Barella’s Absence Leaves Inter’s Defense Exposed: Which Replacement Is the Best Fit?

With heavy rain pouring down over Milan, Inter Milan has intensified their training sessions, aiming to bounce back from their recent Derby della Madonnina loss to AC Milan. The team is preparing for crucial matches against Udinese, Red Star Belgrade, and Torino, targeting a vital three-game winning streak. However, there’s a storm brewing within the club that’s not just about the weather – Nicolò Barella’s injury has left a gaping hole in Inter’s midfield. The vice-captain is expected to miss the next few matches, and this absence raises significant questions about how Inter can maintain defensive solidity without him.

While there is some positive news with the return of Buchanan approaching – the Canadian forward could be back by late October, just in time for Inter's grueling stretch of seven matches in three weeks – the focus remains on the midfield. Barella’s absence during this critical period creates a massive challenge, particularly for Inter’s defense, which will need to cope without its tireless engine for at least the next three games. Barella is expected to return in late October, but for now, the pressing concern is who can best fill his shoes.

Barella's Impact: A Defensive Midfield Powerhouse

The absence of Barella is significant, particularly for Inter’s defense. While the team’s offensive output might not suffer drastically, the defensive side of their game is bound to take a hit. There are two clear pieces of evidence that underline Barella’s importance to the team's defensive structure.

First, looking at last season’s numbers across all competitions, Inter played 49 matches, totaling 4,470 minutes. Barella featured in 3,488 of those minutes, during which Inter scored 83 goals and conceded 20, averaging a goal every 42.1 minutes and conceding one every 174.4 minutes. Without Barella, in the 982 minutes he was absent, Inter managed 21 goals but conceded 12, an average of a goal every 46.76 minutes and a concession every 81.8 minutes. This stark difference in defensive performance when Barella is not on the field is glaringly obvious.

It’s also worth noting that Barella played around 80% of the maximum possible minutes last season, and in many of the matches he missed, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi made extensive rotations. Some of these games, such as those in the Coppa Italia or the early stages of the Champions League, saw as many as six or seven changes to the starting lineup, including even the goalkeeper. Such heavy rotation naturally led to a dip in team performance. However, even when examining only Serie A matches, the story remains the same – Inter’s attack stays relatively strong without Barella, but their defense becomes considerably more vulnerable.

Secondly, the man most likely to replace Barella, Davide Frattesi, has not been able to fully replicate Barella’s defensive contributions. Last season, Frattesi played 1,580 minutes across all competitions, during which Inter scored 37 goals and conceded 15. This means the team scored every 42.7 minutes on average, a similar output to when Barella played, but defensively, they conceded a goal every 105.3 minutes – a noticeable decline compared to the periods when Barella was on the field.

With Barella sidelined, attention has naturally shifted to how Inter will cope without their midfield dynamo, and whether Frattesi or another player can step in and fill the void.

Three Options to Replace Barella

The question of how to replace Barella has become one of the hottest topics surrounding Inter Milan. The team’s coaching staff and fans alike are debating which combination of midfielders can best maintain the balance between attack and defense. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there are three primary options that Inzaghi could consider.

The first option is to deploy Piotr Zieliński in Barella’s role, forming a midfield trio alongside Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Zieliński, who has started just one game since joining Inter (a 0-0 draw against Manchester City, which was one of Inter's best performances of the season so far), has shown flashes of creativity and control. However, this plan comes with a potential downside: If Frattesi, who was signed with the expectation that he would be Barella’s primary backup, is not given the nod in Barella’s absence, it could affect his confidence and his role within the team.

The second option is the most straightforward: directly replacing Barella with Frattesi. This would maintain a more natural balance in the midfield, as Frattesi plays in a similar box-to-box role to Barella. The lineup would then feature Frattesi alongside Çalhanoğlu and Mkhitaryan, with Frattesi taking on the primary defensive duties. However, concerns remain about Mkhitaryan’s form this season, as the Armenian international has been one of Inter’s most inconsistent performers. His poor defensive contributions, coupled with Frattesi’s relative inexperience in the role, could leave Inter vulnerable.

The third, and what many view as the most promising option, is to pair Frattesi and Zieliński with Çalhanoğlu, creating a more balanced midfield. Zieliński would bring creativity and flair, Frattesi would offer energy and running, and Çalhanoğlu would act as the deep-lying playmaker. This combination could give Inter the best chance of replacing Barella’s dynamism while also shoring up the team defensively.

Defensive Fragility Without Barella

The biggest concern for Inter in Barella’s absence is the drop-off in defensive intensity. As the statistics show, the team concedes far more frequently without Barella in the lineup. This vulnerability is especially worrying given the upcoming fixtures. Matches against Udinese and Torino in Serie A and Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League all present challenges, particularly for a team missing one of its most reliable defensive players.

Inter’s usual strategy when Barella is playing is to press high, win the ball back quickly, and transition smoothly from defense to attack. Without Barella, Inter’s press is less effective, and they often struggle to maintain control in the midfield. This has led to situations where the defense is exposed, forcing the backline to absorb more pressure and leading to more goals conceded.

Compounding this issue is the form of some of Inter’s other midfielders. As mentioned, Mkhitaryan has been one of the team’s weakest performers this season, and the Armenian veteran has struggled to make the same defensive contributions that Barella provides. Çalhanoğlu, while brilliant in possession and in controlling the tempo, is not known for his defensive work rate either. This means that whoever replaces Barella will not only have to cover a lot of ground but also be able to support the defense in key moments.

The Mental Factor: Rebuilding Inter's Fighting Spirit

Inter’s tactical adjustments without Barella will be crucial, but the psychological aspect is just as important. Club legends like Beppe Bergomi and Fabio Capello have pointed out that Inter’s biggest enemy is not their opponents, but themselves. After winning the Serie A title, there is always the risk of complacency creeping in. Capello was clear in his assessment: "Inter must regain their hunger for victory, the same desire they showed before winning the Scudetto."

The team’s 0-0 draw with Manchester City earlier this season was a reminder of what Inter can achieve when they play with discipline and focus. In that match, Inter showed tactical discipline, pressing City high up the pitch and maintaining an intense work rate throughout. If they can replicate that attitude in Barella’s absence, they will have a good chance of avoiding a defensive collapse.

Inzaghi’s primary task will be to instill that same fighting spirit in his team during Barella’s absence. More running, more concentration, and less arrogance – as Bergomi mentioned – will be crucial if Inter are to navigate this difficult period.

Conclusion: Which Option Is Best?

Ultimately, the choice of how to replace Barella will depend on how Inzaghi wants to balance attack and defense. The "Zieliński-Çalhanoğlu-Frattesi" combination appears to be the most promising on paper, offering a balance of creativity, energy, and defensive stability. However, no matter which option Inzaghi chooses, the team will need to step up their intensity and regain the hunger that propelled them to the top of Serie A last season.