Man of the Match: Lazio vs Inter

Inter Milan put in their their most impressive performance of the season tonight, comprehensively defeating Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. After the fireworks we saw in the same fixture last season, many fans would’ve been expecting a tighter contest but the Nerazzurri were on another level. There were solid performances all over the park.

Samir Handanovic

When the weather is as poor as it was tonight, there is always an air of uncertainty for defenders and goalkeepers alike. Tonight, Inter’s No. 1 put in another error free performance which contributed to his side earning a clean sheet. Lazio went long periods without threatening, but managed to carve a number of good chances and Samir was ready for each of them. The 1v1 against Immobile was particularly crucial. We also saw how much his footwork improved tonight. Despite the conditions he regularly provided an option for his defenders and was effective in recycling the ball around (or through) the Lazio press. A great performance all round.

Milan Skriniar

After receiving a bit of criticism for his performance against Barcelona, the Slovakian defender was back to his best against Lazio. Immobile is one of the top strikers in Serie A, but he was only afforded one good chance which came an unlucky deflection. Once again, Skriniar excelled in 1v1’s close to the box (three tackles, two blocked shots), and was effective in distributing the ball to his midfielders (93 percent pass accuracy). Performances like these are becoming the norm for the centre-back, but the quality which he exudes should not be overlooked.

Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

Mauro Icardi

Unlucky not to be receiving the MotM himself today after another vintage performance. After missing an excellent chance early-on, Mauro put Lazio to the sword with the opening and closing goals of the game. Saw an interesting stat tonight too: of his last seven shots on target, six have been goals.

Lazio’s defenders were constantly having to watch him which opened up opportunities for those around him, and we saw some instances of him dropping deeper to collect and then distribute the goal. He has been in sensational form recently, which is exactly what Inter needs heading into a crucial part of the season.

Marcelo Brozovic

It still seems surreal to think that the Croatian midfielder is Inter’s most important player, but he showed all his qualities once again tonight. Lazio’s attackers began by pressing the Inter backline, but this allowed Brozovic the time to slip into space behind them, collect the ball and begin an Inter attack with his first or second touch.

When the opposition sat deep, he was constantly available to receive a pass and move it into space. On top of that, he had two interceptions, two tackles and one vital goal which gave his team breathing space. Considering this was his third 90 minute match in three games, it was indeed an Epic performance.

Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

Man of the Match

There were excellent displays all round, but it is impossible to look past Brozovic after his goal. He delivered in every aspect of the match today, and was by far the best player on the pitch.

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