Serie A Half Time Report: Inter Milan vs. Sampdoria
Venue: San Siro
Score line:
Starting XI Inter Milan: Julio César, Maicon, Lucio, Walter Adrian Samuel, Cristian Chivu, Javier Adelmar Zanetti, Wesley Sneijder, Esteban Matias Cambiasso, Jonathan Biabiany, Samuel Eto'o, Coutinho
Subs: Luca Castellazzi, Marco Materazzi, Iván Ramiro Córdoba, Davide Santon, Obi, Sulley Ali Muntari, Thiago Motta, Nwankwo Obiorah, Goran Pandev
Starting XI Sampdoria: Gianluca Curci, Luciano Zauri, Massimo Volta, Daniele Gastaldello, Reto Ziegler, Vladimir Koman, Angelo Palombo, Daniele Dessena, Fernando Damian Tissone, Stefano Guberti, Giampaolo Pazzini, Antonio Cassano
Subs: Junior Angelo Esmael Da Costa, Pietro Accardi, Daniele Mannini, Andrea Poli, Marco Padalino, Nicola Pozzi, Guido Marilungo, Franco Semioli
Without a doubt, it was the most awaited fixture of Serie A. The Italian and European Champions, Inter Milan were held to a goalless draw at San Siro by inspiring Sampdoria, the Nerazzurri did look to be the better side for most of the
half.
Nonetheless, the visiting team did just enough to hold on and they did have their share of chances, but just like the hosts the killer instinct was missing in front of goal.
Considering Inter’s latest form in the domestic league under their new coach Rafael Benitez, trying to be the leader of the Serie A table should the only motivation for Inter Milan to go on and get a winner in the second half of this exciting
match.
Inter Milan did look to be the team making all the moves. The duo of Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto’o was once again back together and it did not take long for Nerazzurri to get their first chance.
It was amazing stuff from Inter Milan’s talismanic midfielder; Wesley Sneijder played Samuel Eto’o in the box. The Cameroonian striker of Inter Milan showed some extraordinary skills in the box and passed the ball to the left winger Coutinho.
The left-footed striker went for the goal on the first go and his effort was brilliantly saved by Sampdoria goalkeeper, Gianluca Curci. It was a close call for the visitors and Inter Milan should have taken the lead.
While on the side for the visitors, their talismanic striker Antonio Cassano was certainly keeping Sampdoria in the match; he was the main striking force of the visiting team.
The trend of Inter Milan dominating the fixture continued as there was another Nerazzurri attack and Esteban Matias Cambiasso played the ball along the box to Wesley Sneijder, who saw his long drive again went pass the post from close
margin.
Inter Milan were doing most of the pressing at San Siro but it was still very quiet on Milan, Sampdoria were not offering much.
Until, after half hour mark, the visitors pulled of an amazing move. Sampdoria almost scored. The visitors inspirational striker Cassano did brilliantly to get on the end of a deep cross and headed it across goal toward Pazzini. The right-footed
striker took a short range shot but Inter’s predominant goalkeeper, Julio Cesar pulled of a great save.
Just few minutes before the half time, Sampdoria defender, Massimo Volta, was shown a yellow card for tackling Wesley Sneijder from behind.
Tags: