Atalanta 0-0 Inter Milan: Player Ratings

Check out our player ratings from Inter Milan’s goalless draw against Atalanta on Saturday evening. (If a match recap is what you’re after, on the other hand, then please head here.)

Starting XI

Samir Handanovič - 6.5

He hardly had anything to do in the second half as Inter pushed for a winning goal, but he certainly played his part in this match with a super save from Barrow’s header early on.

He’d said that he expected a difficult evening in Bergamo and for 45 minutes his teammates made sure he was right...

Danilo D’Ambrosio - 5

A poor evening. In the first half he looked uncertain every time he was attacked, in particular by Gomez, while also making several mistakes on the ball as Inter tried to come forward.

Better in the second half as Papu tired and Barrow was removed, but not great overall.

Milan Skriniar - 6.5

Strong, clean, concentrated and dominant in the air: a very good performance on a difficult evening to be an Inter centre-back, especially in the opening 45 minutes. Having said that, Skriniar seems to be less incisive on the ball now than he was up until a month or so ago; not sure why that is to be honest.

João Miranda - 7

Great. The start of the match wasn’t easy because Barrow was intent on making the most of his opportunity from the start, but as time passed he brought him under control and played with good authority. Cornelius came on for the youngster at half-time and went straight into the Brazilian’s pocket.

Joao Cancelo - 6

Much like Inter in general, a performance of two halves.

He was all over the place in the first half, keeping Gomez onside for Atalanta’s best chance of the game and struggling to make it past Goosens going forward, before faring somewhat better in the second, providing some of the quality we’ve been used to over the last few weeks. But not his best display.

Borja Valero - 5

Once upon a time ‘he’s no Marcelo Brozovic’ would have been a rousing compliment, but strangely that’s no longer the case.

Borja was one of Inter’s most important players during the first few months of the season - and I would like that to be remembered whilst everyone is piling in on him - but it’s difficult to remember a convincing performance he’s put in this side of the New Year. Way too slow both in his legs and in his head to cause a midfield as combative as Atalanta’s any serious problems.

Unfortunately Spalletti had (virtually) no option but to play him on Saturday, though, given how embarrassingly short Inter are in midfield. So don’t take your anger out on him: take it out on those who’ve left him in this position whilst simultaneously demanding that he secure qualification for the Champions League.

Roberto Gagliardini - 5.5

A lot of people were concerned heading into this game that Brozovic’s absence would have a negative impact on his performance, and unfortunately their fears were well-founded. Completely overwhelmed by the midfield he used to be an important part of, the wonderful ball over the top for Perisic being the only truly great thing he did.

An underwhelming return to the stadium he used to call home.

Davide Santon - 5.5

Just like in November’s reverse fixture Spalletti brought him into the starting XI in order to contrast Atalanta’s supreme physicality as effectively as possible, and he held his own from that point of view.

But he was far, far too timid when it came to playing the ball - he avoids using his right foot like the plague and it makes life very easy for whoever’s tasked with opposing him. Hateboer had an enjoyable evening.

Rafinha - 6.5

On a night in which Inter were without Marcelo Brozovic he was their only attacking weapon for long periods of the game. Having been responsible for virtually all of the creativity and fluidity we saw in Bergamo it was a surprise to see Spalletti remove the Brazilian with 15 minutes left, but evidently he wanted to preserve him a little with Inter playing again in midweek.

Let’s hope he’s ready to start three games in eight days. The only attacking player to do himself justice on Saturday evening.

Mauro Icardi - 5

Corriere dello Sport’s front page on Sunday morning said it all: “No Icardi, no Inter.” The longer Maurito’s goal drought continues the slimmer the Nerazzurri’s chances are of securing a top four finish, because Perisic aside there really is NO ONE else we can rely on for goals.

And on this game’s evidence it could continue for a little longer yet; tense, hesitant, physically weak and generally an unhelpful presence for the team. It appears what happened on derby day is still playing on his mind. Oh dear.

Ivan Perišić - 5

Gah. Gah. Gaaaaah. One for each of the three glorious chances he wasted during the course of this game. The second miss was the worst, having been sent through on goal by Gagliardini, but a player of his calibre can be expected to do better with the first and the third as well.

When Icardi is out of the match and Ivan doesn’t have his shooting boots on a 0-0 draw is the most this team can hope for...

Substitutes

Éder - 6

A good impact from the man Inter fans love to hate, drawing a save out of Berisha from a free-kick and luring Masiello into picking up a booking.

Yann Karamoh - N/A

Came on too late to warrant a grade (mysteriously).

Head Coach

Luciano Spalletti - 5.5

Not his finest evening, either.

Without Marcelo Brozovic and Antonio Candreva available he took the cautious option of mirroring Atalanta’s 3-4-3-ish formation, but it had the effect of sending his players into confusion and Inter ended up conceding the entire first half to Atalanta, who would have deserved to return to the dressing rooms in the lead.

Having survived the dodgy opening 45 minutes the team made a marked improvement in the second half, but surely Karamoh or Eder could have been introduced earlier on to shake things up a little?

Why did the latter only come on in stoppage time when this was supposedly a match we needed three points from? Even with virtually nothing to turn to on the bench Spalletti’s substitutions left a little to be desired.

Ultimately the draw was the right result, but it doesn’t do a great deal to improve Inter’s position in the table.

Three games, two points, zero goals: Tuesday night’s match against Cagliari is must-win.

Man of the Match - Miranda

With Skriniar’s form having dropped off somewhat in recent weeks it’s been great to see Miranda back to his best. Hopefully he’ll keep churning out performances like this right up until the end of the season, because we’re going to need him.