Claudio Marchisio Proves Worth to Juventus Once More in Win over Inter Milan

Matches between Inter and Juventus have often been hugely significant encounters, with the two sides regularly meeting with silverware on the line. Indeed, back in the 1960s when they were Italy’s two most decorated sides, the great Gianni Brera christened this fixture the Derby d’Italia in recognition of its prestige.

Despite the Nerazzurri being overtaken by their neighbours Milan in terms of trophies won, their battles for the title during the late 1990s and early 2000s ensured that the games retained that fiery atmosphere. Calciopoli—and the role both clubs played in it—renewed their animosity towards each other and returned the clash to the forefront of football on the peninsula.

That history meant that there was a strange air to this latest instalment, however, with Juve having already secured their place as Serie A champions and with just four days until the final of the Coppa Italia.

Massimiliano Allegri sent out a vastly altered lineup, making no fewer than seven changes from his side’s last outing, which was, of course, their Champions League triumph over Real Madrid last Wednesday.

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It came as no surprise, with the coach having warned reporters at his pre-match press conference that he would be resting a number of his stars. “Maybe I’ll give those who have played more the chance to catch their breath,” Allegri said, adding that Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo, Gigi Buffon, Patrice Evra and Arturo Vidal would not even be making the journey to San Siro.

Of those retaining their places, two did so due to the fact that they are ruled out of the cup meeting with Lazio due to suspensions, with Alvaro Morata and Claudio Marchisio knowing they will not be available for action at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome next week. While Inter inevitably opened the scoring through striker Mauro Icardi—who now has six goals in five career appearances against Juventus—the game would once again underline the vital role Marchisio has played this term.

The likes of Tevez, Vidal and Paul Pogba may garner the most attention, but the Turin native has been every inch as important to the success of the Old Lady in 2014-15. Usually deployed to the right of Pirlo in a three-man midfield, his best performances have been when called upon to deputise for him in that central role.

Only Tevez (with seven) has contributed more assists this term than Marchisio’s tally of six, and while he never threatened to increase that total here, he did net an equalising goal from the penalty spot after a foul on Alessandro Matri. It marked only the third goal of the season for the 29-year-old, his worst return in three years, which hints at the deeper role in which he has regularly been fielded by Allegri.

He may not be finding the net as often, but he is picking out team-mates at a vastly improved rate. According to statistics from WhoScored.com, Marchisio completed an average of 50.1 passes per game in 2013-14, connecting with 83.1 percent of those attempts, while this season those figures have jumped up to 63.4 passes and 85.8 percent, respectively.

The victory over Inter encapsulated that perfectly, as Marchisio once again steered his side through the match match, with the same source showing that no player in black and white had more touches than his tally of 61. Connecting with a team-high 46 passes—at an impressive rate of 91.3 percent—he was the calming veteran presence in a relatively inexperienced midfield.

As the above graphic—courtesy of the FourFourTwo StatsZone app—shows, he also recovered the ball eight times, winning one tackle, one interception and making four clearances as he protected the defence throughout the match.

Morata would snatch a winning goal in the 83rd minute as Inter proved no match for even a heavily rotated Juventus, but it was undoubtedly the performance of Marchisio that provided the platform this victory was built on.