Lecce 0-2 Inter Player Ratings: Inter Leave It Late to Clinch A Tough Win Away at Lecce

Inter traveled to the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare and came away with all three points, but my word, they were made to work for it by a stubborn Lecce side.

The game was defined by defensive resilience and a single moment of quality that separated the two teams. It was a classic Serie A encounter, which was ultimately decided by fine margins.

Inter Milan dominated the ball for large spells, as you'd expect. However, they found it incredibly difficult to carve out clear-cut opportunities against a Lecce team that was brilliantly organized and fought for every loose ball.

Lecce's game plan was to frustrate, and for the most part, it worked perfectly. They defended deep and in numbers, forcing Inter into wide areas and speculative efforts from distance.

What stood out to us was the performance of Federico Dimarco, who was a constant menace down the left flank. He seemed to be the only one capable of unlocking the Lecce defense with the most vicious balls in the box.

Despite Inter's eventual breakthrough from Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 75th minute, credit has to go to Lecce for a performance full of heart and determination. They couldn't hold out for the full 90 minutes against the sheer quality of the league leaders, as Manuel Akanji rose above anyone to put the match to bed with a second goal.

Have a look at the Lecce vs Inter Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Inter had the most possession (68%) and maintained an xG of 2.07.
• Alessandro Bastoni won the most aerial duels in the game (5).
• Federico Dimarco had the most successful key passes in the match, but no one could capitalize on those opportunities.

Inter Player Ratings vs Lecce

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

Goalkeeper

Yann Sommer - 6.5: Had a relatively quiet evening between the sticks. Lecce didn't test him often, but what he had to do, he did with minimal fuss. We noticed his distribution was solid, with an 80% pass accuracy, and he recovered the ball 7 times. A straightforward day at the office for the Swiss keeper.

Defenders

Stefan de Vrij - 6.5: A decent performance as captain for the hour he was on the pitch. He won most of his aerial duels and made a few important clearances. However, he picked up a yellow card and lost a couple of key duels. Seemed a little less composed than usual from our perspective.

Yann Bisseck - 7.0: A solid display from the young defender. He was strong in the tackle and comfortable on the ball, even creating a chance. He won all of his ground duels which was impressive. Showed good composure pushing forward from the backline to support the attack.

Alessandro Bastoni - 5.5: This was a surprisingly poor performance from Bastoni, who we usually rate very highly. He was incredibly wasteful in possession, losing the ball a staggering 26 times. While he won a lot of aerial duels, his distribution was way off, which really hampered Inter's build-up play. A day to forget for him.

Midfielders

Piotr Zieliński - 7.5: A classy and controlled performance in the heart of midfield. His passing was almost perfect, completing 93% of his attempts and he even created a big chance. He looked a cut above, dictating the tempo and keeping Inter ticking over. What stood out to us was his composure under pressure.

Petar Sučić - 6.5: A game of two halves for Sučić. He worked tirelessly, winning an impressive 7 duels and making several recoveries. However, he was also very loose with the ball, losing possession 13 times and being dispossessed on 3 occasions. A mixed bag, but his work rate was undeniable.

Luis Henrique - 7.0: Very tidy and efficient. He kept things simple and effective, boasting a 97% pass accuracy. He also created two chances for his teammates. From our perspective, he provided a good balance in midfield without doing anything spectacular. A solid, reliable outing.

Davide Frattesi - 6.0: A quiet and largely ineffective game from Frattesi. He struggled to impose himself on the match and was a passenger for long periods. With only 28 touches, he just couldn't get involved in the play. We expected more from him, to be honest.

Federico Dimarco - 8.0: Our highest-rated player and the clear man of the match. He was the main creative force for Inter, constantly causing problems down the left. He created a brilliant 4 chances and whipped in 6 accurate crosses. Every time Inter looked dangerous, he was involved. A fantastic, energetic performance.

Forwards

Marcus Thuram - 6.5: A frustrating night for the Frenchman. He was a constant nuisance for the Lecce defence with his movement and physicality. However, his end product was lacking. He missed a big chance and was caught offside twice. A lot of effort but not much to show for it.

Pio Esposito - 6.5: The young striker worked hard and got himself into some good positions, registering two shots on target. He battled well, winning 6 duels. But, like his partner, he lacked the clinical edge to make a real difference. A learning experience for him.

Substitutes

Manuel Akanji - 7.0: The Swiss centre back was the standout of all the substitutes used, as he scored once again, from a delicious corner from Dimarco.

Manager

C. Chivu - 7.0: His team secured the win, which is the most important thing. The tactics were to dominate possession, and they did that. However, the team looked a bit sterile in attack for large parts of the game. He'll be happy with the three points but will know the performance could have been better.

Lecce Player Ratings vs Inter

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

Goalkeeper

Wladimiro Falcone - 7.5: An excellent performance from the Lecce captain. He made 4 crucial saves inside the box to keep his team in the game for so long. He commanded his area well, despite being under constant pressure. Couldn't do anything about the goal but can be proud of his display.

Defenders

Gaspar - N/A: Heartbreak for the defender who was forced off with an injury just 4 minutes into the match. We can't give a rating for such a short appearance. Hopefully the injury is not too serious.

Danilo Veiga - 6.5: He had a very busy evening but defended manfully. Made 6 clearances and put his body on the line with 2 blocked shots. He struggled in his duels, winning only 3 out of 11, but his commitment was never in doubt. A tough but battling performance.

Antonino Gallo - 6.5: A solid defensive shift. He made 4 clearances and was tidy in the tackle. Didn't offer much going forward but that wasn't his primary job. Stuck to his task well and helped keep Inter at bay for long periods.

Tiago Gabriel - 6.0: He made an incredible 9 clearances, which shows how much pressure Lecce were under. However, he also got a yellow card and was a bit shaky at times. His passing was safe and accurate, but he was part of a defence that eventually buckled.

Midfielders

Omri Gandelman - 5.5: Really struggled to get a foothold in the game. He lost most of his duels and gave the ball away cheaply. From our perspective, the pace and quality of the Inter midfield was just too much for him to handle. A difficult night.

Ylber Ramadani - 6.0: He was a busy presence in front of the defence, making 7 clearances. He worked hard to break up play. However, he was often overrun and struggled to retain possession for his team. A lot of effort without much reward.

Lassana Coulibaly - 7.0: Probably Lecce's best outfield player. He was a real warrior in midfield, making 2 interceptions and recovering the ball 5 times. He won most of his duels and even showed a bit of quality going forward. A really impressive, combative display.

Forwards

Riccardo Sottil - 5.0: A really poor and anonymous performance. He had just 20 touches and lost possession 9 times. He offered no threat going forward and failed to support his defence. Easily the worst performer on the pitch for either side.

Santiago Pierotti - 5.5: Another forward who offered very little. He was isolated for most of the game and lost the physical battle against Inter's defenders. He was dispossessed twice and couldn't make any impact. A frustrating outing for him.

Walid Cheddira - 6.0: He fought hard up top, winning 5 duels and drawing 3 fouls. He provided a physical presence and held the ball up occasionally. However, he didn't register a single shot and offered no goal threat. Worked hard for the team but lacked quality.

Substitutes

Jamil Siebert - 6.0: Came on early for the injured Gaspar and slotted into the backline. He was part of a defensive unit that held firm for a long time. A difficult situation to be thrown into but he coped reasonably well.

Manager

E. Di Francesco - 7.0: His game plan was nearly perfect. He set his team up to be compact, disciplined, and hard to beat, and they executed it brilliantly for most of the match. His side was ultimately undone by a moment of quality, but he can be proud of the fight his players showed against the champions-elect.

Man of the Match

Federico Dimarco was the man of the match in the Lecce vs Inter game.

Worst Performer

Riccardo Sottil was the worst of the lot in this Serie A game.