Inter Milan suffered from their wingbacks lacking much influence in attack in their Serie A draw away to Genoa on Friday.

That’s the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, via FCInterNews.

All of Federico Dimarco, Denzel Dumfries, and Juan Cuadrado were absent for Inter on Friday evening.

That meant that Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi had little choice but to start Carlos Augusto and Matteo Darmian on the flanks.

On paper, that wasn’t a problem. Augusto has had an impressive debut campaign for Inter so far, shining on both sides of the ball. And few players have been more reliable for this Inter than Darmian.

Moreover, both the Brazilian and the Italian had put in good displays the previous weekend against Lecce.

But away in Liguria, the pair did not quite have the requisite quality.

Inter Wing Play Lacking In Draw Vs Genoa

Inter needed to use their wide players against a Genoa side who mirrored their 3-5-2 shape.

The Rossoblu’s wingbacks Stefano Sabelli and Aaron Martin were key parts of their team, and went toe-to-toe with Inter’s own wide players.

And neither of Inter’s wingbacks could truly win their battle with their opposite number.

In the case of Darmian, the 34-year-old was rock-solid in defense as ever. But going forward, he offered little.

The veteran former Manchester United and Parma man largely kept the width. What he failed to offer was dangerous crosses or quick-thinking attacking runs that would really break down the Genoa defensive structure.

Augusto was a little more ambitious with his runs than Darmian.

That has been the 24-year-old’s modus operandi since he was at Monza.

But in Augusto’s case, a lack of finesse was the problem.

When the Brazilian got into dangerous positions to shoot or cross, the quality wasn’t there.

The end result was that Inter could not really use either wingback as a genuine out-ball.

With Sabelli largely taking care of Augusto, and Darmian not venturing forward much, Genoa were comfortable with packing midfield and disrupting Inter’s buildup – never fearing a sudden switch out wide.

Perhaps, the Corriere della Sera suggests, Dimarco in particular could have changed this dynamic.