MARTINEZ 7 – The first chance of the year comes in the Italian Cup, as Inzaghi anticipated in the post-Lazio press conference. Ready to go, he controls Ekkelenkamp’s attempt to fade to the back and observes the work of his teammates for almost the entire match, who involve him in the ball possession phase. He didn’t dirty his gloves until the end of the match, when he was ready on the only dangerous occasion, flying and dealing with Touré’s powerful left-footed player with a great save. He will remember his baptism in the Nerazzurri for the dessert cleen sheet.
DARMIAN 6 – His well-known flexibility allows him to play multiple roles and this time Inzaghi decides to place him back as a defensive third. His experience does the rest: performance with few flaws. DALL’88’ AIDOO SV
BISSECK 6.5 – He moves to the center of defense after the convincing performances of the last period and is forced to deal with Lucca in a duel full of centimetres. When he can, he doesn’t give up carrying the ball, even though the area of expertise is more delicate than usual: he confirms himself as a guarantee.
STICKS 6.5 – He is one of the very few starters that Inzaghi decides not to give up, also entrusting him with the captain’s armband. In some phases of the game he moves to the center of the department, switching with Bisseck: in whatever area he gravitates, he is always the first joker to be played in the setup. DAL 63′ DUMFRIES 6 – A few minutes after his arrival on the pitch he immediately goes into dangerous action, collecting the classic cross that comes from the left. His running and physicality are always welcome.
BUCHANAN 6 – Finally launched on the right after the ‘internship’ on the left last season, Kamara sprints and points consistently, even reaching the back after a few outbursts. The final choice, however, sometimes lacks precision. After Bastoni’s exit he moves to the opposite side. DAL 74′ PALACIOS 6 – Inzaghi throws him into the fray with the match already underway in the role of vice-Bastoni: he does his thing without taking risks, participating in the development of the maneuver and disengaging forward when he has space to take.
FRATTESI 6 – He’s back as starter alter ego of Barella, he is the usual extra man in the offensive phase with the classic insertions with the lights off and the ball and chain runs. In that of interdiction, however, he has his work cut out for him in pairing with Ekkelenkamp. He’s not always in the heat of the game.
ASLLANI 7 – Inzaghi has reiterated it several times: he is the vice-Calhanoglu in the Inter squad. And he immediately reciprocates the trust with the great verticalization on the occasion of the penalty (later cancelled) against Arnautovic and above all with the Olympic goal which chases away the fear of what happened in the stands of San Siro. Forced to play with a heavy yellow on his back after a quarter of an hour of play, he manages with confidence even if he receives some reproaches from Inzaghi for the slow movement of the ball. DAL 63′ CALHANOGLU 6 – He begins his game by slipping out to the left and delivering a cross that generates Lautaro’s scoring opportunity. He makes his technique available to the team to consolidate possession.
ZIELINSKI 6,5 – He finds a starting shirt to the left of Asllani and contributes to the dribbling with the usual swerves and passes from one side of the pitch to the other. Completes the triangle well with Bastoni and Carlos Augusto guaranteeing quality and geometry.
CHARLES AUGUSTO 6.5 – After scoring his first official goal with the Nerazzurri shirt in the goleada at the Olimpico, he takes over the left lane and makes poor Rui Modesto sweat. He makes himself dangerous with cut crosses and more, as demonstrated by the stone rejected by an attentive Piana, who was then deceived (also) by his movement on Asllani’s winning corner.
ARNAUTOVIC 7.5 – Inzaghi relaunches it from the start and after a few minutes he ‘risks’ earning a penalty with a free kick in the area. He commits and sacrifices himself, working hard with his back to the goal, often lowering his range of action and also wearing the role of finisher: the left-footed diagonal that unlocks the match is the right reward for a positive performance that can only give him morale. FROM 63′ LAUTARO 6.5 – The hunger for goals is there and the fast is heavy, but he tries to break it immediately with a diagonal shot from close range blocked by Piana. Right now the luck doesn’t seem to be turning, but it seems to be only a matter of time.
TRAM 6,5 – If minutes are few in the league, when it comes to cups his ownership becomes a constant. He works for the team and demonstrates all his tactical intelligence when he collects Ekkelenkamp’s mistake and serves the winning assist to Arnautovic, then the post denies him the joy of scoring. Generous (and unfortunate).
ALL. CLOTHES 7 – He appears on the pitch with a large (and classic) cup turnover, launching from the 1st minute who has had less space to show off in this first part of the season. And the choices prove him right: Arnautovic and Asllani score, overall the team gives the right responses and does not underestimate the match. Qualifies for the quarter-finals by resting most of the starters and involving the entire squad.
UDINESE: Piano 5.5; Kabasele 5, Bjiol 5.5 (from 46′ Abankwah 5.5), Touré 6; Rui Modesto 5, Atta 5 (from 75′ Zemura sv), Karlstrom 5.5, Ekkelenkamp 4.5 (from 70′ Brenner 5.5), Kamara 6; Sanchez 5.5 (from 46′ Bravo 5), Lucca 6 (from 75′ Pizarro sv). Other. Runjaić 5.
REFEREE: MAXIMI 6 – He has something to do after a few minutes, when he blows the whistle and then cancels (with the help of VAR) Inter’s penalty for the alleged handball by Kabasele. Control the race without too much worry.
ASSISTANTS: Bresmes 6 – Di Iorio 5.5
OUR: Ghersini 6.5
