Sassuolo Player ratings
Consigli 6 – Few real risks taken. Good positioning and alert on Alexis Sanchez’s shot, which was too central. Solid in coming out of the goal.
Erlic 6.5 – Extremely careful game defensively, good with long passes to support the attackers. Quick to anticipate and intercept Lautaro’s moves.
Ferrari 6 – Holds the defense well and shuts down Inter’s attempts to break through. Sacrifices himself with a sliding tackle to block a close-range shot from Arnautovic.
Kumbulla 6.5 – Handles Sanchez well and closes him down when he tries to break through. Some inaccuracies in his long passes but impeccable in his tackles against Lautaro and Arnautovic.
Toljan 5.5 – Not very proactive in attack, perhaps concerned about Inter’s wing attacks. Subbed off in the 86th minute for Missori.
Lipani 6.5 – Very attentive game, focused on limiting Mkhitaryan’s influence in midfield. Times his runs well and tries an interesting shot. Subbed off in the 71st minute for Obiang, who put in a solid defensive shift.
Henrique 6.5 – Handles himself well in midfield, battles for every ball. Makes good runs and covers defensively. Positive performance from the midfielder who was substituted in the final minutes for Racic.
Thorstvedt 6 – Has some promising shots but doesn’t trouble Audero. Alert in midfield, but unable to make a significant impact on the game.
Thorstvedt 6 – Shows some interesting attempts but fails to trouble Audero. Alert in midfield, lacks something in finishing. Boloca from 54’ 6 – Runs and does his job. Tries to get forward once with a weak cross easily caught by Audero.
Doig 6.5 – Solid performance, running and determination. Deserves credit for stealing the ball from Dumfries at the 20th minute and timing his pass well to Laurienté for Sassuolo’s lead. Also good in tackles.
Laurienté 7 – Starts well with good plays and interesting crosses. Perfect finish for the opening goal. Excellent in defensive recovery, winning back possession several times.
Pinamonti 6 – Fights and runs but often imprecise in passing. Sacrificial performance with several generous recoveries.
Coach – Davide Ballardini 6.5 – His Sassuolo team starts the game well today, and the players seem to listen to his instructions on the field. Is survival still possible? With this determination, there is still hope.
Inter player ratings
Audero 6.5 – Great save on Lipani, then concedes on Laurienté’s penalty. Quiet second half.
Pavard 6 – Among the few who kept running until the end.
De Vrij 6 – Handles Pinamonti without any trouble.
Bastoni 6.5 – Starts his 200th game for Inter by providing balls left and right, showing a consistent attacking flair. Little to do defensively. (Subbed off in the 69th minute for Buchanan 5.5 – Inzaghi’s lack of faith in him is clear. Needs to make better use of the limited space given).
Dumfries 5 – Back in the starting lineup but starts poorly, gifting Doig the ball that leads to Sassuolo’s goal. Tries to make up for it with some good runs down the wing, but the mistake defines his performance. (Subbed off in the 60th minute for Cuadrado 6 – Back again, but weren’t we done with this?).
Frattesi 5.5 – Looks better coming off the bench than starting. Shows willingness to get involved, but lacks the same impact on the ball and in possession compared to his replacement. (Subbed off in the 69th minute for Barella 6 – Neat and tidy without setting the game alight).
Asllani 6.5 – A key moment for him to step up. Can he be the one to take charge in the near future? Inzaghi constantly urges him to show more personality, and he grows into the game, creating the best chances for Inter. (Subbed off in the 74th minute for Klaassen 6 – Disciplined).
Mkhitaryan 6 – Has a picture of Zielinski on his bedside table, perhaps hoping for some rest next season. Expected to lead alongside the younger players, but puts in an average performance. (Subbed off in the 60th minute for Arnautovic 5 – Caught offside in Inter’s offside festival, needing to find his form).
Sassuolo-Inter 1-0, player ratings: Laurienté shines with a 7, Dumfries with a 5. Ballardini has hope
Augusto 5.5 – His deflected shot that led to Lautaro’s disallowed goal was one of the few highlights in his performance.
Sanchez 5.5 – He switches on and off like a light bulb. When he’s on, he sparks Inter’s energy. Most of the time, he loves to show off.
Lautaro 5.5 – It’s no secret that he’s been missing goals since February 28th. He almost finds one towards the end of the first half, but his eagerness to score puts him offside. Forced to drop back significantly to support the team’s play, he sends a somewhat interesting ball wide.
Coach – Simone Inzaghi 5.5 – Is Sassuolo like his weakness? Considering the stakes, let’s not overreact: it’s a different story compared to the defeat at San Siro. Rotation and celebrations explain the relative eagerness of the Nerazzurri, who bid farewell to almost all records still within reach until the end of the season on that night. With the tricolour on their chest, we quickly come to terms with it. Some doubts about the substitutions: Cuadrado will be packing his bags in a month, so why not give Buchanan a chance on the right instead? Barella and Frattesi together still seem like a distant dream. In short: they’ve already secured the win, the remaining matches could be useful for a few more experiments.
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