In the last four league matches, Inter’s defense has produced a remarkable six goals with as many different players: thus, the goal-scoring spree also bears the signature of those who primarily protect Sommer.
Maybe it’s because now, back there, there’s less work to do. Maybe it’s because at the most exciting parties, everyone wants to take their turn on the dance floor, or maybe it’s because the quality of the players is such that they can be effective on both ends of the field. But the bottom line is that Inter’s defense, undoubtedly the best in the league, has been contributing – and quite significantly – on the offensive front lately. To put it simply, six out of the sixteen goals in the last four matches were scored by defenders or players universally considered as such. It’s an additional set of weapons at Simone Inzaghi’s disposal: the coach and the team are benefiting from it, and so the league leader has scored four consecutive “hat tricks” in the last four Serie A matches.
ADVANTAGES AND PROTAGONISTS
Certainly, the data doesn’t tell the whole story, and some clarifications are necessary. Moreover, half of these scoring defenders actually play in midfield positions as wide full-backs, inflating a trend that cannot be underestimated. In the 2-4 win away at Roma, both Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni scored; in the 4-0 victory against Salernitana, Denzel Dumfries found the net; in the 4-1 win at Lecce, Stefan De Vrij scored; on Wednesday against Atalanta, first Matteo Darmian and then Federico Dimarco got on the scoresheet. It’s a 4×4 with front-wheel drive, but it also runs for the horses that usually stay behind.
IT’S BENJI’S TURN
It seems that the only missing player among the starters is Benjamin Pavard, who, incidentally, is a player with a decent knack for scoring throughout his career: just in October, he secured a win over Scotland with a brace while playing for France, for example. It seems to be only a matter of time before we see him celebrating with Inter’s jersey. However, it remains to be seen if this pleasant habit will continue on Monday against Genoa: opportunities won’t be lacking, as the goals have come from set pieces as well as open play, at the beginning of matches as well as during goal-fests, from the wide players as well as the center-backs. Serie A’s best defense is also becoming the best at… scoring goals.
