Inter 3-2 Juventus Player Ratings: Zielinski Wins it Late For Inter In A Dramatic Derby d'Italia Game at the San Siro

What a chaotic and brilliant spectacle we witnessed at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. This Serie A encounter between Inter and Juventus had absolutely everything you could ask for. From our perspective, the game was a whirlwind of emotions, swinging back and forth with incredible drama. It felt like neither team was willing to just sit back.

The scoring opened in the most unfortunate way for the visitors. Andrea Cambiaso accidentally turned the ball into his own net, a moment of pure bad luck. But what stood out to us was his response.

He didn't let his head drop, and just nine minutes later, he redeemed himself by firing home the equalizer, thanks to a brilliant assist from Weston McKennie.

The game's pivotal moment, however, arrived just before the break. Pierre Kalulu received his second yellow card, leaving Juventus to face the entire second half with ten men.

Against all odds, the ten men of Juve dug deep. Inter Milan, as expected, took control and eventually found a go-ahead goal through Pio Esposito in the 76th minute. It seemed like the game was lost for Juventus. But in a stunning turn of events, Manuel Locatelli popped up with a late equalizer that felt more like a victory for the traveling side.

However, it was Inter who had the last laugh as Piotr Zielinski popped up with an even better strike to win it for the Nerazzurri in the 91st minute, sending the home crowd and the bench into a frenzy.

Have a look at the Inter vs Juventus Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Andrea Cambiasso became the first player in the history of the Derby d’Italia to score both an own goal and a goal in the same game.
• Pierre Kalulu saw his second yellow card in a matter of just 10 minutes since the first one, leaving the visitors down to ten men. Pio Esposito arrived just in time to put the hosts in the lead.
• Manuel Locatelli’s brilliant strike in the 84th minute lifted the spirits of the Old Lady despite being short in numbers, but Piotr Zielinski eventually won it for Inter in injury time.

Juventus Player Ratings vs Inter

Here are the Juventus Player Ratings from the Inter vs Juventus Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Michele Di Gregorio - 6.5: We felt he couldn't do much about either of the goals conceded. He made three saves, including a couple of decent stops to keep his team in it when Inter were pushing. Overall, it was a solid, if unspectacular, performance between the sticks. He commanded his box well enough and his distribution was decent.

Defenders

Bremer - 6.5: A typically rugged performance from the Brazilian. He was strong in the air, winning three aerial duels, and made a number of important clearances and interceptions. We noticed he was a little clumsy in the challenge, committing two fouls. However, he was a key part of a defence that held firm under immense pressure after the red card.

Lloyd Kelly - 6.5: A steady debut in a chaotic match. He made five clearances and a couple of crucial blocks, showing good defensive positioning. From our perspective, he was a bit careless in possession at times, losing the ball seven times. It was a baptism of fire, and he did his job without any major errors.

Pierre Kalulu - 3.0: A complete disaster of a performance that almost cost his team the game. Getting one yellow card was careless, but the second one for another needless foul was inexcusable. He let his teammates and manager down, putting them in an incredibly difficult position for the entire second half. A night to forget for the defender.

Andrea Cambiaso - 7.0: What an emotional rollercoaster for the wing-back. He showed incredible mental strength to bounce back from a deeply unfortunate own goal. Not only did he not hide, but he popped up to score the equalizer with a well-taken finish. He was a constant threat down the flank before being substituted. A mixed performance, but his character was undeniable.

Midfielders

Manuel Locatelli - 8.5: Our man of the match. This was a true captain's performance when his team needed him most. He was immense in midfield, winning a remarkable seven duels and maintaining a 92% pass accuracy. And then, the defining moment: a superbly taken goal to snatch a point at the death. He led by example and was the heartbeat of Juve's fightback.

Fabio Miretti - 6.0: He had a decent enough game but struggled to really impose himself on the proceedings. We saw him get a shot on target and he worked hard, but he was often on the periphery of the action. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted in the second half as Juve looked for a different approach.

Weston McKennie - 8.0: An absolutely fantastic creative display. The American was the architect of Juventus's attack, providing two sublime assists for both goals. His energy was infectious, and he was a constant problem for the Inter defence. While he was a bit loose in possession, his offensive contribution was priceless and he was unlucky not to score himself.

Forwards

Francisco Conceição - 6.0: Looked lively and willing to take players on during his 45 minutes on the pitch. However, he lacked the final product to make a real difference. He had one wild shot that went over the bar but didn't create any clear-cut chances. His substitution at half-time was a tactical one following the red card.

Kenan Yıldız - 7.0: What stood out to us was his fearlessness. The young attacker was a constant thorn in Inter's side, winning an incredible nine duels and completing three dribbles. He forced an excellent save from the goalkeeper and was Juve's most dynamic player in the first half. We were surprised to see him substituted, as he looked like the player most likely to create something.

Jonathan David - 5.5: A very frustrating and anonymous performance. He was completely isolated up front, managing only 17 touches in his 61 minutes. He failed to get a single shot away and seemed to be on a different wavelength from his teammates. A really quiet evening for the striker.

Substitutes

Substitutes - 6.5: The players who came on, including Emil Holm, Juan Cabal, Teun Koopmeiners, Jérémie Boga, and Loïs Openda, all played their part. They brought fresh energy and helped maintain the team's defensive structure while down a man. Their hard work was essential in providing the platform for the late comeback.

Manager

L. Spalletti - 7.5: He deserves immense credit for the spirit his team showed. Going down to ten men away from home against a rival could have been a disaster. Instead, he organized his team brilliantly, made sensible changes, and instilled a belief that they could still get something from the game. This result was a testament to his management.

Inter Player Ratings vs Juventus

Here are the Inter Player Ratings from the Inter vs Juventus Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Yann Sommer - 7.5: He was excellent and will be furious to have conceded twice. He made five saves, a couple of which were top-class to deny Yıldız and McKennie. From our perspective, there was little he could do about either Juventus goal. He did his job and kept his team ahead for large periods of the game.

Defenders

Manuel Akanji - 6.0: A comfortable evening on the ball, boasting a 93% pass completion rate. However, defensively he wasn't as convincing. He was part of a backline that failed to see out the game against ten men. A performance that was tidy in possession but lacked defensive steel when it mattered.

Yann Bisseck - 6.5: A solid enough performance from the defender. He was strong in the tackle and made a few important interventions. What stood out to us was his contribution going forward, even creating a chance. He wasn't directly at fault for the goals but couldn't help his side secure the three points.

Alessandro Bastoni - 6.0: Only played the first half, and his evening was marred by an early yellow card. He was composed on the ball as usual, with a 95% pass accuracy. His substitution at halftime felt like a precautionary measure to avoid a potential red card of his own. A steady but short-lived appearance.

Midfielders

Piotr Zieliński - 8.5: A very tidy and influential performance in the heart of midfield. His passing was almost perfect, and he kept Inter ticking over. He tried his luck with a couple of shots but couldn't find the target. He was a calming presence and controlled the tempo well, especially after Juventus went down to ten men. Scored the winning goal of the game with a peach of a strike.

Petar Sučić - 7.0: We were really impressed with this young midfielder before he was substituted. He was tenacious, winning all three of his tackles, and was creative on the ball, setting up two chances. He looked full of energy and purpose. A very promising display that suggests he has a bright future.

Luis Henrique - 6.0: A mixed bag of a performance. He worked hard and got into some good positions, but his final ball and decision-making were lacking. He lost possession a frustrating 12 times. There was plenty of effort, but not enough quality to truly hurt the opposition.

Nicolò Barella - 5.5: A surprisingly quiet and ineffective game by his high standards. He struggled to get into the game, picked up a needless yellow card, and was substituted early in the second half. From our perspective, he seemed off the pace and couldn't provide his usual energy and drive from midfield.

Federico Dimarco - 8.0: Inter's best player on the night. He was a constant threat down the left flank, delivering a fantastic cross for what should have been the winning goal. He created three chances in total, but his performance was also frustrating. He was incredibly wasteful, losing possession 18 times and missing the target with a few shots. A brilliant but flawed performance.

Forwards

Marcus Thuram - 7.0: A real handful for the Juventus defence. His movement and power caused problems all night. He had three shots and created a big chance for his teammates. He didn't manage to get on the scoresheet, but he was a key part of Inter's attacking play and never stopped working.

Lautaro Martínez - 6.0: A subdued performance from the Inter captain. He worked hard pressing from the front and won a few tackles, but he offered very little in attack. He failed to register a single shot on target, which is very unlike him. It was a quiet and frustrating night for the Argentine striker.

Substitutes

Substitutes - 6.5: Francesco Pio Esposito made the dream impact, coming off the bench to score with a well-taken header that looked to have won the game. Hakan Çalhanoglu added control in midfield but also picked up a booking. However, the collective effort wasn't enough to secure the win against a resilient 10-man side.

Manager

C. Chivu - 6.0: He will be kicking himself after this result. His team had a man advantage for 45 minutes and took the lead late on, but they still couldn't close out the game. While his substitution to bring on Esposito paid off, the tactical setup failed to prevent the late equalizer. This has to be seen as a massive missed opportunity for him and his team.

Man of the Match

Piotr Zieliński was our man of the match in this Derby d'Italia game in the Serie A.

Worst Performer

Pierre Kalulu was the worst performer in the Inter vs Juventus match.