The Serie A leaders are at an average of almost 2.5 goals per game in the league and have already had 13 different players. Behind Lautaro, the main striker, is a well-oiled machine producing plenty of opportunities. Thanks to various factors, from significantly increased dribbling to the enormous volume of play on the flanks.Among the many certainties that Monza’s five deliver to coach Simone Inzaghi, there is certainly one that does not leave opponents calm: the Nerazzurri’s goal machine has returned in all its glory, leaving behind a downturn that lasted only a couple of matchdays. The resounding success at the U-Power Stadium consolidates Inter’s lead in the league, and statistically, they simply grind out goals in every way at a much higher rate than any opponent, with a total of 49 goals, 20 more than the second (Juventus) and 11 more than the second-highest scorer (Milan, with 38), for an average of almost 2.5 goals per game.Inter’s all time top scorer list. Only three goals to overtake Vieri and Icardi’s record and 12 away to surpass Nyers. Can he do it?1⃣. 284 goals – G.Meazza2⃣. 209 goals – Altobelli3⃣. 171 goals – Boninsegna4⃣. 160 goals – Mazzola5⃣. 158 goals – Cevenini III6⃣. 143 goals -… pic.twitter.com/c04b4t1zME— F.C. InterData (@Fcinterdata) January 14, 2024 These are just the most glaring numbers, the most visible snapshot of the philosophy and playing style that Simone Inzaghi has given to his Inter, perfecting mechanisms and gears day by day, match by match. Much of the Nerazzurri’s offensive potential lies in the world-class level of Lautaro Martinez, needless to say. The 20 goals he has scored so far, 18 in as many league games, attest to this. But beyond Toro’s skills, there is a whole orchestra capable of exalting him and often accompanying him with equally effective solos. This is demonstrated by the fact that a total of 13 players have scored since the beginning of the season, two in double figures (Lautaro and Hakan Calhanoglu) and a third about to reach that milestone (Thuram with 9 in all competitions). The variety of goal scorers is accompanied by that of the so-called “assist-men,” already eleven on the scoresheet since the start of the season, starting with the specialist Marcus Thuram, who has served seven goal-scoring opportunities to his teammates, the latest in Monza with a brilliant backheel. According to statistics collected by Opta after 20 matchdays, it also emerges that the average number of attempted and successful dribbles has significantly increased compared to last season, rising from 3.80 to 5.95, as well as the number of lay-offs (7 per game), evidence of a more unpredictable and varied style of play.Milan’s French connection kills pale Mou-less RomaThe data from Opta depict a very compact team, on average enclosed in less than 34 meters, accustomed to developing the game in width, covering the entire perimeter of the field, with high precision in ball circulation. 62% of the total plays produced by the Nerazzurri have developed on the flanks, while the effectiveness has been 83%, demonstrating the mix of good feet and well-oiled mechanisms. Inzaghi’s style of play develops at high speeds, imposes intensity and constant movement, and involves the participation of the so-called defensive “little arms” in the offensive phase. Their insertions add to those of the wingers, also systematic, and the numbers related to positive passes show how central they are in building many offensive actions: at the top of the list, along with the playmaker par excellence of the Nerazzurri (Calhanoglu), there is Alessandro Bastoni, with 80 positive passes just like the Turkish player, while Matteo Darmian is practically at the same level as Nicolo Barella and Henryikh Mkhitaryan with 38 successful passes.Lautaro console Sorrentino (21 years) after the game. True leader!pic.twitter.com/TbtviRWtoP— F.C. InterData (@Fcinterdata) January 14, 2024 Lay-offs, dribbles, crosses, verticalizations, counterattacks, long passes: in Inter’s repertoire in these first 20 matchdays, there is a bit of everything, enough to understand that Inzaghi’s team is capable of striking in multiple ways. Crosses from the flanks generated by the push of Federico Dimarco and Denzel Dumfries are among the most travelled routes, but Inter’s most precious (and dangerous) weapons are clearly two: the first, the most obvious, is the ThuLa partnership, capable of delivering 26 goals and 14 assists in the league alone in 20 matchdays, meaning two decisive contributions per game; the second, less flashy but equally fundamental, is the feeling and participation of the midfield trio. Almost all offensive plots go through Barella, Calhanoglu, and Mkhitaryan, considering that in terms of created actions, the three surpass both Lautaro and Thuram. First of all, naturally, Calhanoglu, who, after inheriting Brozovic’s legacy, has transformed into the perfect conductor: first for chances created (33, double that of Toro), successful passes (1155), positive passes (80), and third for shots behind the two starting strikers.##NAJAVA_MECA_7796421##Despite having the best attack in the tournament, currently scoring in 28 consecutive matches (including the end of last season), the Nerazzurri’s conversion rate has so far hovered around 20%, a value that shows the still untapped offensive potential. Consider that since Inzaghi took over the Nerazzurri bench, the number of goal-scoring opportunities created in each league match by Inter has been only a handful of times less than double digits and usually, those who create the most end up scoring more. So far, looking at the cold numbers, the contributions of Arnautovic and especially Sanchez have been lacking, with just one goal and two assists each in the league (all from the Austrian). Between the two, just 15 opportunities were created and nine shots were attempted, well below not only the average recorded by ThuLa but also that of people usually dedicated to entirely different tasks and roles, such as Bastoni and Darmian. This is because there is always room for improvement, but the numbers indicate that Inzaghi’s Inter is already a lethal goal-scoring machine.
