MD23:Inter-Chievo - TalkSoccer

**Jager** · 02-02-2006, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Inter-Chievo

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

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Inter are emerging as the only side apart from Juventus with any genuine title aspirations but must win matches such as this San Siro clash if they are to remain challengers. However, Roberto Mancini will not have to remind his side that Chievo thrive on humbling more illustrious opponents.

The Inter faithful have cause to give their visitors a warm welcome. The Flying Donkeys have beaten Milan and drawn with Juventus – few sides have done more favours for the Nerazzurri. After a disappointing defeat against Parma, Bepi Pillon's men enjoyed an emphatic return to form with a 4-0 win over Reggina last weekend as French striker Sergio Pellissier took his season total to nine with a late brace.

Mancini's side struggled to see off rock bottom Lecce last weekend. The Nerazzurri tactician endured some nervous moments before a Luis Figo strike broke the deadlock and he seems to be expecting another tight game judging by his decision to spend most of the week's training sessions playing short-pitch matches.

Again there is added significance for the two goalkeepers who were exchanged in the summer. Julio Cesar came out on top in Week 4's 1-0 Inter win at the Stadio Bentegodi, but ex-Nerazzurri shot-stopper Alberto Fontana was on impressive form for the Gialloblu and returns from injury to try and take revenge at the San Siro.

Giuseppe Favalli is sidelined with a calf injury and joins Ze Maria, Alvaro Recoba and Marco Andreolli on the list of absentees. Esteban Cambiasso missed training for personal reasons but is expected to play. Obafemi Martins remains on African Nations Cup duty with Nigeria.

Pillon has a few injury concerns for the trip to Milan. Ex-Inter man Luciano looks set to miss out through injury, as does Matteo Brighi. Federico Cossato is still out of action but Simone Tiribocchi seems to have recovered from a slight knock picked up against Reggina.

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Inter (probable): Julio Cesar, J. Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Burdisso, Figo: Veron, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Cruz, Adriano

Chievo (probable): Fontana; Malagò, Mandelli, D'Anna, Lanna; Semioli, Sammarco, Giunti, Franceschini; Amauri, Pellissier

Ref: To follow...

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...6/int-chi.html

ParmaKing · 03-02-2006, 01:58 AM

Its at home, I imagine more of the same?

Cruz to start with Adriano?

**Jager** · 05-02-2006, 09:05 PM

great game by us. We could of scored so many today. Few mistakes, the goal we scored was all Figo. What a fk, he should of scored, but Cruz buried it.

Cambiasso's goal was NOT offside.

interista luigi · 05-02-2006, 09:12 PM

The defense was solid again, chievo never really had a good chance to waste.
Adriano is really making some amateur mistakes out there, he missed to many chances. You could also see the frustration from cruz when adriano didn't hit him on the run.

**Jager** · 05-02-2006, 09:44 PM

He creates room Lou for other players. They have to man mark him, sometimes with two guys. This was evident during the Coppa game, when he bounced the shot off the defense, and it went to a wide open Stanko.

Bad luck maybe?? I'm sure he'll get the goals. Maybe next week?? I can hope.

Adriano's play is not bothering me at the present time, he is still an asset, even when struggling. Just goes to show, that we have depth, and we don't have to rely on him or Martins to score.

interista luigi · 06-02-2006, 05:47 AM

Adriano's presence alone is good enough because as you said he is sometimes marked by two and no stranger to 3 and that leaves loads of space open.. I know its just bad luck, but I think he gets a tad predictable to defenders because he constantly cuts to his left foot, he must learn to finish with his right foot.

**Jager** · 06-02-2006, 05:53 AM

That might be easier said that done. Sometimes I wonder if we expect too much from him. He's an asset, but not Ronaldo...yet.

**Jager** · 06-02-2006, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Inter 1 - 0 Chievo
Cruz 7 (I)
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

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Julio Cruz scraped past Chievo and maintained the eight-point gap from Juventus, but it was a tough encounter.

The Nerazzurri do not have a great record against Chievo at the San Siro, but needed a win to keep up the pressure on Serie A leaders Juventus. With Alvaro Recoba, Ze Maria and Cristiano Zanetti injured, Adriano was again partnered by Julio Ricardo Cruz. Bothsides were missing key strikers due to international duty, as Obafemi Martins and Victor Obinna are representing Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations.

Esteban Cambiasso was on the bench, as he only returned from Argentina for personal reasons on Friday, but Internazionale lived up to their name by fielding a starting line-up without a single Italian player.

Ex-Inter goalkeeper Alberto 'Jimmy' Fontana was tested almost immediately by a Kily Gonzalez free kick, then the Argentine drilled over the bar on the counter-attack.

The Nerazzurri broke through soon after, as Luis Figo's long-range free kick cannoned off the upright and into the path of Julio Cruz from six yards.

A fierce Stankovic shot was over the bar and Fontana took two attempts to get an Adriano header under control.

Veteran goalkeeper Fontana was fortunate when he fumbled Adriano's cross and there was nobody there to take advantage of his error. He also smothered a powerful but central Stankovic effort.

After the break, Figo's shot swung past the upright, but Julio Cesar was tested by a Federico Giunti free kick and Cruz charged down Salvatore Lanna's follow-up.

Chievo were much more effective in the second half and put Inter under a sustained period of pressure, but Adriano almost struck on the counter-attack and stung former teammate Fontana's palms.

Adriano has been going through a dry patch of late and thought he'd scored when his free kick slammed off the underside of the crossbar and back out, but the ball was moving at such speed that it is difficult to tell if it crossed the line completely, but slow-motion replays seem to suggest it did not.

The Brazilian wasted a couple of simple opportunities after great team play from the Nerazzurri.

Inter had a goal disallowed in the final minute in curious circumstances, as Stankovic's effort was parried into the path of Esteban Cambiasso, who did not appear to be in an offside position.

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Inter: Julio Cesar, J Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Burdisso; Figo, Veron, Stankovic, Kily Gonzalez (Cambiasso 76); Adriano, Cruz

Chievo: Fontana; Malagò (Tiribocchi 74), Mandelli, D'Anna, Lanna; Moro, Sammarco, Giunti (Zanchetta 63), Franceschini (Gemiti 85); Amauri, Pellissier

Ref: Racalbuto

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...6/int-chi.html