A tough, tactical, dull, and chess-like match was expected… That’s how it has been in recent years when Inter and Juventus meet in the Derby d’Italia. In their last 10 encounters, only twice have more than two goals been scored, with one goal often deciding the outcome. Given that a loss tonight would hurt much more than a win would mean, another tactical showdown and waiting for the opponent’s mistake were expected. But none of that happened tonight at San Siro. History was made, and one of the best clashes between the giants of Italian football was witnessed. Perhaps even the craziest Serie A match of this century. Inter – Juventus 4:4!8 – For the third time in the history of #SerieA, at least 8 goals were scored in a match between #Inter and #Juventus, after 10 June 1961 (9-1 for the Bianconeri) and 17 January 1932 (6-2 for the Bianconeri). Myriad.#derbydItalia #InterJuventus— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 27, 2024 The whole match was open, unpredictable, tense… Inter led, then fell behind. Then they turned it around! They had Juventus on the ropes, but then Kenan Yildiz entered, causing havoc among the 80,000 fans in the stands and lifting Juventus from the ashes. Juventus is undoubtedly happier with the point, as they were on the brink of defeat, but they are still a new and young team facing many similar fluctuations and currently lack the champion’s instinct of a more experienced Inter. This is a process. And it requires sacrifices and lessons like this. Thiago Motta tonight fielded the youngest Juventus lineup in Serie A derbies against Inter in the last 30 years, with an average age of 25 years and 212 days. He was forced to do so due to injuries to Bremer, key signings Teun Koopmeiners and Nicolas Gonzalez, and Douglas Luiz, one of the biggest disappointments among new signings, who was injured during warm-ups. With reserve Millik also previously injured, the options were limited, especially in defense, where the surprise was Danilo starting over Gatti. Kenan Yildiz remained on the bench, while returned players Conceição and Weah got their chance on the wings.Inter also had injury issues, though not as many as Juventus. They missed playmaker Çalhanoglu, with Zielinski starting in his place, as well as b and Augusto, who aren’t considered core players. A significant advantage for Inter was that attacking starters Lautaro and Thuram were rested since they hadn’t started midweek in the Champions League and could put Juventus’s defense to the test. When Danilo grabbed his knee in the third minute, it seemed Juventus was immediately in trouble, but the Brazilian soldiered on to the end. Perhaps it would have been better if he hadn’t, as he conceded a penalty on Thuram about ten minutes later. Zielinski, taking on Çalhanoglu’s duties, calmly scored from the spot for a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.But Juventus responded only five minutes later. Either Inter’s defense fell asleep or their offside trap failed, but they conceded. McKennie brilliantly reacted to Kabal’s pass over the back line, setting up Dusan Vlahovic, who completed the easy part from close range to beat Sommer. Five minutes later came a full turnaround. Francisco Conceição, the nimble player, got past Mkhitaryan and served a goal on a platter to another famous football son – Timothy Weah. Conceição then had another dangerous attempt… But Mkhitaryan had his own revenge plan. He exchanged a one-two with Marcus Thuram, McKennie didn’t track him, and he lined up his shot, placing it in the corner past three defenders. Inter sprang to life and turned it around just a minute later! Denzel Dumfries drew a penalty from Kalulu, and once again, Zielinski was flawless from the spot. Two turnarounds by halftime and, for the first time in Derby d’Italia history, five goals in the first 45 minutes. And there could have been more, as notable chances came for the famous sons Marcus Thuram and Timothy Weah, whose brilliant shot grazed the crossbar.The second half was lower in goals but not in football action. It was electric on both sides. Dimarco and Dumfries had chances at the start, with the Dutchman crowning his superb performance with a goal for 4-2 in the 53rd minute after a corner and Juventus’s poor defensive response. But even that wasn’t enough to settle this wild match. Motta corrected his earlier mistake by sending Kenan Yildiz onto the field with half an hour left. The Turk repaid his trust by lifting Juve from the ashes. Inter had missed several chances by then, or rather, goalkeeper Di Gregorio kept Juventus in the game, making fantastic saves from Dimarco and Barella, while Lautaro Martinez missed a clear opportunity. Then, the punishment arrived, signed by Kenan Yildiz. The Turk, in his half-hour on the field, did more than all other Juventus attackers combined.1 – Kenan #Yildiz (19 years and 176 days) is the youngest player to score more than one goal in a match between #Inter and #Juventus in the history of #SerieA. Super.#derbydItalia #InterJuventus— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 27, 2024 Starting near the center, he drove a counterattack, charging at three defenders and elegantly, in the style of his idol Del Piero, curled a left-footed shot into the far corner. Motta then replaced the tired Vlahovic and Danilo, while Inzaghi’s plan to open up the game with Frattesi and Bisseck didn’t work, and things started to unravel. Yildiz missed a great chance for 4-4 in the 80th minute but didn’t miss two minutes later. Bisseck poorly cleared Conceição’s cross, and the ball fell to Yildiz, whose powerful left-footed shot struck again. Sommer tried to react… The Inter players held their heads, realizing they had let victory slip away. Introducing Taremi was in vain.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 9Friday Udinese – Cagliari 2-0 (1-0)/Lucca 38, Davis 78/Torino – Como 1-0 (0-0)/Njie 75/Saturday Napoli – Lecce 1-0 (0-0)/Di Lorenzo 73/Bologna – Milan POSTPONEDAtalanta – Verona 6-1 (5-1)/De Roon 6, Retegui 9, 58, De Ketelaere 14, Lookman 29, 34 – Sarr 42/Sunday Parma – Empoli 1-1 (0-1)/Charpentier 80 – Coulibaly 35 og/Lazio – Genoa 3-0 (1-0)/Noslin 21, Pedro 86, Vecino 90+4/Monza – Venezia 2-2 (2-2)/Kyriakopolus 23, Djuric 44 – Ellertsson 15, Svoboda 39/Inter – Juventus 4-4 (3-2)/Mkhitaryan 35, Zielinski 15, 37, Dumfries 53 – Vlahovic 20, Weah 23, Yildiz 72, 81/22.45: (2.50) Fiorentina (3.30) Roma (2.85)***odds are subject to change***
