Inter Milan Defensive Duo Praised For Performances In Supercoppa Italiana Triumph Vs Napoli | OneFootball

Defenders Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard have won praise for their performances for Inter Milan against Napoli.

Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, praise the defensive duo for their display on the sides of the Nerazzurri back three.

Inter lined up with their usual back three system against Napoli yesterday.

With Alessandro Bastoni out injured, Stefan de Vrij started in the middle. And Acerbi shifted over to Bastoni’s usual position on the left.

Then on the right of the backline, former Bayern Munich defender Pavard started.

De Vrij was the player tasked with directly marking Napoli’s Giovanni Simeone and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Meanwhile, the two players on the sides had more freedom.

Acerbi & Pavard Praised For Display In Inter Win Vs Napoli

In the view of the Corriere, both of Acerbi and Pavard were crucial players in Inter’s dominance for long stretches of the match.

The former, despite being 35 years of age, looked very fresh and full of energy.

Acerbi showed that he does not have to be playing in the heart of the back three in order to show his best qualities.

The veteran Italian international and former Lazio defender marauded forward aggressively.

And Acerbi’s passing and positioning were an asset to Inter in possession.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch Acerbi used his pace, strength, and sense of positioning to keep Napoli from creating much down his side of the pitch.

Former Inter and Sassuolo winger Matteo Politano had little influence on the match up against Acerbi.

Meanwhile, on the other flank, Pavard was if anything even more influential in possession.

The Frenchman used his pace and experience playing as a fullback to make a number of attacking runs.

And it was Pavard who assisted Lautaro Martinez for Inter’s late winning goal.