Match Analysis: Dortmund Finally Falter while Inter Win

WhoScored’s usual round up of those significant streaks that have come to an end the previous weekend sees us take in Serie A and the Bundesliga this time round. In Italy, Inter’s win at Chievo saw Claudio Ranieri’s side pick up the three points for the first time in eight attempts, while over in Germany, Dortmund’s eight-match winning run came to an end in a surprise goalless draw at Augsburg.

Sneijder Sparks Inter Back to Life - Match Report

Chievo were in confident mood ahead of Friday evening’s home game with Inter. While the visitors had picked up a mere 2 points from their last seven league fixtures, the hosts had dropped just 2 points from their last three. Inter left it late before sealing the 2-0 victory but Ranieri’s side were in control throughout, dominating the game with 61% possession.

Stationed behind a front pair of Diego Forlan and Diego Milito in a 4-3-1-2, Wesley Sneijder created goalscoring chances aplenty, providing 6 key passes from a total of 68. The Dutchman also produced 10 crosses and 12 long balls for Ranieri’s side and, with an assist also to his name, picked up the WhoScored man of the match award, with 8.94. Maicon was also a stand-out performer in possession; with Inter attacking down his right flank 42% of the time, the full-back had 111 touches –the most of any player- and provided 3 key passes, from 71 overall. As the Player Position map highlights, Maicon (13) foraged forward throughout, lending his weight to the Inter attacks.

With less of the ball, Chievo made the most tackles in their attempt to win back possession, with 27 to Inter’s 17. For the home side, it was a team effort - eight of their starting outfield ten made 2 or more tackles. Michael Bradley and Luca Rigoni stood out in the midfield three, with 4 tackles and a couple of interceptions each. Central defensive pairing Marco Andreolli and Francesco Acerbi impressed at the back, too - both made 15 clearances, with the former edging it for blocked shots by 3 to 2.

For Inter, Maicon was again a top performer, with 4 tackles and 4 interceptions. Lucio’s reliability at the back was highlighted by 4 tackles, 5 interceptions and 13 clearances, while Walter Samuel made 7 interceptions, 13 clearances and won 4 aerial duels to defy the home side’s attacking ploys. Andrea Poli’s reading of the game saw him make 7 interceptions and a tackle for the visitors, bringing plenty of ball-winning ability to Ranieri’s midfield three.

The shot count was pretty much one way traffic. Inter fired off 21 attempts in comparison to Chievo’s 6 but many of these shots were from long range, with 52% coming from outside the penalty box - as a result, only 7 were on target. Dejan Stankovic was the guiltiest for wayward shooting, with just 1 of his 6 shots on target, while Sneijder’s attacking threat continued - the Dutchman produced 5 shots, managed a couple on target and also hit the post. Samuel scored with his only effort all game, netting in the 87th minute, before Milito – atoning for an earlier penalty miss – sealed the victory with a minute remaining. Ranieri’s side now sit on 40 points, 8 behind Lazio in the race for a Champions League spot.

Inept Finishing Lets Dortmund Down - Match Report

Augsburg were up against it going into Saturday evening’s game with Dortmund. Not only were Jurgen Klopp’s side on an eight-match winning streak, they were unbeaten in their last 18, in a run that had seen them drop just 6 points.  It’s no surprise to see the visitors dominate throughout, with 62% possession indicative of their control of the game. Dortmund used the right flank mostly when on the offensive, with 44% of their attacks coming down this side. Neven Subotic – the right-sided centre-back- saw plenty of the ball; he made an incredible 102 passes, with 23 long balls from deep maintaining a steady supply to the front four in Dortmund’s 4-2-3-1.

Despite all their possession, Dortmund’s main creators failed to shine. The attacking midfield three managed just 4 key passes between them; Kevin Großkreutz and Jakub Blaszczykowski managed 2 apiece, while Shinji Kagawa failed to produce any before he was subbed off on 70 minutes, having managed a mere 23 passes overall. Right winger Blaszczykowski made a total of 10 crosses, with just 3 successful, while, on the opposite flank, Großkreutz delivered just a single ball from wide, summing up a below-par performance all round. As the Player Position map shows, Großkreutz (19) and Blaszczykowski (16) drifted centrally too often when on the ball, with Dortmund lacking in any real width in the final third.

Klopp’s side also made more tackles (22 to 18), quickly winning the ball back whenever they lost possession. Subotic again stood out; both he and right-back Lukasz Piszczek made 3 tackles and 5 interceptions, with the former also winning 3 aerial duels. On the other flank, Marcel Schmelzer made 5 tackles and an interception at left-back.

For the hosts, Hajime Hosogai made 4 tackles and 4 interceptions in his role in the Augsburg double pivot, showing plenty of tenacity in breaking up attacks. Right-back Paul Verhaegh was kept busy throughout, making 9 interceptions and a couple of tackles. Indeed, the home side’s backline made a total of 46 clearances between them, in comparison to the Dortmund defence’s 12.

In terms of shot count, Dortmund once again led the way, with 14 efforts to Augsburg’s 4. The away side were woefully inaccurate with their shooting, however; despite 57% of their attempts coming inside the opposition’s box, Dortmund managed a mere 3 on target. Lone forward Robert Lewandowski was the main culprit; he failed to find the net with 4 attempts, though 2 of those were on target. As many as four other Dortmund players fired a couple a couple of shots apiece but the goals just wouldn’t come for Klopp’s side and, with the hosts also drawing a blank, the visitors had to make do with a point, as their lead at the top of the Bundesliga was cut to 5 points.