologna">Bologna</a>. He wasn’t comfortable moving his left arm and it appeared to inhibit him.</p>
<p id="RK9ynv">Having said that, the performance remained vastly insufficient. You just want to shove a rocket up his backside at times, because when he can be bothered he knows how to be devastating. But he hasn’t been bothered for almost three months now.</p>
<p id="G3UxzZ"><strong>Eder - 5</strong></p>
<p id="H4tX4k">Inter had no clear strategy of how to get the ball into the box and so he ended up suffering the fate Icardi has suffered on many occasions this season, left to fight against the entire Benevento back four by himself. When he did get his chance he spurned it with an ambitious lob from an angle, before winning the foul that saw Viola receive his second booking.</p>
<p id="3XIqjJ"><strong>Substitutes</strong></p>
<p id="g4hGah"><strong>Yann Karamoh - 6</strong></p>
<p id="hOqNhZ">The darling of San Siro in this horrid period of the season. And not without justification. No sooner had he come on than he’d won the corner that led to the opening goal. He won’t, but I’d quite like Spalletti to start him in the derby.</p>
<p id="iLB3m9"><strong>Marcelo Brozovic - N/A</strong></p>
<p id="mEfxiY">Came on too late to warrant a grade. Probably for the best...</p>
<p id="bWJxlg"><strong>Head Coach</strong></p>
<p id="SpB7Og"><strong>Luciano Spalletti - 5.5</strong></p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Benevento Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A-Nb_FEd2US8hzClGvzs_VRtNtM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10294505/923877656.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="NQLhGl">He made the move many had been calling for by benching <span>Borja Valero</span> in favour of Rafinha, but it changed nothing because Inter’s problems are far bigger than who he picks here and who he picks there. The first 60 minutes were an unmitigated disaster and had Inter not received two helping hands from referee Luca Pairetto and his VAR assistant (Benevento were denied a clear penalty while Gagliardini was lucky not to go for the late lunge on Sandro) they would have been staring a humiliating defeat in the face for them.</p>
<p id="faxkAa">Bringing on Karamoh for Rafinha and moving Candreva into the centre improved things somewhat, but Inter can, should, <em>must </em>be so much more than what they showed on Saturday. We got the win and that was the most important thing, but that doesn’t change the fact that this team is a mess and cannot even hope to make the top four while they’re putting in performances like this.</p>
<p id="QZYwVj">Milan, <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sampdoria">Sampdoria</a> are up next - vast improvements are required, otherwise it’ll be trouble.</p>
<p id="ufxaOT"><strong>Man of the Match - Andrea Ranocchia</strong></p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Benevento Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sv7IiDC5xCga3ga875llDtelol4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10294509/923881528.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="XI0Wm4">No doubt over this week’s Man of the Match. Not that there was an enormous amount of choice...</p>
https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2018/2/25/17049378/inter-2-0-benevento-player-ratingsWill Beckman2018-02-24T23:28:30+01:002018-02-24T23:28:30+01:00Defensive supply: Pair of goals lift Inter Milan over Benevento
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Benevento Calcio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gjH5FgHaPE6bJqnOFo6wC-wpX0E=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58808739/923853810.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Milan Skriniar (L) of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates with his team-mate Roberto Gagliardini after scoring the opening goal during the serie A match between FC Internazionale and Benevento Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 24, 2018 in Milan, Italy. | Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Milan Skriniar and Andrea Ranocchia head home <em>Nerazzurri</em> against Benevento.</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="P3wtfQ">For the first 66 minutes of the game with Benevento, Inter fans likely had thoughts of their team struggling against the club sitting in Serie A’s cellar and wondered just what happened.</p>
<p id="7dmrfZ">Luckily, a header from Milan Skriniar in the 66<sup>th</sup> minute followed by a delivery from <span>Andrea Ranocchia</span> three minutes later saw the <em>Nerazzurri</em> to their second win in 11 matches.</p>
<p id="W1GqWU">The win temporarily moved Inter into third in the league with <a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com/">AS Roma</a> still to play <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com/">AC Milan</a> tomorrow and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/lazio">Lazio</a> to take on <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sassuolo">Sassuolo</a>. Both Roma and Lazio are within striking distance of Inter and a win from either will see them go ahead of the <em>Nerazzurri</em> in the standings. </p>
<p id="hLqpg9">But, for now, Inter can celebrate shaking more of the dust off as they rebounded from their 2-0 loss last weekend to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/genoa">Genoa</a>.</p>
<p id="cS1iIs">The header from Skriniar in the 66<sup>th</sup> was a thing of beauty after Matias Vecino played in tap into the area off the corner taken by Joao Cancelo.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! GOAL GOAL GOAL!!!! Milan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Skriniar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Skriniar</a> you beauty, what a signing for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Inter?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Inter</a>. Can the nerazzurri hold on!? 1-0 | 67' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterBenevento?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterBenevento</a><a href="https://t.co/p8QLQ7reAr">pic.twitter.com/p8QLQ7reAr</a></p>— SerieAchannel (@SerieAchannel) <a href="https://twitter.com/SerieAchannel/status/967508233266057232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a>
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<p id="VMPjF8">It was Vecino again who found Ranocchia with a ball crossed into the area that found the top of Ranocchia’s head.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="it" dir="ltr">Inter 2-0 Benevento (Ranocchia) replays <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterBenevento?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterBenevento</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ranocchia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ranocchia</a> <a href="https://t.co/S65mD8Yp6i">pic.twitter.com/S65mD8Yp6i</a></p>— InterYaSkriniar (@InterYaSkriniar) <a href="https://twitter.com/InterYaSkriniar/status/967508727929757696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a>
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<p id="3jS8ui">It capped off a night that saw flashes of offensive prowess in the unlikeliest of places: Inter’s defense.</p>
<p id="ohUZa9">Early in the match it was Benevento — who collected their 13<sup>th</sup> straight loss away from home — controlling the tempo, but unable to sieze on any of the momentum to test <em>Nerazzurri</em> goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.</p>
<p id="3KO7se">Inter, on the other hand, struggled to make much of its offense.</p>
<aside id="xjgYjY"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Inter Milan drop 2-0 decision at Genoa","url":"https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2018/2/18/17024064/inter-milan-drop-2-0-decision-at-genoa"},{"title":"Just how important is Rafinha to Inter Milan?","url":"https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2018/2/16/17018716/just-how-important-is-rafinha-to-inter-milan"},{"title":"French delight: Karamoh goal give Inter Milan 2-1 win against Bologna","url":"https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2018/2/11/17001190/french-delight-karamoh-goal-give-inter-milan-2-1-win-against-bologna-internazionale-milano"}]}'></div></aside><p id="VBvcQI">Éder did have an opportunity to put Inter up early, but his attempt never really materialized after the ball nicked his feet just before his shot attempt.</p>
<p id="0CTvyN">Ivan Perisic had his header sail wide of goal after getting a feed in from Cancelo. Andre Coda did give the Inter defense some fits on the counterattack, but his shot sailed wide of Handanovic’s reach and out of play. </p>
<p id="XudPbJ">Coda again struck just after the start of the second half when Enrico Brignola went half the distance of the field and found Coda with a through-ball that was sent wide of goal in the 61<sup>st</sup> minute.</p>
<p id="jchlWP">After the Inter pair of goals, Benevento lost most of its offensive motivation and didn’t mount a significant challenge after that.</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="4LoMnR">The win for Inter gives the team much needed momentum heading into next Sunday’s Derby della Madonninia with Milan. </p>
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<p id="MkPU39"><em>What do you think? Post your comments below!</em></p>
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https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2018/2/24/17048938/defensive-supply-pair-of-goals-lift-inter-milan-over-benevento-calcio-serie-a-internazionale-milanoM.A. Clark2018-02-23T20:03:38+01:002018-02-23T20:03:38+01:00Spalletti: “Starting Icardi against Benevento is a risk it’s better not to run”
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v AC Chievo Verona - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RAO_92cLT72RjCIxb6h8EmswPbM=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58798963/884841960.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A recap of what Inter’s head coach had to say ahead of Saturday’s match with Benevento.</p> <p id="emfCQ1"><span>Mauro Icardi</span> is ready to make his return from injury as Inter take on Benevento this weekend but he is unlikely to be risked from the start, according to head coach Luciano Spalletti.</p>
<p id="Bo4DMe">Icardi has been included in the <em>Nerazzurri</em>’s 22-man squad ahead of Saturday’s clash at San Siro after missing their last three matches with a thigh strain, but despite the need to pick up maximum points at all costs after a run of 1 win in 10 league games Spalletti believes that discretion remains the better part of valour.</p>
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<img alt="Spal v FC Internazionale - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Llk_ehwkzsumYlqNGdsSWTkUgjE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10286565/911349666.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Mauro Icardi hasn’t featured for Inter since the 1-1 draw with SPAL at the end of January.</figcaption>
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<p id="MgvwnU"><em>“The mood around the team at the moment doesn’t make much of a difference,” </em>he told reporters at the Suning Training Centre. <em>“What’s important is how Mauro feels personally. There are still several hours until the game and we want to use him, but playing him for 90 minutes or starting him and not knowing how long he’ll last is a risk it’s better not to run. Tomorrow we’ll analyse everything with the medical staff and then decide.”</em></p>
<p id="xEkcxx">Icardi’s fitness was just one of a number of issues Spalletti discussed during his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, on the eve of a game that Inter know they must win in order not to lose further ground in the race for <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> qualification.</p>
<p id="oUjRYa"><em>“We’re going through a devastating, terrible period at the moment,” </em>said Spalletti, “<em>but we’re not suffering from the kind of depression that kills your spirit and stops you from reacting. Things are harder than they were at the start of the season because now we have the wind blowing in our faces, whereas before it was pushing us along from behind, but the objective that we want to reach remains right in front of us. Everything is still in our own hands.”</em></p>
<p id="TFQeNV">Alongside Icardi on the substitutes’ bench on Saturday evening will be Rafinha and Miranda, with neither fit enough to be named in the starting XI against a Benevento side that are still searching for the club’s first ever points away from home in Serie A.</p>
<p id="39i9As"><em>“This has been another week in which we’ve had to carefully manage Rafinha’s involvement in training,” </em>Spalletti replied when asked about the former Barcelona midfielder’s progress. <em>“He’s had a bit of muscular fatigue so we need to monitor him closely, although he did take full part in our shortened training session today.</em></p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v FC Crotone - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Cvc9xUdtGgwe9fvQ5xqJ1Yz2jPs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10286583/913837292.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Rafinha still isn’t ready to make his full debut for Inter. Will he be able to do so in next Sunday’s Milan derby?</figcaption>
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<p id="Zp7FN5"><em>“We want to use him as much as we can because he’s a player that can give us an important helping hand.”</em></p>
<p id="8C0Ui3"><em>“Miranda like Icardi is unlikely to start tomorrow, although I’ll monitor him and make a final decision tomorrow. What’s important is that those who haven’t been fully fit this week have wanted to stay close to the team.”</em></p>
<p id="4yhZSP">It is precisely this group ethic, along with the willingness of his players to prove their critics wrong, that represents Spalletti’s greatest source of optimism heading into the final third of the season, despite the hideous run of results Inter have put together since the 5-0 victory over Chievo at the start of December.</p>
<p id="b8WJlg"><em>“The fact that we will all be together tomorrow sends out a strong message. Everyone who has doubts over their fitness has thrown themselves headlong into the group and said they want to be involved. We have three or four iffy situations but nobody has bailed out.”</em></p>
<p id="RAIN55"><em>“Given recent results it’s natural that the fans have lost enthusiasm and are starting to criticise us, but it’s down to us to win them back over by reacting. To disprove what people have been saying about us lately though we don’t just need a reaction, we also need to show more pride - we need to channel these criticisms into a burning desire to demonstrate who we really are. We need to convince them to change their minds.”</em></p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Udinese Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EFGKEYrHOaAEPQg5_wd1kvBeoms=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10286605/893902106.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Can Inter stop their mid-season rot against bottom-of-the-table Benevento on Saturday?</figcaption>
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<p id="sQWaWf"><em>“Nobody is individually responsible for the period we’re going through, it’s collectively that we’ve stopped believing we’re good enough to beat anyone. It’s us who’ve determined our season so far, first in the good and then in the bad, and it’s us who have the solutions to resolve our problems now. We need to believe in our strengths and avoid the temptation to not fight for every situation right to the end.”</em></p>
<p id="wXDDIK">Spalletti is also counting upon Marcelo Brozovic being one of the aforementioned solutions, despite the turbulent fortnight that has followed the Croatian’s sarcastic applauding of San Siro during Inter’s last home game against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/bologna">Bologna</a>.</p>
<p id="ulI6Vl"><em>“Marcelo has kept his head down over these last two weeks because he was sorry about what happened,”</em> he said,<em> “but he’s done what he had to do since. He’s been training very well and the case is now closed.”</em></p>
<p id="Zox5jy">Spalletti also offered his reaction to the public backing he received from club executives Alessandro Antonello and Walter Sabatini <a href="https://www.football-italia.net/117580/sabatini-wrong-blame-suning">during the week</a>, while offering a ringing endorsement of the work Steven Zhang has been doing for Inter his season.</p>
<p id="FtuL5w"><em>“More than the comments about my work, I was pleased to hear what they had to say about the importance of stability and undertaking a project together. The important thing is to choose a direction and to maintain it, without being disturbed by the result of any given match.”</em></p>
<p id="pudpz3"><em>“Steven has the qualities of the perfect President, because he places enormous faith in you. He’s a fair and pleasant person who gives everybody the chance to express their qualities, despite his young age. Every person within this club has their own skills and their own position and he trusts all of us.”</em></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | Rewatch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Spalletti?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Spalletti</a>'s pre-match press conference for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterBenevento?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterBenevento</a> in just 6⃣0⃣ seconds! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCIM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCIM</a> <a href="https://t.co/ihxwO3UcyR">pic.twitter.com/ihxwO3UcyR</a></p>— Inter (@Inter_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/Inter_en/status/967081636637564928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="ncFf3z">While the enormous gulf in quality between Inter and Benevento would point towards there being only one possible outcome at San Siro this weekend, the differing levels of enthusiasm surrounding the two teams at the moment ensure that Roberto De Zerbi’s men have more than a straw to clutch at as they travel north to Milan.</p>
<p id="QZSGdT"><em>“Beating </em><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/crotone-serie-a"><em>Crotone</em></a><em> last weekend not only keeps our survival hopes alive”</em>, the Sanniti’s coach told reporters on Thursday, <em>“it also increases our belief that we can do well between now and the end of the season.”</em></p>
<p id="UbgIJm"><em>“The games we’ve played against </em><a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/"><em>Napoli</em></a><em> and Roma recently have given us more confidence for Saturday’s match, although that doesn’t change the fact that we’ll be up against a team that’s superior to us and who is managed by one of the best coaches in Italy.”</em></p>
<p id="PUvOTd"><em>“We’ll head to Milan with humility but with an unbelievable desire to get a result, because if we could do that it could be a turning point in our season.”</em></p>
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https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2018/2/23/17044366/spalletti-starting-icardi-against-benevento-is-a-risk-its-better-not-to-runWill Beckman2018-02-23T14:19:44+01:002018-02-23T14:19:44+01:00Inter Milan vs. Benevento - Preview, live stream and how to watch
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<img alt="Genoa CFC v FC Internazionale - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XrVUmhvtcy9cvVWjurDvx75_ZvE=/273x0:3000x1818/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58793457/919676724.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>After a rough road loss, Inter Milan return home to take on last-place Benevento. </p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="R73Vr6">After a debacle on the road that saw <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/">Inter Milan</a> lose 2-0 to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/genoa">Genoa</a>, they return to the San Siro to take on Benevento. With the likes of Ivan Perisic and <span>Mauro Icardi</span> out, Inter couldn’t build the momentum of their win versus <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/bologna">Bologna</a>. </p>
<p id="emeGyT">The loss to Genoa not only added salt to an already frustrating season but it also meant that Inter is sitting on the outside of the top four and are playing catch-up for a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> position. Two points isn’t a lot, but the current squad doesn’t give supports a vote of confidence that they can maintain pace with Roma and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/lazio">Lazio</a>. </p>
<p id="gYxmNZ">Nonetheless, an opponent like Benevento can help Inter get back on track. With only ten points in Serie A and four losses in their last six fixtures, they sit at the bottom of the standings. However, they’re coming off a 3-2 win versus <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/crotone-serie-a">Crotone</a>, so even though Inter comes in as the favorite, the squad shouldn’t take them lightly. </p>
<p id="0b345P">Although the home crowd is a welcoming sight, Icardi remains out for this match; however,<a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1225382/Preview/Italy-Serie-A-2017-2018-Inter-Benevento"> Perisic is available for this match </a>as the squad to help will have to generate offense by committee, something they were unable to do against Genoa. </p>
<p id="ZhMIzw">Lucky for Inter, Benevento tends to concede a lot of shots. In 25 Serie A matches, they’ve allowed 15.8 shots per game. Furthermore, Benevento has surrendered at least two goals in their last six fixtures, so Inter will have to convert their chances. </p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="JBLT9k">Even with the potential of Perisic and Icardi still sideline due to injury, Inter needs to find a way to win this match. If the squad fails to do so, then things it can get ugly for the club as supporters aren’t afraid to show any displeasure, so to avoid this the squad needs to win, no matter the fashion. </p>
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<p id="GNWpkR"><em>What do you think? Post your comments below!</em></p>
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<h2 id="1cQbTU">Match Info</h2>
<p id="x28EEu"><strong>Date & Time: </strong>Saturday, February 24, 2018; 8:45 PM CEST (2:45 PM on the U.S. East Coast)</p>
<p id="3lQC69"><strong>Location: </strong>Stadio Giuseppe Meazza; Milan, Italy</p>
<p id="9NKaAQ"><strong>TV/Streaming: </strong>In the U.S., the game is available on beIN Sports, RAI Italia America, and iGol. For more on how to watch, click <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/2548752/internazionale-vs-benevento/"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>
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<h2 id="Y35OQa">Match Thread Rules</h2>
<p id="gdaudU">There are only three rules: don’t be hateful, don’t disrespect anyone else’s opinion and enjoy the game!</p>
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