SOMMER 6,5 – Handsome, good and also… lucky. This time it’s Lady Luck who takes advantage of the excellent reflex on Doumbia at the start of the second half, directing Busio’s calibrated right-footed shot towards the post. The positioning also rewards him on the last prayer of Pohjanpalo, who shoots without fail but does so centrally. As in the first leg, he is invulnerable for Di Francesco’s boys.
DARMIAN 7 – Going back to playing on the wing is a blessing for those like him who were now used to working on the wing. Instead that position allows him to protect and attack with times that he has now memorized to perfection. And the opening goal is proof. In defense, like a good craftsman, he reads various critical situations in advance, with the usual effectiveness. He closes with cramps and grits his teeth.
DE FREE 6 – A single measurement error, which triggered the Venetian restart in the first half, suffocated by Bastoni’s closure. Pohjanpalo circles him and rarely faces him, so the Dutchman can focus mainly on setting up. Safe haven for comrades who find it every time they look for a free way out.
STICKS 6 – The masterpiece is the closure on Pohjanpalo in the 28th minute when the Finn was anticipating the equalizer, emblem of a match in which he is mainly the protagonist at the back, finding himself a few meters in front for his now usual progressions. He adapts to the context and is among the first to initiate the maneuver, looking for the closest midfielder or the deep attacker. On autopilot.
DUMFRIES 5,5 – A little tired, he manages to build little on the right and prefers to play it safe by forcing little and escaping doubles and traffic. It should be added that his teammates don’t always serve him at the right times and frustrate his in-depth shots, but when he could give a turn with an immediate cross or a one-on-one he hides. In the second half he takes Ellertsson’s teasing personally. DAL 76′ PAVARD SV.
STRETCHER 6 – A few too many inaccuracies at the start, then he takes the measure of his new teammates and opponents. Always in the heart of the game, however, he has a tendency to slow it down when he doesn’t trust the quick play, wasting time and nullifying possible alternative and more insidious scenarios. With Asllani’s exit he alternates with Zielinski in the control room and ensures balance and bucking. FROM 83′ DIMARCO SV.
ASLLANI 6.5 – The long throw that led to the Nerazzurri’s lead is the response we expected from him: less reason and more feeling. That pinch of madness you need to stay sane. Finally freed from the shadow of Calhanoglu, who remained in Milan, the Albanian puts aside the doubts about him that emerged forcefully in Riyadh and puts on a personality. He conveys the idea of knowing what to do and more of an interesting ball in depth for the strikers. The naive warning cost him a substitution after an hour. FROM 63′ FRATTESI 5.5 – It would be his ideal situation, entering with tired opponents and many meters in front to run. He gets two huge opportunities, in both of which he goes with little conviction and Stankovic and Idzes cancel them out for him. The classics sliding doors seasonal…
ZIELINSKI 6,5 – Urgently someone tells him that when he sees the goal he can also kick and, who knows, try to score. Like he did in Naples. It’s fine to play for the team, but starting your own business for someone who has his feet can never be a bad idea. With the ball at his feet it’s a non-transferable check, Venezia doesn’t even try to take it away from him. And moving between the lines represents a constant danger. On track for the whole match.
CHARLES AUGUSTO 6 – It’s not the ideal match for the wingers, given that Di Francesco gave up something in the middle to block the flanks. The Brazilian then tries to centralize on the left as is now common practice, but apart from a left-footed shot at a loose ball he doesn’t pose any threat. He offers his best in his half of the pitch, nipping Zampano’s initiatives in the bud and also helping in the area with the defense lined up. But what a ball for Frattesi…
MARTINEZ 6 – He interchanges positions with Taremi and is good at making defenders lose track by widening or cutting in between. Darmian’s goal comes from a luxury connection that forces Stankovic to involuntarily serve the Nerazzurri arm. Usual performance at the service of the team but equally usual lightness in front of goal. DAL 76′ ARNAUTOVIC ST.
TALE 6 – Continuity of employment is good for him and perhaps this was all he needed to show qualities that had been hidden for a long time. Despite some off-target conclusions, as an advanced director he intelligently integrates with Lautaro, dialogues with the Tourdictates the passage or guides restarts. He lacks the wickedness necessary to finalize what has been packaged. DAL 63′ THURAM 6 – The brilliant back heel for Frattesi is his best play, a shame because he would have time and space to exploit his speed. Instead, he prefers to hide the ball and ease the Venetian pressure, especially towards the end, also with technical quality.
ALL. INZAGHI 6.5 – Sixth away win in a row, 19 goals scored and none conceded. Obviously, it is a record for the Nerazzurri club. But beyond the numbers, these 3 points in Venice have an enormous specific weight, because they arrived with several important absences and with a somewhat breathless ending, along the lines of the San Siro match. The team expresses the right attitude, attacks and concedes very little behind for most of the match, guilty as usual of not knowing how to convert the many opportunities created. Then, as usual, he risks paying dearly for it. Today we had to pay close attention to the matter: done.
VENEZIA: Stankovic 7, Idzes 6.5, Sverko 6, Sagrado 6 (from 26′ Haps 6), Zampano 6 (from ’88’ Gytkjaer sv), Busio 6, Nicolussi Caviglia 6.5 (from ’88’ Conde sv), Doumbia 6 (from 70′ Bjarkason 5.5), Ellertsson 6, Oristanio 6 (from 70′ Yeboah 6), Pohjanpalo 6. All. By Francesco 6
REFEREE: PICCININI 6.5– Maybe his performance is missing some cards, but overall he manages well, limiting inaccuracies as much as possible and interrupting the game only when necessary. He sees well live on Zielinski’s touch in the Nerazzurri area, the only potentially controversial episode
ASSISTANTS: Berti 6 – Vecchi 6
OUR: Paternal 6
