In a thrilling back-and-forth match, Inter Milan secured a 3-2 victory over Genoa, a result that seemed perilous but was in fact achieved with relative ease. Throughout the game, the Nerazzurri held a significant advantage. Leonardo, despite making extensive changes to his lineup, still managed to orchestrate an impressive performance from Inter, demonstrating his ability to lead the team forward with each match under his guidance. The *Milan Sport* praised Leonardo by saying, "The transformation Leonardo has brought to Inter is undeniable; even in such games, the players remain highly motivated." The three consecutive victories achieved by the blue and black army serve as the best proof of Leonardo's efforts.
For this game, Coach Leonardo again deployed a 4-3-1-2 formation, but compared to the previous two matches, Inter's midfield positioning appeared more flexible and adaptable. Among the four starting midfielders—Zanetti, Cambiasso, Montari, and Marić—only Cambiasso had played as an attacking midfielder early in his career. However, under Leonardo’s tactical system, both Montari and even Marić delivered outstanding performances offensively. Cambiasso's movement baffled the Genoa players, as the Argentine midfielder not only frequently surged forward but also retreated deep into a position level with the two center-backs during defensive phases. Meanwhile, Montari was active not only on the left flank and central areas but sometimes even supported attacks on the right wing like a winger. Both Montari and Marić, often criticized for their rough play, made key contributions in attack. Montari provided an excellent cross to Eto'o, and subsequently almost scored with a powerful long-range shot. Marić, reminiscent of Vieri, powerfully headed the ball past the Genoa goalkeeper.
Winning against Genoa wasn't much of a surprise, considering that Inter had struggled significantly in the first half of the season to defeat them. However, in terms of both strength and mentality, the Nerazzurri had a clear edge. While both encounters this season ended in victories, the methods of winning were vastly different. Under Benitez, Inter relied on Montari's miraculous goal and a basic error by Genoa's goalkeeper Eduardo. In contrast, Leonardo led Inter to win in a manner that was both efficient and tactically astute.
During Mourinho's two seasons at the helm, Inter rarely rotated their squad, even in the Italian Cup. However, Leonardo made six changes for this match. Youngsters like Santon and Obi received valuable playing time, while veteran Matuzalem's appearance gave Lucio more rest. Additionally, key rotation players like Pandev regained confidence through the game. With January being a busy month for Inter, featuring many double-header weeks, Leonardo's appropriate rotation strategy will be crucial in helping players manage fatigue and better prepare for the upcoming schedule.
Inter Milan attempted only 11 shots throughout the game, less than half of Genoa's 24 attempts. However, the Nerazzurri converted three goals from just four shots on target, while most of Genoa's attempts came from outside the box. Inter maintained a high passing accuracy of 86.1% and controlled 52.9% of possession. Except for a brief period near the end when they became slightly disorganized and were besieged, Inter largely dominated the game's tempo.
Leonardo also demonstrated great maturity in his in-game management. One noteworthy detail occurred when Leonardo intended to substitute Eto'o in the second half. At that moment, Milito stood up from the bench thinking he would be called upon, but Leonardo chose young Obi instead. Leonardo then walked over to Milito, bent down, and explained the decision while placing a hand on the Argentine striker's shoulder. After their exchange, Milito calmly sat back down on the bench. Such communication was unimaginable under Benitez, whose reluctance to engage with players was one of the reasons for his dismissal. Another interesting detail was when Eto'o scored, even Lucio jumped up from the bench in excitement. During the Ballon d'Or ceremony, Lucio mentioned: "Compared to Benitez, Leonardo always encourages us and fills us with energy, which is why we are now winning." This reveals the effectiveness of Leonardo's approach.
During Benitez's tenure, Inter suffered from an 'irreversible' dependence on Eto'o. If analyzed further, even in the later stages of Mourinho's reign, Inter overly relied on Milito's goals. However, Leonardo's team displays a more distributed offensive firepower where everyone can score, and Inter's players find greater confidence within this tactical framework. Furthermore, it should not be overlooked that Leonardo has only been in charge for three matches, yet he has already invigorated Inter so remarkably. As the team continues to gel, the tactics and efficiency of the Nerazzurri are expected to improve even further.