Do the statistics back up recent controversy around Inter Milan’s matches against Serie A relegation-battlers Frosinone and Sassuolo?
In the view of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, there’s a case that they do.
Inter’s two most recent matches in Serie A have come against teams at the bottom end of the table.
Last weekend, the Nerazzurri took on Sassuolo.
It was a match pitting a team who had already been crowned champions against a team mired in the bottom three.
Improbably (or not) enough, Inter’s “bogey team” got their second win of the season against them.
It was a huge three points for the Neroverdi, putting it mildly. The result did not lift the Emilians out of the relegation zone, but it made their situation look a lot less bleak.
Then on Friday, Inter faced Frosinone, a team just a couple of points above the drop zone.
The Nerazzurri beat the Canarini 5-0. Four goals in the second half turned the match into a one-sided rout.
Do Statistics Back Up Controversy Around Inter Matches Vs Sassuolo & Frosinone
After the match, Frosinone coach Eusebio Di Francesco had some bitterness to vent.
The former Roma and Sampdoria coach – who had also coached Sassuolo himself for multiple seasons – felt that it was a very different Inter compared to the one that had slumped to defeat against the Neroverdi.
This could lead to a sense of unfairness towards Frosinone.
After all, the team that had lost in Emilia-Romagna had more than a little air of a title celebrations hangover.
On the other hand, the Inter side that thrashed Frosinone were clearly responding to the result against Sassuolo.
The Gazzetta note that the two matches have very different statistical pictures.
Against Sassuolo, Inter dominated possession of the ball. But while there was no shortage of probing and some half-chances, there was just one shot on goal.
On the other hand, against Frosinone, Inter actually had fewer shots – either on or off target – than the home side.
But the Nerazzurri were ruthlessly clinical.
Seemingly chastened by their frustrating even of failing to equalize against Sassuolo, the Nerazzurri showed their ruthlessness and individual quality to the maximum extend.
Therefore, if the two results do end up being decisive in the relegation race, Frosinone will certainly have reason to fell hard done by.
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