Inter Milan’s counter-attacking play against Juventus has been a defining feature of their tactical battles, allowing them to exploit defensive gaps and transition quickly from defense to attack. Under Simone Inzaghi, Inter’s approach focuses on rapid ball progression, intelligent movement, and clinical finishing.

Key Aspects of Inter Milan’s Counter-Attacking Play

1. Defensive Solidity & Quick Transition

• Inter maintains a compact defensive shape, often absorbing Juventus’ pressure before launching fast counter-attacks.
• The back three, led by defenders like Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi, ensures stability, allowing the wing-backs to push forward quickly in transition.
• A deep midfield duo, usually including Nicolo Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, plays a key role in regaining possession and initiating attacks.

2. Exploiting Juventus’ Defensive Gaps

• Juventus often leaves spaces behind their full-backs when pushing forward, which Inter targets through quick diagonal balls.
• The wing-backs, such as Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco, stretch the field and provide width to overload the flanks.
• Strikers like Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram make sharp runs behind Juventus’ defensive line, benefiting from through balls in transition.

3. Vertical & Direct Attacking Play

• Inter’s counter-attacks are structured around vertical passing, quickly bypassing Juventus’ midfield to reach the final third.
• They rely on one-touch link-up play, especially between the attacking midfielders and forwards, to maintain speed in transition.
• Long balls from deep, particularly from Çalhanoğlu or Bastoni, allow Inter to bypass Juventus’ press and find runners in space.

4. Intelligent Movement & Positional Awareness

• The fluid attacking setup sees midfielders and strikers interchange positions to disorient Juventus’ defense.
• Barella often makes late runs into the box, providing an additional attacking outlet.
• Thuram’s ability to drag defenders out of position creates gaps for Martínez to exploit.

5. Clinical Finishing & Efficiency

• Inter prioritizes quality over quantity in their shots, ensuring they make the most of their counter-attacking opportunities.
• Their composure in front of goal, especially in one-on-one situations, has been crucial in finishing off counters effectively.