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5 key matchups for the first Derby d’Italia of the year

By John Vaccaro

MILAN, ITALY - AUGUST 26: Ivan Perisic #44 of FC Internazionale celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the opening goal during the serie A match between FC Internazionale and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 26, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani - Inter/Inter via Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY - AUGUST 26: Ivan Perisic #44 of FC Internazionale celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the opening goal during the serie A match between FC Internazionale and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 26, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani - Inter/Inter via Getty Images) /
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TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 29: Mario Mandzukic of Juventus scores the goal of 1-1 during the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Tullio Puglia – Juventus/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 29: Mario Mandzukic of Juventus scores the goal of 1-1 during the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Tullio Puglia – Juventus/Juventus FC via Getty Images) /

Mario Mandzukic vs Milan Skriniar

Mario Mandzukic is in the midst of his best season yet with Juventus, but Inter may have a center back that can slow him down. Milan Skriniar is one of the most promising young defenders in Serie A and he has looked capable of stopping any striker in the league this season.

Mandzukic has been fantastic for Juventus this season. Without another real target for the wingers to send crosses into Mandzukic’s size and aerial ability have become unbelievably important to Juve’s success. He has turned that newfound importance into 6 goals and 2 assists in  just 11 Serie A appearances and a goal in the Champions League. His tireless work rate helps him to always get himself into the right place at the right time and is absolutely awful to deal with for whatever poor center back is stuck trying to keep up.

Milan Skriniar could be the poor center back that is able to keep up with Juve’s big target. The 23 year old Slovakian has the size at 6′ 2″ and the physicality to hinder Mandzukic’s attempts to win the aerial battle in the box. He has continued to improve this year and looks like one of the most promising defensive prospects in Italy. His 2 tackles and .9 interceptions per match have helped Inter keep 7 clean sheets this season, tied for the most in Serie A. Inter will ask him to do nothing other than stick to Mandzukic like glue in this match and if he can do it successfully it could swing this match Inter’s way.

A win for Mandzukic would make it a long day for Inter. If he is able to get loose in the box consistently then it will only be a matter of time before he opens the scoring. If Skriniar wins the battle then Juve’s attack will lose it’s focal point, leaving it to send in aimless crosses without any real results. The success of Juve’s attack could depend on the outcome of this matchup.

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