The battle down Inter’s right flank could be decisive in the Nerazzurri’s Supercoppa Italiana clash with AC Milan this week.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who argue that the question of whether Milan Skriniar and Matteo Darmian can stop Rossoneri danger man Rafael Leao will be a key battle.
Skriniar and Darmian are expected to start for Inter on Wednesday.
The pair had also started for the Nerazzurri in the 1-0 Serie A win over Napoli earlier this month, where their defensive display was key in keep Partenopei winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Skriniar and Darmian, along with Nicolo Barella, showed for virtually the first time since Kvarataskhelia came to Napoli that it is possible to stop the Georgian from impacting the game through a combination of outstanding individual defensive play and astute doubling up.
The Nerrazzurri defense will have just as serious of a challenge on their hands in the form of Leao, supported on Milan’s left flank by fullback Theo Hernandez.
If Skriniar and Darmian can put in the kind of shift that they did against Napoli, they could well neutralize the Rossoneri’s biggest threat, and build a platform on which to launch counterattacks.
On the other hand, if Leao proves too much to handle for the Nerazzurri defensive duo, the match could swing the way of Milan.
