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Player Ratings: Inter 5-3 Palermo
Inter and Palermo played a memorable match at the Giuseppe Meazza. Goal.com rates the performers on the night.
Oct 29, 2009 6:59:21 PM
INTER
Julio Cesar: 6.5- The Brazilian number one didn't have much to do early on but was kept busy on the odd occasion as the game progressed, making some good stops from from Simplicio and Miccoli. His defense let him down in the second half and he was unable to do much on Palermo's deadly finishing.
Maicon: 8- He kept it tight at the back and was the usual threat down the right when bombing forward. Had some great battles with Miccoli. Showed good reactivity and was always alert. Took the odd shot too and supplied Balotelli with an assist from the corner. He then provided Milito with an exceptional pass for the fifth goal.
Cordoba: 5.5- Did the simple things well and was always in control. He was hardly troubled at the back in the first half. Though he could have done better to stand up to Miccoli for Palermo's goal rather than allow himself to be shrugged off the ball.
Samuel: 6.5- Rock solid and never lost sight of the Palermo front two. A good performance all around as he continues to underline his prowess. Was let down by his team-mates around him. Couldn't stop Miccoli's second, but that was Santon's fault.
Chivu: 5.5- Ventured forward with frequency, but was always in his place when needed, crossing could have been better. He did do well to keep Cavani locked up though as he made several good challenges. Misses the Livorno game after picking up a yellow for a poor tackle which spoilt his game.
Zanetti: 6.5- The Inter captain made his 140th consecutive appearance in style. Always involved in the game and held his lines well with his 'never say die' attitude.
Cambiasso: 7- A good and solid display from the middle man, kept things organized and his tackling and support work were clean and well performed. His vision was superb as he kept picking the passes that no-one else saw. He set up one of Balotelli's goals.
Muntari: 6.5- The Ghana midfielder is playing with great confidence following his goal against Catania at the weekend and it showed again here. Didn't score but showed great heart and lungs down the left and continued to supply good crosses into the box. Couldn't deal with Pastore's great runs though.
Stankovic: 6.5- Reverted back to his old trequartista role on the night and performed relatively well. Had some shots and should have scored. Coped well behind the front two, but didn't do anything worthy of special praise.
Eto'o: 8.5- The former Barcelona man was relatively quiet, but then exploded when it mattered as he tucked away a penalty with confidence. He had several shots on goal, but was denied by Sirigu's brilliance. He did score again though as he blazed home Balotelli's cut back. Injury forced his game to end early.
Balotelli: 9- Jose Mourinho recently moaned about Balotelli's contributions. He may be working hard in training and it showed as did well to win the penalty early on. However, he missed a sitter as he headed wide from point blank range from Cambiasso's cross, but made up for as he nodded home a header and then scored the third before turning provider for Eto'o. Came off injured in the second half. He beats out Miccoli for the man of the match despite his injury.
Substitutes
Santon: 5.5- Did well as he replaced Chivu for the second half. Got up the flanks well, but didn't enjoy a good game and he was suspect for both of Palermo's goals.
Milito: 5.5- He looked a little rusty as he returned from injury. He was always a constant threat and scored the fifth goal seven minutes from time as he marked his comeback.
Motta: 5- Another player who returned from injury and he did well to keep things organized in the middle. He could and should have scored though.
PALERMO
Sirigu: 6- The goalkeeper won huge praise from Juventus' Gianluigi Buffon this week, but he couldn't do anything about Eto'o's penalty. Though he did make a sublime reflex save as a loose ball almost went in from Eto'o's mazy run into the box. He continued to make some wonderful saves throughout. His rating would have been higher had the team not conceded so many.
Goian: 4- Rarely got into the game and he never offered Zenga peace of mind when his side streamed forward. He didn't seem focused at all on the night. Kept on losing sight of players. Completely lost Balotelli for the second goal.
Kjaer: 6- One of Palermo's better defenders on the night, he was all over the park and enjoyed some good scuffles with Balotelli. Exemplary defending and he wasn't bad when going forward either. Should have had a penalty after being held back by Chivu, but the referee never saw it.
Migliaccio: 5- Great tackling save on Muntari's cross; it would have been a goal as Eto'o lurked in behind. Should have done better on Balotelli when he ran into the box to set up Eto'o for the fourth. And he also struggled with Milito in the second half.
Cassani: 7- Supplied good covering between midfield and the defense. Helped out Goian on the right when in difficulty, but his game ended there as the defense struggled. Made some good interventions and tried to offer a commanding presence. Gets a decent rating for his assists for Hernandez and Miccoli.
Simplicio: 6- The Brazilian ace pulled the strings in midfield for his side. But he did drift in and out of the game. His finishing wasn't that special either as he blasted a few good chances over the bar.
Bresciano: 6- Broke up the play well and kept things flowing in the middle, showed good spells of attacking play. Should have scored but failed to put power on his header 15 minutes into the game. Always defended the ball by putting his body behind it.
Melinte: 4- The young Romanian winger found it hard to deal with Maicon's experience on the flank, but he did well to drop back and counter the threat when his side were not in possession. However, spoilt his night by conceding a penalty for a silly tackle on Balotelli. His game seemed to worsen as the clock ticked on and was substituted.
Pastore: 6.5- His job was to be the link man between midfield and attack. Had a good chance early on but smashed it over. Showed good thinking around the box and was always a constant threat with his runs. He showed great potential, but still needs to understand the flow of the Italian game.
Cavani: 6- He struggled against Chivu and missed a wonderful chance to get his side back in the game early in the first half. He also blazed a one-on-one with Cesar over the bar. Not his best night.
Miccoli: 8.5- Has never scored against Inter but things changed here as he pounced in the second half. He scored a brilliant double to send shock waves through the San Siro as he led a memorable comeback attempt, but it wasn't enough. A definite contender for man of the match.
Substitutes
Hernandez: 6- He had the impact his coach was looking for as he imposed himself on the clash by scoring Palermo's second. He was always a constant danger and should have scored more.
Bertolo: 5- Came on very late when the game was already over and got booked for a poor challenge.
Nocerino: N/A- He also came on with little time left to make a real impact.
Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com
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