INTER STATS | Nerazzurri comebacks and Handanovic draws level with Piola

MILAN – Inter's January ended in the sweetest of ways, with joy in the final minutes against Venezia, in keeping with the theme of this start to 2022. Although the year started with the match against Bologna not being played, Inter won against Lazio in the second half before lifting the Italian Super Cup thanks to a goal in the 121st minute from Alexis Sanchez. After the 0-0 draw with Atalanta, in which Danilo D’Ambrosio almost snatched victory in the 90th minute, the Nerazzurri progressed in the Coppa Italia against Empoli, drawing level at the death through Andrea Ranocchia's half-volley and winning in extra time with Stefano Sensi’s goal. And most recently, just before the international break, Edin Dzeko earned the side all three points against Venezia with a header when the clock read 89:08.

Dzeko had not scored in Serie A since 4 December 2021, at the ground of his former side Roma. This latest goal, scored with his head, was his ninth of the season. Inter have scored 14 headers so far this campaign, with no other team having scored so many in Serie A.

HANDANOVIC JOINS ALL-TIME TOP 10 Samir Handanovic played his 537th Serie A match on Saturday, meaning the Inter captain joins Silvio Piola in ninth place on the list of players with the most appearances in Serie A history. Handanovic made 182 appearances with Udinese, 3 with Treviso, 1 with Lazio and 351 with Inter.

Here is the ranking of the players with most Serie A appearances:

1.    Gianluigi Buffon 657 2.    Paolo Maldini 647 3.    Francesco Totti 619 4.    Javier Zanetti 615 5.    Gianluca Pagliuca 592 6.    Dino Zoff 570 7.    Pietro Vierchowod 562 8.    Roberto Mancini 541 9.    Silvio Piola 537 Samir Handanovič 537

INTER COMEBACKS For the fifth time in this Serie A season, Inter came from behind to win, having done so at Verona (3-1), at Fiorentina (3-1), at Sassuolo (2-1), and at the San Siro against Napoli (3-2) and Venezia (2-1). After their comeback win against Venezia, with the scores 1-1 at half time, Inter have gained 13 points from score changes in the second period. 

BARELLA, DUMFRIES AND VECINO: THE NUMBERS Nicolo Barella scored his second goal of this Serie A season on Saturday, the first coming in September at home to Bologna. Since 2004/05, no Italian midfielder for Inter has been directly involved in more goals in their first 20 Serie A games of the season than him (two goals, seven assists).  Denzel Dumfries meanwhile registered another important assist, after the two he served up in the Coppa Italia. The Dutchman has been involved in four goals (three goals, one assist) in his last seven league games, more than double the number in his previous 12 Serie A games.  The contest with Venezia saw Matias Vecino play his 100th Serie A match for the Nerazzurri.