Ex AC Milan Star Wrestles Control Of Inter Milan Vs Napoli Serie A Clash | OneFootball

Beyond his goal and missed penalty, Hakan Calhanoglu had a vital role for Inter Milan against Napoli yesterday evening.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They argue that the Turkish international wrestled control of the match for the Nerazzurri.

Inter were always expecting a tough battle against Napoli.

The league leaders have been a formidable side to get to where they are heading into the international break.

And particularly in midfield, the physicality of Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has made Napoli a very tough team to play against.

In the first half of yesterday’s match at the San Siro, Napoli showed why that is the case.

Inter struggled to play the game at their own rhythm.

It wasn’t just Napoli’s goal from a set piece which made Inter look a bit shellshocked. The Partenopei looked comfortable in the match as a whole for long spells.

Hakan Calhanoglu Wrestles Control Of Inter Napoli Clash

Inter midfielder Calhanoglu was the player most responsible for trying to set the tempo of the match.

And in the final fifteen minutes or so of the first half, the Turkish international really started to do so.

Calhanoglu started to get on the ball with more regularity.

And then Calhanoglu showed his confidence with his long range effort to equalize towards the end of the first half.

In the second, Calhanoglu really started to look in control of proceedings.

Inter were able to pen Napoli in their own half for long periods.

Partenopei midfielder Billy Gilmour in particular struggled with the lack of time and space that Inter gave him.

But Calhanoglu was just the opposite at the other end.

The former AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder was the orchestrator of Inter’s possession play as he so often is.

That made it all the more surprising when Calhanoglu missed a penalty in the second half. This was the first time that he has done so as an Inter player.

But that missed effort should not take away from the 30-year-old’s strong overall display.