Player Ratings: Inter - AC Milan
Inter defeated Milan 2-1 in an enthralling derby this afternoon. Carlo Garganese rates the performances...
INTER
Julio Cesar - 6.5: The Brazilian shot-stopper did not have too many saves to make during the game, but he pulled off one fine stop from Kaka towards the end and was generally safe throughout.
Maicon - 6.5: Bombed forward from right back in typical fashion, however he was caused a few problems defensively by Milan substitute Serginho in the second-half.
Cordoba - 7.5: Another rock-solid game from the Colombian stopper, who controlled Inzaghi in the first-half and Gilardino in the second. Did give away the free-kick for Pirlo's goal though.
Samuel - 6: Samuel only lasted 36 minutes of the match due to a knee injury, although he was relatively sound during this time, except for one mesmerising run by Kaka.
Maxwell - 6.5: Maxwell was caused few problems defensively, although he did not make the impact going forward that we have become accustomed to recently.
Zanetti - 8: Another outstanding game from one of the world's most consistent players over the past decade. At the age of 34 he is still world-class and he produced a fantastic tackle on Kaka during a one-on-one duel in the first half.
Chivu - 7.5: Chivu is getting stronger and stronger every game since his summer move from Roma. Formed a dominant centre-midfield partnership with Cambiasso.
Cambiasso - 8.5: If there is a better defensive midfielder in world football at the moment I want to know that players name. Cambiasso was once again superb at the heart of Inter's midfield.
Jimenez - 7: Jimenez has proved to be a valuable understudy to the injured Luis Figo and caused Milan a number of problems with his skill and direct running with the ball.
Ibrahimovic - 5.5: Poor display from the Swedish superstar. Was completely marked out of the match by Alessandro Nesta and showed only a few glimpses of his talent.
Cruz - 7: A relatively quiet game from Cruz but a striker's job is to score goals and he was once again on the scoresheet with a great left-footed finish to haul Inter level on 36 minutes. The most under-rated player in Serie A?
Substitutes
Materazzi (for Samuel on 36 minutes) - 7: Solid display by the hardman who was booked just minutes after coming onto the field. Made one brilliant block on a Nesta shot in the second half.
Pele (for Jimenez 79) - 6: Was brought on for the last 10 minutes to shore up the midfield but had little time to make much of an impact
Suazo (for Cruz 85) - 6: Only offered five minutes at the end but the Honduran did launch a dangerous counter-attack with his blistering pace, only for Ibrahimovic to fire high and wide.
MILAN
Dida - 3: Cost his team the match with a simply disastrous error on Cambiasso's winning goal. A Sunday league goalkeeper would be ashamed to make such a howler, let alone a Serie A shot-stopper. Milan surely need to find a replacement for 'Calamity Dida'.
Oddo - 6: Oddo has been in poor form this season, however he was generally sound in this match. His trademark crosses were comfortably dealt with though by the imposing Inter backline.
Maldini - 5.5: Maldini was holding his own, despite his advancing years, until a poor defensive header gifted Cambiasso the ball for his winner on 62 minutes. However he wouldn't have been punished for this mistake if it hadn't been for the disastrous Dida.
Nesta - 9: Absolutely outstanding and the undoubted man-of-the-match despite the fact Milan lost. Nesta made Zlatan Ibrahimovic look more like Peter Crouch, by completely dominating the Swedish star. How Italy could do with him at Euro 2008.
Kaladze - 7: Kaladze stood strong alongside the flawless Nesta and like his centre back partner was rarely troubled by either Ibrahimovic or Cruz.
Gattuso - 5.5: Had a poor first half before being withdrawn at half time due to injury. The fire and energy in Gattuso's legs seemed to be missing. He was noticeably a yard slower to every ball today - perhaps his injury may explain today's performance.
Ambrosini - 6.5: Ambrosini was second best to Chivu and Cambiasso in the midfield battle, although having said this, his intelligent runs into the box could have provided Milan with an equaliser. Missed a golden chance at the end to earn Milan a point when he failed to connect with a Serginho cross.
Pirlo - 7: Unsurprisingly Milan's most creative midfielder, he was cool in possession and scored an absolutely magnificent free-kick. The technique that is required to whip a ball up and over the wall from right on the edge of the area is something very few players in the world can do. Pirlo is certainly in this world-class select few.
Seedorf - 5.5: Very poor game from the inconsistent Dutchman. Was caught in possession repeatedly and failed to make any impact on the match whatsoever. Rightly substituted.
Kaka - 6: Not one of the Brazilian superstar's better games. Cambiasso denied Kaka the space that he thrives on, although he did go on one scintillating solo run in the first half, and forced a fine save out of Julio Cesar in the second. Apart from this he was very quiet.
Inzaghi - 5.5: SuperPippo was not so super today, and was way too isolated to make an impact. However he did trick Cordoba into giving away the free-kick for Pirlo's opener.
Substitutes
Emerson (for Gattuso on 46 minutes) - 5.5: Seriously what is the point of Emerson at Milan? The 31-year-old is the most perfect example of a 'has-been’ that there is in football. While at Roma he was simply world-class, he is now a shadow of that once fine player.
Serginho (for Seedorf on 57 minutes) - 7: Impressive substitute performance from Serginho who caused Inter a few headaches down the left and was at the centre of virtually all of Milan's attacking moves in the second half.
Gilardino (for Inzaghi on 46 minues) - 6: Gilardino works hard bless him but it is clear that he does not have the ability to be playing at one of European football's biggest clubs. Defenders of the calibre of Cordoba and Materazzi cope with strikers of Gilardino's like all day long.
Carlo Garganese
source: goal.com