Simone Inzaghi Left Frustrated After Juventus Defeat as Inter Milan Miss Chance to Go Top of Serie A
Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi was left frustrated after his side fell to a 1-0 defeat against Juventus on Sunday, missing a golden opportunity to overtake Napoli at the top of Serie A. Despite dominating the first half, Inter failed to capitalize on their chances, allowing Juventus to snatch victory with a late goal.
Portuguese winger Francisco Conceicao scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute, finishing off an impressive move set up by Randal Kolo Muani. The Allianz Stadium erupted as Juventus secured a crucial win, while Inter were left to reflect on yet another missed opportunity in the title race.
A composed finish from Francisco Conceição, but what about that Kolo Muani assist?! #JuveInter pic.twitter.com/2L1jVf3F8h
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 17, 2025
Inzaghi Disappointed With Inter’s Missed Chances
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Inzaghi did not hide his frustration.
“There is a lot of regret and disappointment, but the boys showed great organization and courage,” he said. “We needed to score more goals and finish the first half with a lead.”
Inter started the game well, controlling possession and creating multiple chances, but their lack of clinical finishing proved costly. Despite forcing Juventus onto the back foot early on, they failed to convert their dominance into goals.
Their struggles in front of goal have been a recurring problem in recent weeks, with Inter also failing to score in their 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina earlier this month. Inzaghi acknowledged that these issues must be addressed if his team wants to stay in the title race.
Tactical Adjustments and Key Substitutions
Inzaghi made three substitutions in the 62nd minute in an attempt to regain control after Juventus started the second half stronger. However, the changes did not have the desired effect, and Juventus took advantage of Inter’s lack of fluency.
“We had to do better, the last situation was wrong. In the nine years I’ve been in Turin, I’ve never had so many chances,” Inzaghi admitted. “It hurts to lose, we really wanted to win. Everything is still open, but we need to change the tempo.”
Despite Inzaghi’s adjustments, Juventus’ defensive discipline and counter-attacking play proved too difficult for Inter to break down. The introduction of fresh legs did not help Inter regain momentum, and they ultimately paid the price when Conceicao scored the decisive goal.
Inter Milan Miss a Big Opportunity in the Title Race
The loss was particularly frustrating for Inter because it came on a weekend when Napoli dropped points. Napoli were held to a 2-2 draw against Lazio on Saturday, meaning a win for Inter would have put them at the top of Serie A.
Instead, they remain two points behind Napoli, sitting in second place with 54 points from 25 games. With just 13 matches remaining in the league campaign, every point matters, and missing out on a chance to go top could be costly in the long run.
Inter have now lost two of their last three away games, a worrying trend that Inzaghi knows must be reversed quickly. Their next few fixtures will be crucial in determining whether they can mount a serious title challenge or risk falling behind in the race.
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Upcoming Challenges for Inter Milan
Inter will now turn their attention to their upcoming matches, starting with a home game against Genoa on Saturday. This will be followed by a Coppa Italia quarter-final clash against Lazio on Tuesday.
However, the biggest test will come on March 2, when they visit league leaders Napoli in a potential title-decider. With Antonio Conte’s Napoli side looking strong, Inter must find a way to bounce back and show that they can compete at the highest level.
“It will be an important game, like tonight, but we have other games first,” Inzaghi said. “We need to do better than we did tonight.”
This fixture against Napoli could define Inter’s season. A win would put them back in the driver’s seat for the title, while another defeat could leave them with a mountain to climb.
What Inter Milan Must Improve
Inter’s recent struggles have exposed a few key weaknesses that Inzaghi must address:
- Finishing Efficiency – Inter are creating chances but failing to score. Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram need to be more clinical in front of goal.
- Away Form – The team has struggled on the road, losing to both Fiorentina and Juventus in recent weeks. They must improve their performances in difficult away games.
- Game Management – Inter have struggled to maintain control of matches in the second half. Stronger decision-making and defensive solidity will be key moving forward.
With crucial fixtures ahead, Inter must respond quickly and find solutions to their problems. Inzaghi knows that every point counts in the race for the Serie A title, and his team cannot afford more slip-ups.
