After facing racist chants in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday, Romelu Lukaku responded with a brilliant performance in Inter’s 1-1 draw with Salernitana. While the striker’s return to form is surely encouraging, Simone Inzaghi’s Inter side has now failed to win each of its last four league matches, and the manager’s future is legitimately in question.
Andre Onana – 6
While Salernitana managed their fair share of opportunities, the hosts were hard-pressed to turn them into shots. Onana saw just three attempts on target and had no chance to save the late equalizer.
Francesco Acerbi – 6
At first, Andrea Candreva gave the aging defender trouble, but Acerbi rotated effectively with de Vrij and also contributed to Inter’s domination of possession.
Stefan de Vrij – 7
Although de Vrij was hampered by a first-half yellow card, the centre-back put in an impressive showing. With a lack of defense between the lines, the backline was frequently under siege, but the Dutchman dealt with the pressure effectively.
Matteo Darmian – 5.5
The centre-back was less than impressive, again struggling with spacing issues at the back.
Robin Gosens – 8
Continuing his run of form, Gosens gave Inter an early lead with a wicked back-post run. While Salernitana’s defense was largely at fault for the goal, the wing-back struck the ball well, leaving no doubt.
Denzel Dumfries – 6.5
Once again, Dumfries was not up to his usual standards in the attack. He played a more reserved role on the wing, but he contributed effectively to the defense, winning several tackles while nullifying Domagoj Bradaric.
Kristjan Asllani – 5.5
In just his third league start of the season, Asllani cut an intriguing figure. While the Albanian distributed the ball well, especially from set pieces, he looked lost on defense. As the defensive-minded midfielder, he often lost his man between the lines, allowing Salernitana a significant advantage.
Nicolo Barella – 6.5
After a disappointing performance against Fiorentina, Barella’s play improved markedly. He distributed the ball well and kept Inter’s offense moving vertically.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 6
The Armenian provided the few creative sparks from Inter’s midfield, but consistency and putting in a full 90-minute performance remain a concern for the 34-year-old.
Joaquin Correa – 5.5
It was another disappointing match for the Argentine. He managed one or two incisive passes, but, like others, he was too inconsistent, disappearing for large stretches during the first half.
Romelu Lukaku – 8
Even though Lukaku’s finishing was again suspect, the forward’s hold-play and distribution were the only reason Inter earned a point. He picked up an early assist with an impressive flick-on header to Gosens, and the target man created more than a few chances for his side.
Goal! Robin Gonses puts inter ahead on the sixth minute with an assist from Romelu Lukaku. pic.twitter.com/p8yMp7uD2u
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRoman_1) April 7, 2023