Inter’s Defenders Lead Serie A in Attacking Metrics: Italian Media Hails a Tactical Revolution

As the Serie A season progresses, attention has increasingly shifted towards Inter Milan, the reigning champions, and their unconventional yet effective tactical setup. Under Simone Inzaghi, Inter has adopted a playing style that sees two defenders, Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni, dominate attacking metrics normally reserved for forwards and midfielders. Italian media, notably La Gazzetta dello Sport, have marveled at how these players are reshaping the conventional understanding of player roles in modern football.

Despite the fact that Inter is once again at the top of the table, they are facing growing competition. At the start of the season, the odds for Inter retaining the Scudetto were 1.7, with Juventus their closest rival at 3.2, and Napoli in third at 5.2. Seven rounds into the season, these figures have shifted, with Napoli emerging as the primary challenger, their odds improving to 3.5 while Juventus’ chances have dropped to 5.8. Inter’s odds have only slightly risen to 1.8, reflecting a strong but cautious outlook for their title defense. One key reason for this change is Napoli's relatively straightforward schedule, allowing them to focus solely on domestic competitions, while Inter must balance both Serie A and the Champions League.

One of the most telling moments this season was when Inzaghi, upon winning the Scopigno Award for Serie A’s best coach in 2023-24, was asked whether the Champions League or the league was more important. His instinctive reaction—a laugh followed by the candid admission, “That’s a question…”—highlighted the challenge ahead. Inter is unwilling to reduce their efforts in Europe to focus solely on domestic success, setting up what Italian media describes as an “unfair competition” between Inzaghi and Napoli’s coach, Antonio Conte.

However, despite this heavy workload, Inter’s attacking output remains impressive, thanks in large part to their left side, specifically Dimarco and Bastoni. The Gazzetta dello Sport recently published a detailed analysis of how Inter is utilizing these two defenders in an advanced role. The headline read, “Inter’s Solution to Overtaking Napoli in the Standings: Pass the Ball to the Left, and the Goals Will Follow.” This line neatly summarizes the profound influence Dimarco and Bastoni have had on Inter’s attacking play so far this season.

Dimarco and Bastoni: Defenders in Name Only

Federico Dimarco, listed as a defender, plays nominally in the "5" role within Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation. However, his contributions on the pitch resemble those of a winger. Bastoni, on paper, is a center-back but spends so little time defending in his own penalty area that he has redefined what it means to play in his position. Their roles are emblematic of how modern football is evolving, but their influence is best understood through numbers, which highlight just how dramatically they’ve reshaped perceptions of traditional defensive duties.

1. Touches in the attacking third: Dimarco has tallied 228 touches in the final third of the pitch, the highest in Serie A, ahead of all forwards, midfielders, and wingers. The gap between him and the second-place player (181 touches) is massive. This stat alone is stunning, as 9 of the top 10 players in this category are attackers—Dimarco, the only defender, sits at the top. Remarkably, Bastoni also ranks among the top 30 players with 111 touches, another extraordinary feat for a player nominally considered a center-back.

2. Key passes: Dimarco has delivered 19 key passes across the first seven rounds, placing him ninth overall in Serie A. Bastoni has contributed 10 key passes, ranking him 29th. Both players are critical to Inter’s ability to unlock defenses, rivaling players in positions traditionally tasked with creating goal-scoring opportunities.

3. Crosses: Dimarco is the league leader in crosses, with 64 already this season, well ahead of the second-place player’s 48. His ability to send dangerous balls into the box has been a vital component of Inter’s attack, providing consistent service to their forwards.

4. Progressive ball carrying: Bastoni has carried the ball a total of 1,227 yards (1,122 meters) upfield so far this season, more than any other player in Serie A. This stat is particularly striking as it suggests that Bastoni, a center-back, is not just defending but actively driving play forward, a role typically associated with attacking midfielders or wingers.

5. Dribbles into the final third: Bastoni has completed 21 dribbles into the attacking third this season, placing him fifth in all of Serie A. His tally is higher than that of last year’s dribble king, Empoli’s Tommaso Baldanzi (18), and even ahead of Rafael Leão, considered one of the best dribblers in the world (17). Dimarco, too, ranks within the top 20 with 14 dribbles into the final third.

6. Touches in their own penalty area: Despite being listed as defenders, Dimarco and Bastoni spend remarkably little time in their own penalty box. Dimarco has only touched the ball 33 times in his own penalty area across seven games, while Bastoni has done so just 11 times. Combined, their defensive penalty-area touches are two-thirds of those registered by Juventus’ Bremer, a more traditional defender.

These stats illustrate just how much Inzaghi has revolutionized his team’s left-sided play, turning Dimarco and Bastoni into two of the most important players in the team’s build-up and attacking phases. The pair has so consistently contributed to Inter’s offensive output that Italian media’s claim of “redefining positional norms in football” seems well justified.

Tactical Implications and Future Challenges

With Dimarco and Bastoni so heavily involved in the attack, Inter’s strategy has yielded excellent results. In 810 minutes across nine matches this season, Inter has scored 20 goals—an impressive average of one goal every 42.5 minutes. Defensively, they’ve conceded nine goals, averaging one goal allowed every 90 minutes. These figures are even more impressive when focusing on games where Bastoni and Dimarco are on the pitch.

Bastoni has played 639 minutes this season, during which Inter has scored 18 goals and conceded just five. This translates to an attacking average of one goal every 35.5 minutes when Bastoni is on the pitch. In games without him, Inter’s attack has noticeably struggled, and their defense has been more vulnerable.

Dimarco’s impact is similarly profound. In his 569 minutes, Inter has scored 15 goals and conceded seven, again showing a stronger offensive output when he is on the pitch. These statistics support La Gazzetta dello Sport’s claim that “passing the ball to the left will lead to goals,” as the team’s most productive play comes from Dimarco and Bastoni’s contributions on the left side of the field.

However, their heavy involvement in the attack also presents potential risks. Both players have shown signs of fatigue in recent weeks, and there is a legitimate concern about their stamina as the season progresses. Should either player suffer an injury or require rest, Inzaghi will be forced to find suitable replacements. The challenge is that there are few, if any, players in the squad who can replicate Dimarco and Bastoni’s unique blend of defensive and attacking skills.

Moreover, the duo’s aggressive forward positioning leaves Inter more exposed defensively. While their offensive contributions have been game-changing, their forward thrusts reduce the team’s defensive solidity. In matches where Inter comes up against opponents with strong counter-attacking capabilities, the question remains: Can Inzaghi maintain the balance between attack and defense?

Finally, the growing influence of Dimarco and Bastoni has not gone unnoticed by Inter’s opponents. As teams develop strategies specifically designed to neutralize the pair, Inzaghi must ensure that his side remains adaptable. Whether through tactical adjustments or personnel rotations, how Inter responds to these new challenges will be a defining factor in their quest to retain the Scudetto.