Three Talking Points From Inter Milan’s Defeat Vs AC Milan In Derby Della Madonnina

Inter Milan’s six-match winning streak against AC Milan ended on Sunday courtesy of a late bullet header from Matteo Gabbia.

Simone Inzaghi’s side started the game on the back foot, paying the price for not laying down an early marker as Christian Pulisic broke the deadlock for Milan after 11 minutes.

Pulisic’s early strike was the pick-me-up for that triggered Inter to get their act together and they gradually established a foothold in the game.

Inter equalised just before the half-hour mark. Lautaro Martinez slipped the ball into Federico Dimarco’s path. He rifled a low effort past Mike Maignan to restore parity.

The Nerazzurri ended the first half strongly, but a shocking display after the break paved the way for Milan to regain control of the game.

Paulo Fonseca’s side created several decent chances to take the lead, and they finally got the breakthrough with a last-minute header from Gabbia.

The end-to-end encounter in Milan delivered plenty of talking points, but we have narrowed it down to three key takeaways from the pulsating derby.

Mehdi Taremi Benched Despite Inter’s Struggles

Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi was an unused substitute despite Inter’s striker woes. Martinez huffed and puffed but Gabbia and Fikayo Tomori handled him well.

It was obvious that the Argentine and his strike partner Marcus Thuram were tired towards the end of the game, but Inzaghi opted against calling up Taremi.

Taremi would have given Inter a focal point when they needed to bypass Milan’s pressure, considering his link-up play is exceptional.

He could have formed a strong bond with Thuram at the top end of the pitch, and his presence would have given Milan’s defenders something different to worry about.

Inter fans in the Middle East were eager to watch in the hope that the Iranian striker would get the chance, especially after his impressive cameos earlier in the season.

They will have been disappointed that he didn’t get the nod, especially those who placed wagers on the striker to score on the best sports betting sites in the Middle East.

Taremi’s absence left many fans and bettors questioning Inzaghi’s decision, considering he could have made a difference for the Nerazzurri in the final stages of the game.

Inzaghi’s Team Selection Raised Eyebrows

Inzaghi has received plenty of criticism from fans and the media for his team selection, substitutions and over-reliance on players who are far from their best.

Martinez’s assist for Dimarco’s goal proved he can still be effective but a couple of other players in Inzaghi’s starting line-up caused a stir, including the inclusion of Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Inzaghi took off Nicolo Barella, Alessandro Bastoni and Hakan Calhanoglu in the second half. Mkhitaryan also left the pitch, but he shouldn’t have been in the starting line-up in the first place.

He is a shadow of his former self, yet Inzaghi considers him an untouchable player in the middle of the park despite competition from Piotr Zielinski and Davide Frattesi.

Zielinski started the Champions League fixture against Man City and his dynamism was key to helping Inter win several tactical battles.

The Poland international would do a better job in midfield than Mkhitaryan, and he could have been instrumental if he had started against Milan.

Inter Milan are Still Serie A Title Contenders Despite the Defeat

Losing their winning streak against their local rivals has sent some alarm bells ringing at Inter, but there is still plenty of football to be played this season.

However, how they navigate their upcoming run of fixtures could determine the trajectory of their season and shape their title ambitions.

Inter rebounded with wins over hard-fought wins over Udinese and Torino but they have a clash against Juventus on the horizon. Their subsequent fixtures look easier, which bodes well for their title hopes.

If Inzaghi’s team can safely navigate the upcoming fixtures, they would be in a good position to mount a sustained bid to retain the Serie A crown.