A rampant Inter dominated today’s match against Atalanta at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia in Bergamo, which is also reflected in the ratings below:
Samir Handanovic – 5,5: Not as dominant as we’re used to seeing him. Did what he needed to do but nothing more. Didn’t stand a chance on the goal.
Hugo Campagnaro – 5,5: Didn’t go up & down the flank to help put in attack but isn’t expected to do so either. Showed stability in defense.
Andrea Ranocchia – 6: Got absolutely destroyed in the air by Pinilla for Atalanta’s equalizer, which was his only mistake of the match. Costly one again.
Juan Jesus – 6: As tough & mean as he always is but not dirty. Sure, he got booked for a foul but is becoming more & more polished.
Davide Santon -6,5: Reached almost 95% passing accuracy today as he was running up & down that left side helping out in attack & defense. Solid.
Gary Medel – 7: Pitbull indeed. Won every 50-50 ball as well as saving a certain goal when he blocked a shot in the first half. Fundamentally important.
Fredy Guarin – 9: Best performance by the Colombian in an Inter shirt. Won a penalty in the 2nd minute 6 followed it up by 2 great goals & 1 assist.
Marcelo Brozovic – 7: Embodies exactly everything that Inter have needed but have lacked in the past few years in midfield. Ball-winner & distributer in 1.
Xherdan Shaqiri – 7,5: Played behind the 2 strikers & barely managed to score from the penalty spot as well as getting an assist for Guarin’s 2nd goal.
Rodrigo Palacio – 6,5: Q: What is it that runs & runs but never gets anywhere? A: Rodrigo Palacio anno 2014/2015. Hopefully the goal can boost his confidence.
Lukas Podolski – 5,5: Completely invisible for 90 minutes which is very disappointing given that he finally got to play as 1 of 2 central strikers.
Mateo Kovacic – 5: Came on in the 68th min for Shaqiri but didn’t manage to make any imprint on the match at all. Doesn’t deserve to start at the minute.
Hernanes – 5: Was brought on in the 76th minute replacing Rodrigo Palacio. Did what was asked of him as the match was practically over by then.
Zdravko Kuzmanovic – no rating: Brought on in 82nd minute 6 played too short of a time to be able to be graded.
Roberto Mancini – 7: Got his tactics spot on today & led Inter to first win in Bergamo against Atalanta in 7 years, back when Inter was coached by himself.
Inter (overall performance) – 7,5: Dominated one of the most difficult away matches of the season and scored 4 goals. Best performance under Mancini.
Referee Luca Banti – 7: Was bang on the money in every important decision he made: from giving Guarin a penalty to not giving Atalanta two penalty for alleged handball as replays show there was no contact between ball and hand. The red card was completely justfied. The Serie A referee’s get heavily criticized so it’s only fair to praise them when deserved.
