On the eve of this season’s first Derby d’Italia, both managers insisted they would not “sign for a draw”. Simone Inzaghi was pragmatic, claiming he would never do that “unless it’s the second leg [of a knockout game] and you already won the first.” Massimiliano Allegri found a way to be even more so, saying: “No. We need to play the match that starts at 8.45pm.”
Those replies were as inevitable as the question being posed. Neither manager could pre-declare a willingness to settle for a point in a game against their most likely rival for the Serie A title. Yet it was reasonable to think that outcome might suit them both.
