Inter Milan 3-1 Chievo Verona: Player Ratings

The winning streak continues. Inter put pressure on Chievo Verona for a majority of the match and despite Stefano Sorrentino’s best efforts, the home team was able to take all three points in this match. It might’ve been a late win but it was still a display to be proud of. Stefano Pioli and his men will be full of confidence when they face Bologna in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday.

Players

Samir Handanovic - 6

The heroics of ‘Batmanovic’ weren’t needed in yesterday’s match. The goalkeeper wasn’t really tested and had a relatively easy night.

Danilo D’Ambrosio - 4.5

There’s no nice way to say it-D’Ambrosio cost the team a goal with his lazy marking of Pellissier from a corner. Any player should be expected to do better, especially a defender. The sooner Suning opens their checkbook for another fullback the better.

Joao Miranda - 7

A confidant display from the leader of the defense. He kept the opposition attackers in his pocket for a majority of the match and Inter could pour men forward looking for a goal because they knew Miranda could and would protect the goal.

Jeison Murillo - 7

Murillo’s had some shaky performances this season but this match was not one of them. He was strong and smart yesterday, making all the right decisions to ensure his goalkeeper had a quiet evening. Let’s hope this Murillo sticks around.

Cristian Ansaldi - 6

Ansaldi and Perisic had a field day on the left flank during the first half, but were unable to capitalize on the opportunities there were afforded. When Mariano Izco was sent on at halftime to help out Chievo’s rightback Ansaldi’s influence decreased, and he was eventually replaced for Eder as Pioli went all out in order to score.

Roberto Gagliardini - 7.5

I know that it’s just against Chievo, but wow, if I was just randomly watching that game I wouldn’t be able to tell that Gagliardini was making his debut (and that he had just arrived at the club days before). He slotted in perfectly and controlled the midfield making runs and spraying passes like he has been doing it all his life. He was able to help out defensively and get forward, he probably should’ve scored in this match. If he can continue to play like he did yesterday then Atalanta will be kicking themselves for not making Inter pay more for the youngster.

Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Geoffrey Kondogbia - 6.5

I think Kondogbia has a new best friend. With Gagliardini alongside him, Kondogbia had arguably his best game in an Inter jersey. He tackled well, made strong runs, and looked more confident that I’ve ever seen. He still was prone to making bad passes though but I am very pleased with what I saw from the Frenchman yesterday.

Antonio Candreva - 6

Even when he has a bad game he doesn’t still tries. Candreva’s crossing (assist aside) was quite poor and while he kept Sorrentino honest with his distance shooting, the Italian didn’t always make the best decisions in the final third. I will be shocked if he starts over Gabriel Barbosa on Tuesday.

Joao Mario - 6

In the first half he was a constant presence in midfield along with Gagliardini. His passing was smart and could always be relied on to calmly find the open man on the flanks. His influence sharply declined in the second half though and he was rightly replaced by Ever Banega.

Ivan Perisic - 7

He ran rampant in the first half, toying with Nicolas Frey at will during those first 45 minutes. He shot, crossed, and made so many late dangerous runs that Rolando Maran was forced to make a halftime substitution in order to cope with the Croatian. At first the change saw Perisic crowded out, and when he was moved to play as a wingback I figured that would be the end of Perisic attacking but he continued to bomb forward and eventually scored a deserved goal.

Mauro Icardi - 7.5

A true captain’s display. Icardi was constantly on the move whether it was offensively to make runs and create space for his teammates, or defensively to harass the opposition defenders and goalkeeper. He never got discouraged despite Sorrentino’s heroics and kept pushing and pushing until he scored with a deft finish. Oh and his tackle let to Perisic’s go-ahead goal. Icardi is truly becoming a top-quality attacker, and he’s only 23. Part of me really wants Argentina to start calling him up, while part of me is happy the way it is-less chance of injuries and fatigue.

Substitutes

Eder - 6.5

A pretty good cameo from the Italian international. He made smart runs and was a general nuisance down the left side, opening more space for Icardi and Perisic on the overlap. He got a late goal as well which should give him some confidence. I expect him to get serious minutes on Tuesday and hopefully he can continue his form.

Ever Banega - 6

Replaced Joao Mario with 20 minutes remaining and took over the role of passing distributor that Mario had been performing in the first half. It’s amazing that Inter can now afford to have a player with such class on the bench especially when we consider some of the midfielders Inter has had in the past 3 or 4 years (Mudingayi, Mariga, and Kuzmanovic to name a few).

Rodrigo Palacio -6

Typically I wouldn’t give a rating for a player who spent so little time on the pitch but for all of the negative things I usually say about Palacio, I have to give him credit for his performance yesterday. He came on to run and run and run as usual, and he did his job effectively. The aging attacker also passed the ball around pretty well and assisted the third goal. Maybe he can still teach Barbosa a thing or two? (On the training ground, not on the pitch though)

Manager

Stefano Pioli - 8

Pioli has the boys smiling again, and the change in attitude is working wonders. Everybody on the pitch worked their socks off (even if they did have the occasional brain-fart...D’Ambrosio) and they dominated Chievo. It was a bold move by the manager to throw Gagliardini into the deep end but it turned out to be a masterstroke. Pioli is making all the right decisions at the moment, all we can do is enjoy the moment.