Midfielder Nicolo Barella has won plaudits for his “lively” performance in Inter Milan’s Serie A opening day draw away to Genoa.
Today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, name the Italian international as the Nerazzurri’s outstanding performer in the 2-2 draw.
It was little surprise to see Barella in the Inter starting eleven in their first match of the Serie A season.
The former Cagliari midfielder has evolved into one of the Nerazzurri’s key players over his five seasons at the club and counting.
Last season, Barella had been part of Inter’s first choice midfielder trio. This was alongside Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu.
And that was the midfielder that Inter coach Simone Inzaghi went with at the Marassi yesterday.
Barella’s two fellow midfield starters were not really able to be at their best.
Genoa made things very difficult in the middle of the park with a high energy defensive approach. This made it hard for Mkhitaryan and Calhanoglu to find time and space on the ball.
That was also true of Barella. But in the 26-year-old’s case, he was still able to impact the match very positively.
Nicolo Barella Praised For “Lively” Performance For Inter Vs Genoa
Barella was particularly influential in counterattacking moves and in the final third.
The Italian international was very quick in thought in terms of how he used the ball.
And then there were also several telling passes from Barella.
Most notably, the 26-year-old played the cross from which Marcus Thuram scored Inter’s first goal of the match with a header. It was an excellent curling cross from the midfielder.
Meanwhile, Tuttosport criticize defender Yann Bisseck for his performance.
The German was culpable for the needless handball that gave Genoa their stoppage time penalty to equalize. But not only that.
Bisseck also had several moments of ball-watching throughout the match.
Most notably, the 23-year-old failed to react in the situation that saw Genoa take the lead in the first half of the match.
