At 19:30 on January 6, Beijing time, the 19th round of Serie A ushered in a key battle: the leader, the favorite to win the championship, Inter Milan, hosted the weak team Verona.
In the Serie A standings before the game, Inter Milan ranked first with 45 points in 18 games, 14 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss, 2 points ahead of the second place Juventus, and 9 points more than the third AC Milan, and has already mastered the initiative to compete for the title.
Verona is 17th with 18 games, 3 wins, 5 draws, 10 losses, 14 points, the same points as Cagliari in the relegation zone, only the goal difference is advantageous, and the relegation situation is grim.
Yes, Inter Milan started the 352 formation, Lautaro and Thuram Jr. partnered in the front, midfielders Augusto, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dumfries, three central defenders Bastoni, Acerbi, Pavard, and goalkeeper Sommer. The total value of the starting eleven is 440 million euros.
Verona started the 4231 formation, center forward Djuric, forward Mbula, Sulov, Ngongo, double back Florenjo, Duda, four back Doig, Kubola, Magnani, Chachuwa, goalkeeper Mondiper. The starting eleven is worth a total of 38.5 million euros.
Verona wanted to steal the start, and in the second minute of the opening game, Ngonggo forced a breakthrough on the right and crossed, and Suslov volleyed from a small angle, which was blocked by Sommer on the ground. Verona almost caught Inter off guard.
In the 8th minute, Barella picked up a cross into the penalty area, and Augusto volleyed a shot, which was blocked by the defender.
In the 12th minute, Thuram Jr. carried the ball with his back to the defense, Mkhitaryan took the ball and sent a wonderful pass, and Lautaro stopped the ball in the penalty area and pushed the ball with the outside of his instep to score. Inter Milan lead Hellas Verona 1-0.
In the 26th minute, Verona's attack on the right side, Djuric received a teammate's accurate cross in the middle of the penalty area and hit the goal with a powerful header, which was confiscated by Sommer on the goal line.
In the 28th minute, Inter Milan counterattacked, and Mkhitaryan's volley went high.
In the 31st minute, Inter Milan made a successful steal at the back, Thuram Jr. ran all the way to the front with the ball from the back, and Chachuwa tackled to resolve the attack.
In the 74th minute, Arnautovic was cut off by Verona and immediately launched a counterattack, and Thomas Henry outflanked the goal. Hellas Verona tied the score at 1-1.
In the 78th minute, Inter Milan took a free kick in front of the penalty area, and Arnautovic stepped forward at the back point, but he ran over and entered the goal, but the ball was behind him and flew directly out of the bottom line.
The player, who had previously played in the Chinese Super League and the Premier League, made two mistakes in quick minutes, the first mistake led to Inter's equaliser, and the second mistake missed a good chance to score.
In stoppage time, Frattesi scored the winner! Inter Milan 2:1 Verona. Darmian then fouled the penalty but Verona Thomas Henry's penalty hit the post and bounced off the post and his team-mate shot wide.
At the end of the game, Inter Milan continued to lead the Serie A standings with 48 points in 19 games, and was 5 points ahead of second place Juventus in the first round.