Inter, Inzaghi in search of the lost defense. Seven changes for Torino

MILAN – Continue to score, plugging the holes in defense. Against Torino, who have the same points in the standings and have only lost the match against Lazio in the championship, Inter seeks balance. And it does so by relying on a reasoned turnover, with few fixed points and many rotations. Yesterday, in the last training session at Pinetina, Inzaghi tested a team that was different for seven elevenths from the one that beat Red Star 4-0. For the rest, against Vanoli’s team he asks for freshness from those who have not set foot on the pitch in the Champions League, or have played less.

The defense to find again

In the trio of central defenders lined up in front of Sommer, the only veteran from the cup night is Bastoni. For the rest, room for Bisseck and Acerbi. The coach asks the three to bring to the championship that impenetrability which in the Champions League allowed Inter to overcome the matches against Manchester City and the Belgrade team with a clean sheet. In Serie A they have already conceded seven goals in six matches. An enormity. A pace of fifth place at the end of the season, if anything goes well. And Torino in this sense is a good test, having already scored ten goals. On the wing, room for Darmian and Dimarco.

The midfield filter

So far in the league the Nerazzurri have only managed not to concede a goal against Lecce and Atalanta. Instead they collected at least one with Genoa, Monza, Milan and Udinese. The difference – net of individual errors – has almost always been made by the midfield’s ability to filter. It is very difficult that Sommer can match his record of 19 clean sheets this season, achieved last season, but it is also hard to think that he can continue to suffer so much. For this reason, the coach asked for maximum attention in the defensive phase from the three midfielders he should field this evening: Calhanoglu, who never holds back, but also the advanced Mkhitaryan and the attacking midfielder Frattesi, starting due to the absence of Barella .

The starters at the front are back

Where everything seems to work is in attack. In the Champions League, Arnautovic played one of his best games since returning to the Nerazzurri and scored. Taremi provided two assists and scored a penalty, courtesy of his captain. But against Toro it will be the starters’ turn: Lautaro, who after the brace in Udine also scored against Red Star, and Thuram, who with four goals is top of the scoring charts, in common with Cutrone, Vlahovic and Pulisic.