Inter defender Francesco Acerbi has come in for some praise for his performance in the Nerazzurri’s 3-3 draw with Benfica in the Champions League.
The 35-year-old was given a 7/10 grade for his performance in the quarterfinal second leg match at the San Siro published in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who commend his keeping Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos quiet for a second match running.
Acerbi was culpable for one major error in yesterday evening’s match, as he switched off with the rest of the Nerazzurri’s back three as well as wingbacks to find himself in no-man’s land as Fredrik Aursnes met a Rafa Silva cross towards the end of the first half to score and given Benfica hope.
However, for much of the rest of the match, the Lazio-owned defender was a towering presence as he usually has been in the Champions League this season.
Benfica striker Ramos, who starred for Portugal at the World Cup with a hattrick against Switzerland, will have been a player marked out as a real danger man for the Lisbon-based side.
However, Acerbi used all his experience, physicality, and timing to make sure that the 21-year-old had a very quiet match, never really getting a sniff in front of goal.
It is true that in the closing stages of the match Inter conceded two goals, although these were nothing more than consolation goals for Benfica considering that the Nerazzurri had been 5-1 up until the 85th minute, essentially home and dry.
Moreover, Acerbi was not particularly culpable for either of the two late goals.
On the whole, therefore, Tuttosport argue that the 35-year-old former Sassuolo defender and Italian international was a key presence in making sure that Ramos was not able to really get into the match, and as important as anyone to Inter reaching the semifinals.
