Inter 2-0 Genoa Player Ratings: Manuel Akanji Shines 8.5/10 as I Nerazzurri Cruise to a Comfortable 2-0 Victory

A thoroughly professional performance saw Inter cruise to a 2-0 victory over a struggling Genoa side in this Serie A clash. The home side was in complete control from the first whistle to the last at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. They never really looked troubled.

The breakthrough came just after the half-hour mark. It was a moment of pure quality from Federico Dimarco. He found the back of the net from a ridiculously tight angle, a goal that underlined Inter's early dominance. The passing and movement leading up to it were just too much for Genoa's defence to handle.

Genoa offered very little in response, seeming overwhelmed by the occasion. While they had a brief moment with a shot on target in the first half, they were largely chasing shadows. The second half continued in a similar vein, with Inter managing the game expertly and adding a second goal to put the result beyond any doubt, solidifying their position at the top of the league table. Here are Sportsdunia's Inter vs Genoa player ratings.

Inter Player Ratings vs Genoa

Check out the Inter player ratings against Genoa.

Goalkeeper

Yann Sommer - 7.0: A quiet evening for the Swiss keeper, which is a testament to his defence. He made a key save from an Ellertsson shot in the first half, showing good concentration. Distributed the ball effectively and was never put under any real pressure. A clean sheet earned with minimal fuss.

Defenders

Stefan de Vrij - 7.0: The Dutchman was rock solid before his substitution. His passing was near-perfect, helping build attacks from the back with composure. He won his duels and read the game well, making a key interception. A typically reliable display.

Manuel Akanji - 8.5: What stood out to us was his sheer defensive dominance. He was an absolute colossus at the back and our man of the match. With four tackles, four interceptions, and four clearances, he was everywhere. His ability to snuff out danger before it even developed was incredible to watch. A truly commanding performance.

Carlos Augusto - 8.0: Immense performance from the wing-back. He was a constant outlet on the left, very involved with 92 touches. Defensively sound, winning all his ground duels and making crucial interceptions. He also created a big chance, showing his attacking prowess. An all-action display.

Midfielders

Piotr Zieliński - 7.0: Kept the midfield ticking over nicely with his precise passing. He controlled the tempo of the game for long periods. While not spectacular, his calm presence and ability to recycle possession were vital for Inter's control. A solid, if unsung, contribution.

Luis Henrique - 7.5: A workhorse in the middle of the park. From our perspective, his energy was infectious. He made an astounding 10 ball recoveries, breaking up play and starting attacks. He was physically dominant and gave Genoa's midfield no time to breathe.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan - 7.5: Very influential in the hour he played. He was the creative spark, involved in the build-up to the first goal and always looking to make things happen. It was a shame he picked up a yellow card, but his vision and passing were excellent before he was substituted.

Nicolò Barella - 8.0: The captain led by example with a typically energetic performance. He was a thorn in Genoa's side all game, creating four chances and driving forward at every opportunity. He was unlucky not to score himself, but his relentless running and creativity were key to Inter's dominance.

Federico Dimarco - 8.0: Scored a truly stunning goal from an almost impossible angle. That moment of brilliance set the tone. Beyond the goal, he was a constant threat, whipping in 13 crosses and linking up play effectively. A fantastic attacking performance from the wing-back.

Forwards

Marcus Thuram - 6.5: It felt like a frustrating evening for the striker. He worked hard and won a decent number of duels, but he couldn't find the decisive touch in the final third. He was well-marshalled by the Genoa defence and substituted before the hour mark.

Ange-Yoan Bonny - 7.0: Looked very lively and was Inter's most dangerous forward. He forced two good saves from the goalkeeper and always looked to get in behind the defence. His movement was sharp and he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. A promising performance.

Substitutes

Hakan Çalhanoglu - 6.5: Came on and helped maintain control in midfield, though he did pick up a booking.

Francesco Pio Esposito - 6.0: Didn't have much of an impact after coming on for Thuram.

Yann Bisseck - 6.5: Slotted in well at the back and ensured the clean sheet remained intact.

Andy Diouf - N/A: Not on the pitch long enough to rate.

Davide Frattesi - N/A: Came on late to see the game out.

Manager

C. Chivu - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. Inter were dominant from start to finish, controlling possession and creating numerous chances while remaining defensively solid. His team selection was spot on, and the substitutions were managed well to see out a comfortable win.

Genoa Player Ratings vs Inter

Here are the Genoa player ratings vs Inter.

Goalkeeper

Justin Bijlow - 7.0: Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse. He made four saves, including a couple of excellent stops to deny de Vrij and Bonny. He commanded his area well and couldn't be faulted for either of the goals. A strong performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Leo Østigård - 7.0: A real fighter in the backline. He won an impressive 11 duels and made several crucial tackles and interceptions. While his side conceded two, he personally put in a monumental effort to keep Inter at bay. He was one of the few Genoa players to emerge with credit.

Johan Vásquez - 6.5: The captain had a difficult game against Inter's fluid attack. While his passing was accurate, he was part of a defence that was constantly stretched. He struggled to contain the movement of Inter's forwards and looked overwhelmed at times.

Alessandro Marcandalli - 6.0: A tough evening for the young defender. He struggled to cope with the pace and intelligence of Inter's attacks, losing half of his duels. He made a few clearances but was often caught out of position. A learning experience for him.

Midfielders

Aarón Martín - 6.0: Provided a couple of decent crosses but struggled to make a real impact on the game. He was pinned back by Inter's attacks and offered little going forward. Was eventually substituted after a quiet performance.

Ruslan Malinovskyi - 5.0: A performance to forget. He got an early yellow card, made an error that led to a shot and was completely ineffective. It was no surprise to see him hooked at halftime. He was a passenger in a game where his team needed him to step up.

Morten Frendrup - 6.5: As always, he worked tirelessly in the midfield. His passing was tidy and he tried to break up play, but he was simply outnumbered and outclassed by Inter's midfield trio. A valiant effort in a losing battle.

Mikael Egill Ellertsson - 6.0: Had Genoa's only real chance of the first half with a shot on target but faded significantly after that. He lost possession far too often and struggled to get involved in the game in any meaningful way. A disappointing outing.

Forwards

Tommaso Baldanzi - 6.5: Showed some bright sparks, creating a couple of chances for his teammates. However, he was often isolated and couldn't get on the ball enough to influence the game. He worked hard but was ultimately snuffed out by a superior defence.

Vitinha - 5.5: An anonymous performance from the forward. He lost possession 11 times and failed to register a single shot. He struggled to hold up the ball or link up with his teammates and was rightfully substituted on the hour mark.

Lorenzo Colombo - 6.0: Similar to his strike partner, he was completely isolated. He had one wild shot off target and struggled to get into the game. His low pass completion rate highlights his difficulty in linking up with the midfield.

Substitutes

Alex Amorim - 6.0: Came on at halftime but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Caleb Ekuban - 6.0: Added a bit more physical presence but had little service to work with.

Jeff Ekhator - N/A: Not on long enough to make an impact.

Junior Messias - N/A: A late substitute with no time to influence the match.

Stefano Sabelli - N/A: Came on for the final few minutes.

Manager

D. De Rossi - 5.5: His team looked out of their depth from the very start. The setup was too passive, allowing Inter to dictate the entire match. His substitutions failed to change the dynamic, and Genoa never looked like they believed they could get a result. A tough day at the office for the manager.

Man of the Match

Manuel Akanji was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Ruslan Malinovskyi was the worst performer.