Inter 4-0 Genoa: Player rating
Inter began their title defense with a commanding and comfortable 4-0 victory over Genoa, which gave Simone Inzaghi the perfect result to start her managerial career at the San Siro.
The Nerazzurri could not have had a better start by taking the lead in six minutes through a high Milan Skriniar nod from Hakan Calhanoglu’s curling corner.
Class from Hakan Çalhanoğlu! ?
The purest strike on his debut?
Inter is flying! pic.twitter.com/3MmW7EXyXy
– ?? Watch Serie A on BT Sport Football ?? (@btsportfootball) August 21, 2021
Calhanoglu doubled the lead eight minutes later and carried the ball towards the edge of the box before firing a beautiful curling shot into the corner of the net. Ivan Perisic added a third just before half-time, but his goal was ruled out for the most marginal offside talks.
Inter then had the ball in the net 10 minutes into the second half, but once again Perisic was ruled offside in the build-up and Calhanoglu denied his second in the match with an evil explosion in the upper corner.
In the Nerazzurri, however, would not be denied for 74 minutes, when the substitute Arturo Vidal stopped home from a beautiful Nicolo Barella heel. Edin Dzeko put in a fourth late to end a perfect day for Inter, finishing the score and all three points for the Italian champions.
Let’s look at the players’ ratings.
Blowing Kisses / Marco Luzzani / Getty Images
Samir Handanovic (GK) – 7/10 – Should have been called to action on a couple of occasions, but Genoa’s front line had its slippers on the front. A good evening work.
Milan Skriniar (CB) – 8/10 – Crushed the deadlock with a powerful head – no stopping it. Burst forward and drove with possession and showed his fantastic ball playing skills.
Stefan de Vrij (CB) – 7/10 – Flashed an early strike outside the goal. Suffers a couple of scares with the rest of the defense in the first half, but generally always had control.
Alessandro Bastoni (CB) – 7/10 – Such peace and quiet on the ball for such a young man. As important for this backline as any of his midfielders.
Scrapped / Marco Luzzani / Getty Images
Matteo Darmian (RWB) – 7/10 – Full of beans on the right, loading up and down to whip balls into the box and squeezing Genoa by mistake in his own third. Back to its best. Nicolo Barella (CM) – 8/10 – A middle class in the midfield in and out of possession. Barella’s pressure set the tone for the rest of his teammates, and he provided dream help to provide Vidal with the third.
Marcelo Brozovic (CM) – 8/10 – Fizzed a low shot to the corner of the net from distance, but saw his effort parried outside for a corner. Bossed the midfield. Stefano Sensi (CM) – 7/10 – Enjoyed his excursion, cracked between the lines and was in some dangerous intersection positions. The last ball released him sometimes.
Ivan Perisic (LWB) – 7/10 – Tear off his marker on the left, cut in and hovered some dangerous crosses against Dzeko’s head. Was offside twice in goal shots, and saw both descended. Hard to take.
? | A ROCKET @ hakanc10 with a brilliant right-footed finish outside the box. # InterGenoa 2️⃣-0️⃣ # ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/C3uV6cMtib
– Inter ??? (@Inter_en) August 21, 2021
Hakan Calhanoglu (CF) – 9/10 – Sacked his first assist for the club within six minutes and whipped a beautiful corner against Skrinariar’s head. Got the audience off their feet with a brilliant blow outside the box.
Edin Dzeko (ST) – 8/10 – Showed a good connection with Calhanoglu and put the ball in the Turk’s way for his goal. Cut across the bar with a deflected blow. Fantastic header to remove the mark in black and blue.
Subbed on / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Federico Dimarco (LWB) – 7/10
Arturo Vidal (CM) – 8/10 – Impressive after being introduced from the bench. ‘The Warrior’ still has a lot to offer.
Matias Vecino (CM) – 7/10
Martin Satriano (ST) – 6/10
Denzel Dumfries (RWB) – N / A