The makeshift Inter Milan defensive trio of Carlos Augusto, Francesco Acerbi, and Matteo Darmian have received plaudits for their performance against Napoli yesterday evening.
Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, give all three defenders positive scores in the player ratings for the match.
Inter began yesterday’s match with a back three of Acerbi, Darmian, and Stefan de Vrij.
But an injury to de Vrij early on in the first half left Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi scrambling to find a solution.
In the end, the coach decided to play Carlos Augusto on the left of the backline. This meant that Francesco Acerbi moved to the centre of defense.
This was very much an ad hoc defense – Benjamin Pavard and Alessandro Bastoni were both already missing.
But the back three held out for a vital clean sheet.
Inter Trio Augusto, Acerbi & Darmian Praised For Defensive Performance Vs Napoli
Brazilian international Augusto was not playing in his natural position.
But as the Corriere notes, there was little indication from the former Monza wingback’s performance.
Augusto used his athleticism well, and did not make any major positional errors. He showed composure, and the sense that he had prepared for playing in the position well.
The Corriere award Augusto a score of 6.5/10.
Meanwhile Francesco Acerbi was tasked with marking Napoli talisman Victor Osimhen once he moved to the centre of defense.
And the veteran former Lazio and Sassuolo defender did a good job of this. He largely kept the Nigerian international quiet.
Like Augusto, Acerbi also gets a score of 6.5/10 from the Corriere.
And the highest grade, 7/10, goes to former Manchester United and Torino defender Darmian.
The 34-year-old had a tough task marking Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
But Darmian stuck to his task well and dulled the Georgian’s creative and goalscoring threat significantly.
Darmian did go into the book in the second half. But by and large, he got the better of his duel with Kvaratskhelia.
