Inter defender Francesco Acerbi has been named as the Nerazzurri’s one below-par player in yesterday afternoon’s 3-1 Serie A win over Lazio.

Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, argue that whilst every other Inter player gave a very good or event great account of themselves, the 35-year-old had something of an off-night.

Acerbi has proved to be one of Inter’s most consistent performers this season, with the defender’s performances particularly in the Champions League and in the biggest Serie A matches having regularly been one of the most important factors in the team’s best defensive displays.

The defender had yet to face off against his parent club Lazio in the league, having completed the loan move to Inter after the first meeting between the two teams in August.

However, in the interim the 35-year-old EURO 2020 winner has cemented himself as part of the bedrock at Inter, vindicating coach Simone Inzaghi’s trust and all but displacing Stefan de Vrij at the heart of the Nerazzurri’s back three.

Accordingly, there was little doubt that Acerbi would be in the starting lineup as Inter faced off against the Biancocelesti in a match where taking all three points would be vital to keeping their heads above water in the race for a spot in the top four of the Serie A table.

The defender hardly showed the kind of performance that has made him such an important player for Inter, however.

The biggest mark against Acerbi was his highly sloppy error in possession to gift-wrap the ball to Lazio midfielder Luis Alberto right on the edge of Inter’s penalty area.

The Spaniard found Felipe Anderson in the box, and the Brazilian made no mistake in scoring the Biancocelesti’s only goal of the match.

However, this was not the only nervy moment from Acerbi, who did not look like the imperious presence that he often has over the past few months.