Spezia vs Inter: Nerazzurri look to refocus as home stretch looms
Inter will look to continue their steady march towards clinching this season’s Scudetto as they travel to face debutants Spezia on Wednesady evening.
Although the Nerazzurri saw their 11 match winning streak ended by Napoli, Inter are still very much in charge of this season’s Scudetto race. Antonio Conte’s men presently enjoy a nine point advantage over cross-town rivals AC Milan, and a very comfortable 13 point lead over reigning champions Juventus. At the very minimum, Inter will be featuring in European competition next season, but as far as anyone’s concerned, that competition will be the Champions League. There was a whole bunch of drama earlier this week concerning the European Super League, but the Nerazzurri, along with Milan, have since quickly withdrawn from that competition after it blew up in everyone’s face.
That’s another story for later. In any case, Inter are having their best domestic campaign in well over a decade and barring a shocking collapse, the Nerazzurri will be celebrating winning their 19th Scudetto, and their first since 2010. They’ve lost just twice all season, and haven’t lost a Serie A match since dropping points in a shocking 2-1 reversal to Sampdoria back on January 6th.
However, it hasn’t been all peaches and roses for Conte. There have been those have been critiquing his playing style, accusing the former Juventus man of playing “ugly” football. In short, he’s reverted to an ultra-defensive mode, withdrawing his men and waiting to hit back on the counter-attack, but let’s not forget, that’s how many Italian sides play! And it works to devastating effect! If one wants to see “pretty” football, that’s where Barcelona comes in. But there are times where defensive strategies pay off, and it doesn’t matter how one gets those three points. Three points are three points, and when one’s trying to win a first league title in 11 years, one has to do what ones has to go. And really, Inter fans won’t care one bit either way.
Upcoming hosts Spezia, who sit in 15th spot, have 32 points. Vincenzo Italiano’s men are no strangers to pulling off upsets this season, notably being Inter’s cross-town rivals AC Milan and also dumping Roma out of the Coppa Italia. The debutants have alternated between a win and a loss recently, and aren’t out of the danger zone just yet as usually, 40 is the so called “magical” number needed to guarantee safety for next season.
What makes Spezia interesting is that they aren’t dull. They know they’re the new boys, but haven’t showed any fear and aren’t afraid to try to match wits with Italy’s biggest sides. Will they face a stern test when Inter come to town? For sure. But certainly, it should be an interesting match, and the hosts just may also be able to nick a goal as well, as Spezia are unbeaten in their last five on home turf.
