Inter 2-1 Sassuolo Player Ratings: Federico Dimarco Rated 8.5/10 as Inter Seal Gritty Win

At a night of high drama at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Inter Milan held off a resilient Sassuolo side to claim a narrow 2-1 victory in one of the most entertaining fixtures of the Serie A weekend. In a chaotic, end-to-end battle filled with moments of brilliance and flashes of misfortune, Inter looked to have done enough early on — but were pushed to the limit by a Sassuolo team that refused to give in.

Federico Dimarco’s well-taken opener set the tone for what looked to be a routine evening for the hosts, yet the match quickly turned into a test of resolve. Sassuolo, led by the ever-inventive Domenico Berardi, hit back with intent, and when a second-half own goal by Tarik Muharemović extended Inter’s lead, the visitors could’ve folded. Instead, they responded with late pressure and a goal from substitute Walid Cheddira, forcing Inter to dig deep and survive a tense finale. Here are Sportsdunia's Inter vs Sassuolo Player Ratings:

Inter Player Ratings vs Sassuolo

Goalkeeper

Josep Martínez - 7.0: A solid performance from the Inter shot-stopper. He made four saves, with two crucial stops from inside the box. What stood out to us was his composure under pressure, especially late in the game. He couldn't do anything about the goal he conceded. Overall a reliable presence between the sticks.

Defenders

Francesco Acerbi - 7.5: A rock at the back for Inter. His stats speak for themselves with 11 clearances and 3 successful tackles. From our perspective, he was a commanding presence, winning 8 of his 11 duels. He was simply immense and snuffed out so many Sassuolo attacks before they could even begin. A truly dominant defensive display.

Manuel Akanji - 6.5: A mixed bag for Akanji. He was solid in possession with a 97% pass accuracy. However, we noticed he was dribbled past once and only won a third of his duels. He did his job without any major fuss but wasn't as imperious as his defensive partners. A decent but unremarkable evening.

Carlos Augusto - 7.0: An incredibly active performance. He was a constant threat going forward, registering a surprising four shots. Defensively, he was mostly sound, making 5 clearances and 2 interceptions. He did lose the ball a few times but his energy and attacking intent were a huge plus for his side. He seemed to be everywhere.

Midfielders

Denzel Dumfries - 7.0: A really effective outing before he was substituted. He created a big chance and made two key passes, showing his attacking quality. He also contributed defensively with two tackles won. It was a shame his evening was cut short. He looked sharp and dangerous on the right flank.

Petar Sučić - 8.0: What an engine in midfield. He was the creative spark for Inter, providing the assist for the opening goal and creating four chances in total. His vision and passing range were exceptional. He also worked hard off the ball, winning his duels and recovering possession. A masterful midfield performance that really caught our eye.

Hakan Çalhanoğlu - 7.0: The conductor of Inter's orchestra for his time on the pitch. He maintained a 93% pass accuracy and created three chances. His delivery from set-pieces was a constant threat. The yellow card was a slight blot on his copybook, but his control of the tempo was vital. Inter missed his composure after he was subbed off.

Nicolò Barella - 6.5: An industrious but frustrating night for Barella. He worked tirelessly, recovering the ball 10 times. However, what stood out to us was his unusually high number of possessions lost (21). He just seemed a little off his game in the final third. A hard-working shift as always, but lacking his usual final product.

Federico Dimarco - 8.5: Our man of the match. A spectacular performance from the wing-back. He scored the crucial opening goal with a fine finish. He was a menace throughout, creating three chances and putting in nine crosses. The yellow card was the only negative on a night where he was simply unplayable at times. He was the difference-maker.

Forwards

Marcus Thuram - 5.5: A night to forget for the French forward. He missed a big chance and was largely anonymous before being substituted. From our perspective, he looked off the pace, losing most of his duels. He just couldn't get into the game. A disappointing display.

Pio Esposito - 6.5: A very busy performance from the young striker. He had four shots, though he should have done better with a big chance he missed. He showed good movement and drew fouls, but his finishing let him down. There are promising signs but he needs to be more clinical.

Substitutes

Lautaro Martínez - 6.5: Came on and immediately looked to get involved, setting up a great chance for Augusto. Didn't get a clear look at goal himself but added energy.

Davide Frattesi - 6.5: Added some steel and drive to the midfield in the final phase of the game. Had a shot blocked and kept things ticking over.

Luis Henrique - 6.0: Didn't have a huge impact after coming on for Dumfries. Looked tidy enough in possession without threatening the opposition goal.

Ange-Yoan Bonny - N/A: Brought on late with not enough time to make a significant impact.

Manager

C. Chivu - 7.0: His team got the job done. The initial setup worked perfectly to get the early lead. His substitutions were logical, aiming to see out the game. Perhaps could have managed the final few minutes with a bit more calm, but a win is a win.

Sassuolo Player Ratings vs Inter

Goalkeeper

Arijanet Murić - 7.5: He was absolutely outstanding. Despite conceding two goals, he made five saves, all from inside the box. Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse for Sassuolo. What stood out was his shot-stopping ability under immense pressure. He kept his team in the match for long periods.

Defenders

Josh Doig - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular game. He created a big chance which showed his attacking potential. Defensively, he held his own but was part of a backline that was under constant pressure. A decent performance overall.

Jay Idzes - 6.5: A busy evening for the centre-back. He made an impressive nine clearances and a last-man tackle. However, he was also dribbled past twice and struggled in his duels. A mixed performance defined by some key interventions but also moments of vulnerability.

Woyo Coulibaly - 6.0: A quiet game from the defender. He was tidy on the ball but offered very little going forward and wasn't particularly impactful defensively. He was just... there. Not a bad performance, but not one that will live long in the memory.

Tarik Muharemović - 5.5: A truly tough night for the defender. He made nine clearances and won seven duels, which shows he was competing hard. But his performance will be remembered for the desperately unlucky own goal. It was a cruel moment that ultimately cost his team a point. A harsh rating, perhaps, but a decisive error.

Midfielders

Nemanja Matic - 6.5: A classic Matic performance. He was a combative presence in midfield, winning seven duels and drawing three fouls. However, his passing was a bit wayward, and he lost possession 16 times. From our perspective he provided a shield but lacked the quality to turn defence into attack consistently.

Aster Vranckx - 6.0: He struggled to impose himself on the game before being substituted. He had very few touches and lost the ball too often in his short time on the pitch. It just wasn't his day. He never really got up to the speed of the match.

Ismaël Koné - 7.0: A bright spark for Sassuolo. He was very creative, making four key passes before he was surprisingly taken off. His ability to find space and pick out a pass caused Inter problems. We were a bit surprised to see him substituted, as he looked like one of Sassuolo's most likely sources of a goal.

Forwards

Domenico Berardi - 8.0: The heart and soul of this Sassuolo attack. He was a constant threat, registering two shots on target and providing a brilliant assist for his team's goal. He was full of tricks and intelligent movement. He was the highest-rated player for his team, and it's easy to see why. A top-class performance.

Armand Laurienté - 6.5: A frustrating evening. He got into good positions and had a shot on target, but his end product was lacking. He was dispossessed five times, which halted several promising attacks. The effort was there, but the execution was not.

Andrea Pinamonti - 6.0: A difficult night leading the line. He worked hard but was physically dominated, losing 10 duels. He missed a big chance that could have changed the complexion of the game. It was a real battle for him against Inter's strong central defenders.

Substitutes

Walid Cheddira - 7.5: Made the perfect impact off the bench. He scored a well-taken goal that gave his team hope. A brilliant cameo.

Kristian Thorstvedt - 6.0: Came on and had a shot blocked but couldn't really change the flow of the game.

Alieu Fadera - 6.0: Added some fresh legs but didn't have any decisive contributions in the final third.

Cristian Volpato - 6.0: Similar to the other subs, he worked hard but failed to make a telling impact.

Nicholas Pierini - N/A: Came on in stoppage time with no chance to influence the result.

Manager

F. Grosso - 7.0: His team showed incredible spirit and were unlucky not to get a point. His tactics to hit on the counter caused Inter problems all game. The substitution to bring on Cheddira was a masterstroke. He can be proud of his team's performance despite the result.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Federico Dimarco