Inter striker Lautaro Martinez is facing some harsh criticism in Italian media for another relatively unimpactful performance, against Benfica in yesterday evening’s Champions League quarterfinal match.
The Argentine was given a score of just 5.5/10 for his display in the player ratings for the match published in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, considered to be virtually the worst Nerazzurri player on the pitch.
Martinez has been having something of a rough go of it as of late.
The Argentine is enduring a goal drought, something which has been an unfortunate feature of his time at the Nerazzurri, as the sparkling form that he showed in January and February has well and truly come to a screeching halt.
Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, whilst much of the rest of the team were at or close to their best to secure a massive 2-0 win at the Estadio da Luz, he was not able to have much of an effect on the match at all.
Whilst the usual effort and intensity were there from Martinez, the quality was not as he was unable to get the better of Benfica defensive duo Morato and Antonio Silva but for winning a couple fouls.
Meanwhile, Martinez’s starting strike partner Edin Dzeko was also given the same 5.5/10 score by the Corriere for an equally anonymous display.
The pair were hooked just after the hour mark, and for the Corriere Simone Inzaghi got his substitutions right in this respect as Joaquin Correa was awarded a 6/10 grade, and 6.5/10 was handed out to Romelu Lukaku who scored from the spot late on.
Meanwhile, Nicolo Barella received the highest grade, 8/10, for his opening goal and tireless performance to keep Inter above water in the midfield battle at all times.
Special mention is also reserved by the Corriere for midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The 34-year-old former Roma and Arsenal man was lauded for proving that even well into his thirties he can be just about everywhere on the pitch despite starting nearly every match for his club.
The Corriere handed out a 7/10 grade to the Armenian international for a performance which saw a couple of vital defensive interventions from a player who is never afraid to do a bit of the dirty work.