Inter become the fist team in the 2022/2023 Serie A season to beat Napoli after the best domestic league performance of the season.
The Nerazzurri pressed Napoli high up the pitch but were disciplined and organized defensively throughout the night, winning the ball and creating lethal counter-attacks but their finishing was poor, especially in the first half.
In the second half, Simone Inzaghi’s men continued where they left off continuing to cause Luciano Spalletti’s men all sorts of problems and deservedly scored the only goal of the game via a bullet header from Edin Dzeko.
The legendary Bosnian striker latched on to a stunning Federico Dimarco cross after some winderful passing and buildup by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
André Onana – 6,5: Did not have a lot to do at all, in fact Napoli only had one shot on target, which came in the 91st minute and where the Cameroonian stopper pulled up a matchwinning reaction save.
Milan Skriniar – 7,5: What a performance by the Nerazzurri captain. Unplayable defensively where he helped nullify both Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia but was particularly impressive going forward where his passing was brilliant.
Francesco Acerbi – 7: Struggled once against Osimhen but rectified his mistake himself but after that didn’t put a foot wrong. When Inter defend this deep the Lazio loanee is currently in this form a starter ahead of Stefan de Vrij.
Alessandro Bastoni – 6,5: Only central defender to be caught out once or twice defensively as well as giving ball unnecessarily away in attack a few times, which given how good other central defenders played amplified his few mistakes.
Matteo Darmian – 6: Inter’s worst starter on the night but was still good, which tells the story of how well the team played. However, missed an absolute sitter in first half as well as poor first touch costing him in second half.
Nicolo Barella – 8: Simply world class. Was everywhere on the pitch, dominating both phases, showing off his entire repertoire of skills from brilliant individual technical skill, tenacity, ball progression to passing you name it.
Hakan Calhanoglu – 7: What began as an emergency solution to handle Brozovic’s injury has become one of Inter’s best weapons given how well the Turkish international plays in that deep-lying midfield playmaker role.
Hemrikh Mkhitaryan – 7: Throwing his hat in the ring for Serie A signing of the season given he came on a free transfer and that his wages are covered by the growth degree. Such an intelligent and technically gifted midfielder.
Federico Dimarco – 7: Yes, he missed a sitter in the opening minutes albeit from a very tight angle and yes his finishing let him down again when judged to have been offside but his cross/assist for goal plus overall work-rate warrant this rating.
Edin Dzeko – 7,5: Started 2023 the way he ended 2022: playing great and scoring matchwinning goals in important games against a direct Serie A rival. Hopefully injury isn’t serious as this Dzeko has a role to play at Inter.
Romelu Lukaku – 6,5: Encouraging performance especially in the first half looking really fired up and showing a burning desire to prove himself but where his poor first touch, movement and finishing let him down due to lack of match fitness.
Lautaro Martinez – 6,5: Replaced BFF Lukaku in the 64th minute and helped Inter win and keep ball in Napoli’s end of the pitch with his dazzling technical skill and strength. More focused on helping out defensively due to lead.
Robin Gosens – 6: Came on for Dimarco in 65th minute and gave a solid defensive performance working very hard in both phases of play but where that final pass was just missing in attack. Could start next match given intense fixture list.
Joaquin Correa – 5: Brought on in the 76th minute for an injured Edin Dzeko. There’s no need to sugarcoat this anymore: he is another flop signing from Lazio, probably the worst one of the bunch considering his price-tag.
Denzel Dumfries – 6: Substituted on in the 76th minute for Matteo Darmian who ran out of gas. Made a crucial tactical foul stopping a counterattack when Inter were stretched which could’ve resulted in a goal for which he was booked.
Roberto Gagliardini – N/A: Replaced Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 83rd minute but didn’t play long enough to be able to be rated.
Simone Inzaghi – 8: His best match tactically in the Serie A since his Lazio defeated Sarri’s Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico during Covid19 interrupted season. The perfect plan executed brilliantly to the letter whilst his read of the game was spot throughout the match making the right changes at the exact right time.
Simone Sozza – 6: Was the centre of a fake controversy heading into the game invented by Neapolitan and Turin based media but proved they were all full of it by keeping a consistent level throughout, although made a few too many mistakes to be given a higher rating.
Inter – 8: Defensively perfect nullifying Serie A’s best attack so far this season statistically by neutralizing Napoli’s midfield whilst lethal on the counter. Should’ve won by at least a 3 goal margin, that’s how good Inter were. Best performance in Serie A this season by a mile.
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