Meet the Italian Champions, Inter Milan. Few teams have the best record in goals scored and goals conceded in their domestic league. The Nerrazurri are one of those special exceptions.
They are aggressive, prolific, and tactically interesting, proving themselves one of the best teams in Europe this season.
In the summer of 2023, Inter lost several key players, like center back Milan Skriniar, goalkeeper André Onana, and defensive midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. The club did well to sign reinforcements in center backs Francesco Acerbi and Yann Bisseck, midfielder Davide Frattesi, and goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Sommer has played 42 games for Inter this year, forming a crucial part of Inter’s stout defense. Acerbi has played 27 games, and Bisseck played on 20 occasions, also playing an important role in the above-mentioned tough defense.
While Fratessi has a more ancillary role off the bench, he has given Inter 9 goal contributions in 819 minutes in Serie A, (1 contribution per 91 minutes). Furthermore, the club did well to bring forward Marcus Thuram on a free transfer. He lines up alongside prolific and longtime Inter talisman, Lautaro Martínez. Thuram has been worth every penny of his wages, scoring 15 goals, and 13 assists in 44 games this season.
Inter set up in 3-5-2, typical for Italian teams.
What is not so typical, is how aggressive the wide center backs are in this set up. Sometimes when Inter are in possession, Pavard and Bastoni, (or whoever occupies these outside center back roles) will push up into the half spaces in midfield.
This positioning of the wide center backs, allows the midfielders to see more of the ball. These midfielders then line up deeper, making it easier to receive passes further from the low and mid-blocks, as opposed to trying to receive the ball in the middle of a packed defense.
This is part 2 of a series on the Champions of Europe’s top five leagues. Links to parts one, three, and four can be found on the corresponding numbers.
Thank you for reading this edition of European Champions, featuring Inter Milan.
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