The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 239 A tough battle with Blue Eagle
  On December 2010, 12, the first match of the fifteenth round of Serie A began. Inter Milan faced the Blue Eagle Lazio away from home!
  This is the Nerazzurri's first game in the last month of the year and their last league game before heading to the Club World Cup.

Compared with this Serie A game, the Inter Milan team is more interested in the Club World Cup, which starts in more than ten days.

Because as long as they win the Club World Cup again, they will win the sixth crown!
  Last year, Barcelona defeated the 2009 South American Copa Libertadores champion La Plata Estudiantes - in the Club World Cup final to win the championship, and achieved an unprecedented "six crowns".

This year, Inter Milan is expected to follow closely behind and become the second "six-time champion" team in history in a single calendar year.

How to put it, it's good to have aspirations for the Club World Cup, but it's not good if it affects the game in front of you.

Before the start of the game, Leonardo had to repeatedly emphasize that Lazio is now ranked third, second only to Inter Milan and AC Milan, and is their championship opponent this season.

Therefore, the Nerazzurri must not be careless when visiting the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

As for how much the players listened, it's hard to say.

Inter Milan has remained unbeaten against Lazio in the league since December 2003, winning all of its last four games.

Therefore, in the eyes of most Nerazzurri, it is easy for them to win their opponents.

In today's game, Inter Milan head coach Leonardo chose to change the formation. Milito's injury and the poor performance of the substitute forward made him decide to abandon 433 and play 4312.

Pandev and Eto'o partnered up front, with Leo as the attacking midfielder.

Behind him are Zanetti, Cambiaso and Thiago Motta, who finally returned to the starting lineup after a long injury.

Left back Kolarov, right back David Thornton, Bonucci and Lucio partnered as center back and goalkeeper Castellachi.

Compared with Lazio's lineup that drew with Catania at home in the previous round, coach Rhea only adjusted the position of the midfielder.

Matuzalen replaces Ledesma.

After the opening, Lazio took advantage of their home court advantage to attack aggressively.

Leonardo, the coach of the visiting team, was pacing back and forth on the sidelines. In a few days, he will lead the team to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the Club World Cup.

In today's game, first of all, he hopes that no one in the team will be injured, and then if it can be won smoothly, it would be best if it can be won without too much effort.

However, in the third minute, Hernanes volleyed hard in front of the penalty area, and the ball hit Lucio hard in the chest.

The Brazilian defender was injured for a time and returned to the court after emergency treatment by the team doctor.

Leonardo sighed and took advantage of the dead ball opportunity to say to Leo:

"It's best to win this game. It doesn't matter if you can't win. It's just an ordinary league. Don't let anyone get injured again."

Leo nodded helplessly, then returned to the court to convey the coach's instructions to his teammates.

It's okay not to say it, but it's okay to say it.

Originally, Inter Milan's players on the field had some thoughts and were no longer focused on the game, but now they are even more out of shape.

A minute later, Zarate made a cross, and Hernanes' long shot from outside the arc of the penalty area missed slightly!
  In the 11th minute, Lazio made a pass from the left, and Floccari forced a goal from the penalty spot under Lucio's interference!
  After the ball hit Lucio, it changed its line and went to the far corner of the goal!

Inter Milan goalkeeper Castellachi fell to the ground and blocked the ball at the feet of Lazio player Mauri!
  But in the end, Mauri's close follow-up shot was once again blocked by the goalkeeper with his legs!
  Then Zarate passed the defender on the left and fired from a small angle. Bonucci flew to block the ball.

Being continuously bombarded and beaten by his opponents, Leo knew that this was definitely not the way to go, but he was powerless on his own.

His teammates were not performing at their best, and he could not find any chance against Lazio, who was playing at home.

In the 19th minute, Lazio had a corner kick opportunity.

Zarate took a corner kick from the left, and Hernanes got rid of the defense and dived for a header!

Castellachi made the save in the wrong direction and could only barely stretch out his hand to hold the ball in front of the goal line!

Cambiasso's overhead clearance on the goal line hit the ball off Lazio defender Biava and bounced into the lower left corner of the goal!

One to zero!

The home team broke the deadlock in such a bizarre way!

This is the first time since March 2008 that Lazio has knocked on the door of Inter Milan in the league after nearly thirty-three months!

Lazio ended the 400-minute goal drought against Inter Milan in the league!

After taking the lead, the Blue Eagles continued their fierce offensive!
  Lazio fans in the stands also cheered them loudly.

There is quite a sense of taking advantage of his illness to kill him.

Floccari made a low pass from the left side of the penalty area, and Lucio rushed to make a tackle at Mauri's feet!

Leo launched a counterattack!

Eto'o received Leo's long pass in the frontcourt and then dribbled the ball for continuous breakthroughs and was finally brought down outside the penalty area.

Leo then took a sure-win free kick but was saved by Lazio goalkeeper Muslera!
  Lucio's follow-up shot from the right side of the penalty area was missed. Pandev's right-footed shot from close range in front of the goal was blocked by Muslera and slid out of the far post.

Leo glanced at the Uruguayan goalkeeper wearing jersey No. 86 in surprise. Muslera's heroic performance greatly exceeded his expectations.

The opponent was in too good shape today and failed to score even with such a good opportunity just now. It seems that this game is a bit difficult to handle.

Pandev scrambled for a pass from the middle, Thiago Motta drew a curved ball with his left foot in front of the penalty area, and Muslera fought hard to hit the ball with both fists!
  Leo moved to the wing and patiently continued to organize the attack. Eto'o received a cross from the right and hit the goal with an overhead hook in the penalty area. The ball did not have any power and was easily confiscated by Muslera.

In the 45th minute, Lazio full-back Lichtsteiner passed and shot from the right, but Castellachi got it!

At the end of the half, Inter Milan trailed Lazio 0-1 in the away game.

"We haven't lost to Lazio in seven years, and today you have the chance to rewrite that history."

Leonardo did not criticize the performance of the players on the field, but made some sarcastic remarks.

"I don't know if you are satisfied with your performance in the first half, but I can't stand it anymore.

Or are you all thinking about the ‘six-time crown’ right now?

After playing like this with Lazio today, judging from the performance of some players, they may not have the chance to play in the Club World Cup. "

No matter what, the head coach's lecture at halftime still had a certain effect.

At the beginning of the second half, the two sides changed sides and fought again.

Inter Milan, which was lagging behind, stepped up its attack!

Kolarov passed the ball from the left, Pandev cut into the penalty area and knocked back. Leo followed up and unmarked in front of the small penalty area and shot a low shot with his left foot straight into the near corner of the goal!
  Muslera didn't even have time to make a save before the ball went into the net!

One to one!

Inter Milan equalized the score!
  Leo's number of goals has increased significantly since the start of the new season. It's only the fifteenth round of the league, and this is already his fifteenth league goal!
  If this continues this season, he is no longer aiming for the assists king, and he will definitely not be able to win the Serie A Golden Boot!
  Leo never told the truth when being interviewed by reporters because he didn't want to complain about his teammates in public.

But the fact is that many times he doesn't stand up and score to change the situation of the game. Inter Milan really has no other way.

Biyava steals the ball in the frontcourt, Hernanes takes the ball accurately from the middle and passes the ball behind the defensive player. Zarate successfully breaks into the left side of the penalty area by countering offside!

Facing the attacking Castellachi, Zarate calmly shot into the net with his left foot!

Two to one!

Lazio immediately took the lead again shortly after the score was equalized!
  Mauri made a direct pass from the middle, and Froccari faced the Inter Milan goalkeeper in a single attack!

But his right-footed low shot before the penalty spot was saved by Castellachi!

Mauri's shot from the outside was blocked by Lazio's teammates.

The home team almost won another victory, but luckily the luck was not on their side.

A one-point gap and a two-point gap have completely different psychological feelings.

In the 73rd minute, Leo started from near the center circle, dribbling the ball and continuously breaking through the defense of Matuzalen and Brockie to send direct passes!

Pandev cleverly rubbed the sliding tackle of Biaava, and his left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area was blocked by Lazio defender Diaz and bounced back to his feet!
  Pandev immediately shot low with his left foot and the ball went into the goal!

Two to two!
  Inter Milan once again tenaciously equalized the score!
  Three minutes later, Eto'o broke through and passed the ball. Leo got rid of the marker and inserted his right foot to sweep the shot straight into the dead corner of the goal!

Three to two!
  Inter Milan overtook the score!
  Leonardo nodded, he was quite satisfied with the team's performance in the second half.

Stankovic came on as a substitute for Thiago Motta.

The main reason is that the head coach is not sure about the judgment of the team doctor. He is afraid that Motta, who was just injured, will relapse, so he is replaced early to rest.

But Leonardo soon began to regret it. After Stankovic came on, the Nerazzurri lost control of the midfield.

Floccari played a wall-kicking match with Mauri from the right. Mauri's left foot went straight to the right side of the penalty area in time. Zarate's right-foot push was saved by Castellaci who fell to the ground!

Zarate easily passed Stankovic's defense and passed the ball. Hernanes' left-footed volley from outside the penalty area went over the crossbar.

But at this time, it is impossible for Leonardo to replace a player who has led to frequent opportunities for the opponent within a few minutes of playing.

So he replaced Leo with Muntari, hoping to strengthen the team's defense and maintain the current score.

It's a pity that he seems to be overthinking.

Floccari dribbled the ball through, but Muntari stepped up and tackled him to the ground!
  The home team got a perfectly placed free kick!
  Hernanes took the free kick just 22 meters away from the goal.

Hernanes' right-footed curve ball went through the wall and was blocked by Stankovic, then turned and went straight into the lower right corner of the goal!

Three to three!
  Blue Eagle Lazio tied Inter Milan at the last moment of the game!

Two ordinary substitutions turned the three points already obtained into one point, and Leonardo himself couldn't laugh or cry.

"Lazio are very strong and their current league position proves that.

Therefore, I think a draw with them in the away game is a reasonable result.

We were at a disadvantage in the first half, and our offense in the second half was obviously more threatening than the first half.

It's a pity that after the substitution, the initiative was taken back by the home team. I can only say that it was my responsibility that caused the team to lose two points.

I am not worried about these problems. I believe that when the injured players return to the team, we will still be the invincible championship team! "

(End of this chapter)