INTER-UDINESE 2-0
(30′ Arnautovic, 45’+2 Asllani)
Inter’s report cards – Edited by Ivan Cardia
Martinez 6.5 – What a tacky life as a Nerazzurri goalkeeper, he must have thought until the last minute: at the first minute, he more or less had Sommer’s usual tasks. Little or nothing, a couple of courageous disengagements with the feet: in the end, here is the beautiful save on Touré’s beautiful shot to show off.
Darmian 6.5 – He returns arm in arm and presides over the center-right without frills, but also without taking risks. (From 88′ Aidoo sv).
Bisseck 6.5 – Future tests: Inzaghi asks him to play Acerbi, the direct opponent represents a demanding challenge on a physical level. The impact of Lucca and the role holds up: to be seen again in more heated competitions, but he confirms that he can do many things very well.
Sticks 7 – The only one of the starters, thanks to the defensive emergency. He hangs the ‘no entry’ sign and enforces it by hook and by crook. (From 63′ Dumfries 6 – He competes on the ice, warms it up with a couple of forays and then adapts).
Buchanan 6 – Finally you: debut as a starter, almost a year after arriving in Milan, on the band for which he was purchased and which he never played for the Nerazzurri. Not very involved: 24 touches of the ball are not many, in an hour and a half of play. (From 74′ Palacios 6 – He confirms that he is full of hope and also a little immature. The curiosity is to see him on the pitch again).
Frattesi 6 – He too is not exactly central in the Nerazzurri’s maneuver: the right-wing chain, completely new, struggles more to find harmony. It grows like a diesel at the end, when the entry of Dumfries restores some dynamics.
Asllani 7 – At the start, a Calhanoglu-like throw for Arnautovic and an avoidable yellow card. At the end of the first half, the Olympic goal: courage, technique and even a little help from the Udine defense. In between, a good performance in the control room: not always at the pace that Inzaghi would like. (From the 63rd minute Calhanoglu 6 – He is given the unusual role of substitute, he covers it with the diligence of the incoming one).
Zielinski 6.5 – One of the exes of the evening. It widens a lot, it doesn’t pull rabbits out of the hat but it offers a convincing performance. Sumptuous in some passages.
Carlos Augusto 6.5 – He also scored in the goleada at the Olimpico, giving continuity in terms of performance. Dangerous in the offensive phase and attentive when it comes to defending. He also comes close to scoring. Nice confirmation.
Taremi 7 – He looks for the goal and doesn’t find it, but he deserves it. He is invaluable for his teammates, he lowers himself to finish and create spaces, he assists Arnautovic for the goal that breaks the deadlock and in the second half he hits the post.
Arnautovic 7 – An evening with a showcase flavour, he uses it well. Two highlights: a moving penalty fired into the stands and intercepted by Kabasele’s arm, then the goal from the expert centre-forward. In the chronicles of the race the second one counts more. (From 63′ Lautaro 6.5 – Far from the door other signs of truth Bulla confirmation after the Olimpico. The goal, of course, remains an unknown: the offside position removes from the news a tirade that would have deserved an up serve Never say goal. In the end, with a sore knee, he scares everyone.)
Simone Inzaghi 7 – The gears change, not the perfect mechanisms of his Inter: this is what is striking, in an evening characterized by so many innovations. He goes through the round easily with a largely restructured lineup, which is little known, and without risking the big names: it’s difficult to ask for more from him. He got good answers from the players he asked, starting with Bisseck.
Udinese’s report cards – Edited by Cristiano Simeti
Flat 5 – Innocent of Arnautovic’s goal, he could perhaps have done more on Asllani’s corner but still managed to avoid the goal in the second half.
Kabasele 5 – Complicated match against the Nerazzurri attackers, not his best day.
Bijol 5.5 – He only plays 45 minutes and tries to lead the team but he too has to deal with the physical strength of Taremi and Arnautovic. From 46′ Abankwah 6 – He comes on in place of Bijol and plays a good second half with strength and personality.
Toure 6 – He deserves a pass for the personal action he builds at the end, forcing Josep Martinez to make a super intervention after finishing on goal perfectly with his left foot.
Modest 5 – A rather colorless match from the 25-year-old Portuguese who almost never takes the initiative. He has a percentage of blame for Inter’s second goal.
Atta 5.5 – He duels in the middle of the pitch but suffers Inter’s dribble and loses energy before passing his teammates. From 75′ Zemura sv
Karlstrom 5 – He plays in a bloody area of the pitch and is unable to be incisive.
Ekkelenkamp 5 – After a few minutes his curling shot gives Martinez shivers, then his serious mistake in clearance opens the field to Taremi who then sends Arnautovic through on goal. From 70′ Brenner 5.5 – Twenty minutes available in which he tries to give his team a boost but enters a difficult moment.
Kamara 5 – A lot of running and sacrifice, he does everything he can to contain the Nerazzurri’s enveloping maneuver.
Lucca 6 – He tries to make himself dangerous and in the second half with a nice header he almost misses the goal that would have shortened the gap. From 75′ Pizarro sv
Sanchez 4.5 – Definitely out of phase but it was quite predictable after the long injury. He returns against his former team but never manages to make an impact in the first half and was replaced at the start of the second half. He still needs time to try to get back to his levels. From 46′ Iker Bravo 6 – He replaces Sanchez at the start of the second half and creates a good opportunity; the quality is there, perhaps it deserves more space.
Kosta Runjaić 6 – His team approaches the match well and comes close to taking the lead, then suffers Inter’s superiority but his team always stays in the game and this is also to their credit.