Inter defender Milan Skriniar decisively got the better of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic on the night and this was a key factor in the Nerazzurri’s 1-0 win.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who argue that the Slovak had Vlahovic’s number all night and characterize him as a “brick wall.”
Vlahovic was always going to be one of the Bianconeri’s major attacking threats, having already established himself as their primary goalscorer since joining from Fiorentina during the January transfer window.
Skriniar played at the heart of the Nerazzurri’s back three with Stefan de Vrij not risked after his recent recovery from a calf injury, and so it was all on the 27-year-old’s shoulders to neutralize the Serb.
The defensive display by the Inter man was as composed and physically assertive as it needed to be, rarely letting Vlahovic get settled when the ball was near him.
The Bianconeri striker got one shot away after a well-executed turn to make space for himself, and put in a cross early on for strike partner Alvaro Morata which resulted in a decent chance.
This was about it, however, from the Fiorentina striker, and it was thanks to the dogged defensive display by Skriniar that the Nerazzurri managed to keep a precious clean sheet.
