Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck was a “wall” in defense in his team’s Champions League victory over Arsenal yesterday evening.
The German won praise in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They awarded him a 7.5/10 score in the player ratings and named him as Inter’s outstanding performer.
Bisseck was perhaps a surprise name in Inter’s starting eleven yesterday evening.
Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi was certainly not afraid to make some changes. He was evidently aiming to keep some key players fresh for Sunday’s Serie A match against Napoli.
So Bisseck got the nod ahead of Alessandro Bastoni on the left side of the defense. He has frequently played there this season.
Bisseck is still just 23 years of age. The German is just coming on twelve months since he first broke into the Inter lineup.
But there was certainly no lack of experience evident in the former Aarhus defender’s display.
Yann Bisseck A Defensive “Wall” For Inter Vs Arsenal
In the first half of yesterday’s match, Bisseck very much emulated the style of play that Bastoni tends to have on the left of the back three.
That meant that the 23-year-old frequently bombed forward. He found himself supporting the attack either on the flank or in a central channel.
But in the second half, something much different was required from Bisseck.
Inter went ahead on the stroke of halftime through a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty.
Therefore, the dynamic of the second half was very much the Nerazzurri defending their lead at all costs as Arsenal pushed for an equalizer.
And Bisseck was central to Inter’s efforts in this sense.
The German arguably had the hardest defensive job on the pitch. He had to mark Arsenal’s biggest creative outlet Bukayo Saka.
And the Englishman was never really able to get the better of Bisseck.
The 23-year-old used every tool at his disposal to not just keep Saka quiet, but also make a number of vital clearances and last-ditch challenges in the Inter penalty area.
The Gazzetta label Bisseck a “wall” after his display. Meanwhile, there are 7/10 scores for the other members of Inter’s back three, Stefan de Vrij and Benjamin Pavard.
And Denzel Dumfries receives a 7.5/10 score – the same as Bisseck’s – for a performance which saw him get up and down the pitch relentlessly on the right flank.
Dumfries had a big impact on proceedings in both attack and defense.