Inter vs Kairat Almaty: match review and player ratings
Inter secured maximum points from the Champions League this season after a two-one win over Kairat Almaty. Inter looked deadly the entire first half with multiple close chances being saved or missed. A miraculous double goal line save from Kairat kept Inter out until the end of the first half.
Inter were also denied two could’ve been penalties in the first half. However, both were denied by referee Luis Godinho which was the right call. Inter first goal came at the end of the first half through Lautaro Martinez. Lautaro looked deadly for most of the first half and got rewarded with his goal.
Inter then decided to give Lautaro a rest bringing him off at halftime for Ange-Yoan Bonny. However, the second half wouldn’t be smooth sailing as Inter conceded in the 55th minute. But order would be restored as Carlos Augusto would score in the 67th minute to put Inter ahead. Inter would see the game out from there with their fair share of chances.
Player Ratings
Yann Sommer – 4.5: Yann Sommer didn’t have much to do this in the game as Inter had most of the chances. But for the goal it was clearly his fault as he just watched the header fly past him to tie the game. He was also not involved in any of Inter build up.
Yann Aurel Bisseck – 5.5: Yann Aurel Bisseck wasn’t forced to have much of an impact on the game as, Inter spent most of the time on the attack. But out of all three centre backs Bisseck probably had the lowest impact on the game out of all three today.
Stefan De Vrij – 6: Stefan De Vrij was Inter best player on the defensive side of the ball as he was key to stopping counter attacks. His skill allowed Inter more of the ball and chances. Even if he wasn’t the one using those chances as he probably had the least time on the ball of anyone.
Carlos Augusto – 6.5: Carlos Augusto filled in Inter left centre back role well today understanding when to stay back and push high. This is a hard thing to get right especially for someone out of position. But his history as a full back helped him make the right choices and led to him being rewarded with a goal.
Denzel Dumfries – 6.5: Dense Dumfries looked strong on the right flank once again today as he looked to take care of his duties both defensively and offensively. He looked strong working with Pio Esposito and Lautaro Martinez up top and he knew when to switch the play for Federico Di Marco.
Davide Frattesi – 6: Davide Frattesi was strong offensively as he trusted the rest of his midfield defensively and looked to get up the pitch. He nearly won Inter a penalty in the first half and had a couple other chances but failed to convert anything into a goal or assist. Frattesi strength shows Inter strength to score with anyone on the pitch.
Nicolo Barella – 5: Nicolo Barella had a more defensive role in today’s game as Hakan Calhanoglu was given a rest. He looked out of placer something he rarely is and failed to grab a foothold on the game. However, he never left Inter weak defensively he just couldn’t impact the attack.
Pitor Zielinksi – 5.5: Pitor Zielinski was a perfect middle ground between, Frattesi and Barella today. He had defensive duties that he took care of and was still able to create on the offensive end. He couldn’t score like he did against Verona but he was defintley needed for this Inter team to run smoothly.
Federico Di Marco – 7: Federico Di Marco was strong for Inter today as he created a lot of the sides chances. He did this using his dribbling and passing abilities. This created a lot of chances for Lautaro Martinez and Pio Esposito which led to him earning an assist in today game
Pio Esposito – 6.5: Pio Esposito made a lot of chances in today’s game, dropping lower and wider on the pitch to create. However, he rarely had chances to score most of that going to Lautaro Martinez who took one of those at the end of the first half.
Lautaro Martinez – 7: Lautaro Martinez was Inters best player today as he was on the end of most of Inter chances. He scored at the end of the first half finally however, he was subbed off at half time. He likely would’ve earned a higher rating have he stayed on the pitch for the full 90.
Match Coverage
Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa: Match Report and Player Ratings
Inter Milan faced Genoa today, as they look to put the loss to Bodo Glimt behind them. They would start off doing so by dominating the early stretch of the game. But they struggled to score, coming so close with Justin Bijlow making some great saves to keep them out.
It looked like Inter would lose their heads, especially coming off a loss. Instead they pushed through and managed to find a goal thanks to Federico Dimarco. Henrik Mkhitaryan chipped the ball over the defensive line, who found Dimarco who hit it first time on the volley across the goal into the bottom left.
Inter would slow down in the second half as they look to control the game. However in doing so they slowly let Genoa back into. But Genoa struggled to create any real chances during the game to find an equaliser to the game.
Inter would look to pounce on this poor play from Genoa taking small chances when they could. This led to Inter being awarded a penalty in the 68th minute for a handball from Amorim. Of course Hakan Çalhanoglu would step up and slot it home into the bottom right corner. Inter would then see the game out with ease with a two goal advantage.
Player Ratings
The Best
Federico Dimarco – 7.5: Dimarco had another stellar performance for Inter Milan at home in the San Siro. His goal was a magical finish with a low volley across the goal finding the bottom right corner.
Henrik Mkhitaryan- 6.5: Mkhitaryan controlled the midfield for Inter Milan while he was on the pitch. He broke the line well for Inter multiple times including the goal while also moving the ball from defence.
Justin Bijlow – 6.5: Bijlow had a stellar performance for Inter in between the sticks. The first goal was also impossible to save, and the second was a penalty where he went the wrong way. However, he made some big saves during the game to stop it from getting to three or four nil.
The Worst
Marcus Thuram – 5: Marcus Thuram failed to have a strong input on today’s game. This come as it seems his head has been outside of Milan for a while as he struggled again.
Tommaso Baldanzi – 5: Baldanzi failed to have a big impact on today’s game as most of attack came through Genoa’s strikers. He failed to be the link from the midfield to the attack which hurt Genoa.
Amorim – 4: Amorim came on to start the second half and had a terrible half. He failed to get a hold of the game seeming a second behind most the time, and given away the penalty to Inter Milan.
Match Coverage
Hellas Verona 1-2 Napoli: Match Report and Player Ratings
Hellas Verona hosted Napoli today in the third game of match week 27. Verona were chasing an upset result against Napoli. This came as they were winless in their last five games with only one draw. However, their hopes of going so were dashed quickly. It would take Napoli only two minutes to break the dreadlock.
They did so on their first chance of the game through a header with Rasmus Hojlund. This came as he held play up to allow Matteo Politano to cross it in to Antonio Vergara. Vergara then played the ball to Hojlund who put the ball over the keeper to the left post to give Napoli the lead.
Napoli would continue the attacking pressure on for the rest of the first half. However, they failed to create any real big chances to score from. Meanwhile Verona slowly worked themselves into the game at home, having some minor attacks, but not creating any big chances. The second half would be much of the same with Napoli having the better of the chances.
However, Hellas Verona slowly and slowly worked themselves more into this game. This came to a head in the 64th minute when Verona won a corner. Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro would find the ball at the edge of the box after a headed clearance. He would hit the ball first time on the half volley and after a deflection he would find the back of the net to equalise for Verona.
But, the game was not over there as Napoli went back on the attack to look for a winner. It seemed that they weren’t going to find one getting locked out of Verona’s goal until the 94th minute. Then, Napoli took a corner short, which led to a low cross from Giovane Nascimento which Romelu Lukaku tucked away with the last kick of the game.
Player Ratings:
The Best
Rasmus Hojlund -7.5: Rasmus Hojlund was a standout player for Napoli today from kickoff. Hojlund scored in the second minute and was key in buildup holding up the play for the full 90.
Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro – 7: Akpa Akpro was key in the midfield for Verona today as he looked to control play through the middle. His goal was a well taken bonus to an already great performance.
Antonio Vergara – 6.5: Vergara started off the game well for Napoli assisting their goal in the second minute. He wouldn’t stop there however creating plenty of half chances but not being able to score.
The Worst
Kieron Bowie – 4.5: Bowie created very little in terms of offensive production for Verona today. Even when they where on the attack he did very little and he couldn’t hold up or create play as well as Amin Sarr did.
Stanislav Lobotka – 4: Lobotka looked invisible today in Napolis midfield as Elmas picked up most of the work. He had a couple of good moments but nothing to write home about, likely due to tired legs as he has played heavily for Napoli due to squad injuries.
Domagoj Bradaric – 4: Bradaric similar to Lobotka struggled to have a real effect on the game for Verona today. He started well but failed to build on it for the rest of the game, losing a hold of play and being dominated on the flank by Politano.
Match Coverage
Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus: Match Report
Juventus traveled to Turkey today to face Galatasaray in the first leg of the Champions League round of 32. Galatasaray started the game with the fair share of the ball, as they looked to score at home. However, they wouldn’t be able to do so not being able to create a lot of real chances.
This was until the 15th minute, when Juventus turned the ball over deep in their own half from in the 15th minute. This led to Gabriel Sara being found open in the box to finish it away to the bottom corner. Juventus would respond straight away however, as a Andrea Cambiaso cross, found Pierre Kalulu who gave Koopmeiners an empty net to finish.
Juventus wouldn’t stop there however, as they looked to give themselves the lead away from home. Koopmeiners was able to find a second goal for Juventus. This came after Weston Mckennie freed him up with a 1-2 which gave him room to finish at the edge of the box.
Galatasaray would look to respond, before the end of the half but would fail to find a goal. This is despite Glieson Bremer coming off due to injury in the 33rd minute. However, they would be able to in the second half as Noa Lang would finish a rebound from Michele Di Gregorio in the six yard box to equalise in the 49th minute.
But, Galatasaray didn’t just want a draw at home instead wanted to win before travelling to Turin. This led to them pressing for a third goal, which they would find. Juan Cabal gave away a free kick at the edge of the Galatasary box, which was sent in and headed home by Davison Sanchez.
Juventus would push to equalise after the goal, creating a few quick chances, and a couple of corners as they aimed to tie the game ahead of the second leg. However, Juventus would only make it harder for themselves as in the 66th minute Juan Cabal would receive his second yellow card and be sent off, after coming on at halftime.
Juventus would struggle down to 10 men as Galatasaray kept on pushing in the second half. There high press found another goal for Noa Lang in the 74th minute, after Khepren Thuram turned over the ball in his own box, and the goal was an easy finish. Galatasaray wouldn’t stop there as Sacha Boey would find a fifth after coming off the bench in the 83rd minute. This would see the game end with Juventus needing to win by three goals in Turin to advance.
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