Inter’s match against Monza was like a scene from Dante’s Divine Comedy, traversing the flames of hell to reach paradise, a challenging journey filled with pitfalls, unexpected events, and surprises. On the eve of their 117th anniversary, Inter found themselves trailing 2-0 against Lecce, the bottom-ranked team in Serie A. The situation turned dire when, in the 44th minute, Keita Baldé cut inside and unleashed a right-footed shot that nestled into the top corner, doubling Monza’s lead.
Saving Inter from the inferno was an unlikely Virgil, Marko Arnautovic. Just two minutes after Keita’s 2-0 goal, Arnautovic ignited the comeback before halftime. He rose to meet Dumfries’ cross and headed powerfully, giving Inter a vital breath of fresh air.
THE PHYSICS WE LOVE – Inzaghi made two crucial substitutions at halftime: Bisseck replaced Pavard, and Carlos Augusto came on for de Vrij, allowing Bastoni to return to the left side of defense and Acerbi to the center. These changes significantly impacted the second half. Inter pinned Monza back in their own half, and Bisseck proved decisive, both in his overall contribution and by assisting Calhanoglu.
The Turkish midfielder deserves special mention for the technical brilliance of his equalizing goal. Talent and technique merged in that outside-of-the-foot strike, forcing the ball to obey the laws of physics as it bounced off the ground before a sweet, soaring trajectory into the corner of the net, leaving Turati’s dive futile.
CONTAINED JOY – Inter grew in confidence, San Siro believed, Thuram hit the post, Lautaro attempted an overhead kick, and Zielinski was injured immediately after entering the pitch. Inzaghi opted for Correa over Frattesi from the bench as Inter launched an all-out attack. The 3-2 goal arrived after sustained pressure. Calhanoglu transitioned quickly and passed the ball wide to Carlos Augusto, who delivered a cross. In the box, Lautaro pressured Kyriakopoulos, forcing an unfortunate deflection into the net. Turati made an incredible save, initially unnoticed, and play continued. But moments later, the referee stopped the game and showed the players his watch display: “GOAL” was displayed. Turati’s miraculous intervention couldn’t prevent the ball from crossing the line by millimeters, completing the comeback.
The average Inter fan left San Siro with the relief of narrowly escaping a disaster but also with the concern of witnessing a team facing difficulties in recent weeks. Rotterdam, Napoli, and Monza were three different matches but shared critical issues. It will be crucial to raise the level of attention ahead of the Champions League return leg against Feyenoord and the Sunday night clash against Atalanta.