by Fabio Gennari
Good performance by the Dea, who won 0-2 in Stuttgart. Ederson it’s amazing and, in addition to the attackers, the defensive phase was also truly applause-worthy. The coach is good at his choices.
Carnesecchi s.v.: it can only be seen due to a few clearances that could have been more precise, no saves worthy of the name, also because Stuttgart never kicks into the Nerazzurri’s goal.
Djimsiti 7: sensational save in the 57th minute on Demirovic a stone’s throw from Carnesecchi. Before and after he holds the field as we are used to seeing him do on the best days and is once again dominant.
He 7: El Bilal Touré puts a lot of pressure on him and when he starts vertically it’s difficult to keep him. He was booked at the end of the first half for a swipe at Undav and wasn’t at his best as he was against Napoli. In the second half he raises his level and is once again the protagonist.
Kolasinac st: starts well, a couple of shots with El Bilal seem to herald a good match, but before the quarter of an hour he is forced to leave the pitch due to a flexor problem. (13′ Kossounou 7: spectacular diagonal in the 68th minute, the feeling is that the excessive physical power he brings to the pitch is always an added value).
Bellanova 6.5: grows in the second half after a timid first half. The run that sends Zaniolo into the goal (stopped by the goalkeeper and offside) is exactly the example of what he can but above all must do. (85′ Ruggeri sv).
De Roon 7.5: a couple of openings in the first half are truly worthy of applause, he attacks everything that comes his way with a screaming ferocity and enters the opening goal.
Ederson 8: great ball for Pasalic in the 31st minute, he is the best on the pitch in the first and also in the second half, in which he also gets an intelligent warning, because he was on a warning and will serve the suspension against Young Boys. And so he will be there with Real Madrid.
Zappacosta 6,5: Nice cross for De Ketelaere with which in the 73rd minute the Dea came close to doubling the lead, in defense you can see a lot in the coverage both on the right and on the left. It is once again a certainty.
Pasalic 6: in the 8th minute he shoots an interesting ball worked by Retegui; in the 31st minute he doesn’t control a perfect ball well in the area and Gasperini decides to take it away at half-time to raise the engine revs in the most dangerous area, i.e. in front of the Stuttgart defence, setting up with the 3-4-3. (46′ De Ketelaere 7.5: he immediately enters in a big way, clears Mittelstadt and leans on Lookman for the lead. He almost made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute following a cross from Zappacosta. Decisive).
Lookman 7: in the first half he is the most active, he puts in good balls for Retegui and opens the second half with the goal that unlocks the result after a splendid assist from De Ketelaere and a colossal sleep from Chase. For the rest, he does his thing without dominating like on other occasions. (85′ Brescianini s.v.).
Retegui 6: after less than 2′, Lookman’s ball in the center is perfect but he is unable to finish well. Nice finish for Pasalic in the 8th minute on a cross from de Roon and then a lot of fight for his teammates in the middle of the penalty area, as well as a header saved at the end of the first half. (59′ Zaniolo 6.5: a couple of times he is offside, but he is good at believing in that ball and scoring the second which closes the score).
Gasperini 7.5: he wins it with a substitution that raises the Goddess’ level of danger (De Ketelaere) and the other that scores the second goal (Zaniolo). Half a vote less for the choice of Kolasinac at the start: this Kossounou deserves to play and could have rested the Bosnian.
