The Fourth Official

Saturday Report Card

The Heavy - How You Like Me Now (Joker Remix) by thefourthofficial

            The Fourth Official’s grades are back, ominous as ever, with a classic: Inter-Juve.

Internazionale FC 1 – 2 Juventus FC
Goals: Vucinic (12’) and Marchisio (33’) for Juventus, Maicon (28’) for Inter
Stadium: San Siro

The Game: 7 then 5. two diametrically opposed halves for an unstable game. If the first half was exhilarating with three goals, one crossbar, pace, technical quality and enthusiasm from the players and the fans, the second was just a tactical formality with Juventus nullifying all of Inter’s attempts at scoring. If the first half was Juventus, then the second was Inter.

Internazionale: 4. A disappointing performance from Ranieri’s men, never really able to match Juve’s spirit in the first half, except with Maicon’s surge of pride, and unable to break the deadlock in the second. A lot of work ahead.

Castellazzi: 6. Helpless on the first goal, helpless on the second, Castellazzi nevertheless pulled out some important saves, notably on Matri and Estegarribia, avoiding a bigger defeat to his team.

Maicon: 6 (5+1 for the goal): A neutral game for the Brazilian fullback if it wasn't for his goal, itself slightly lucky. Far from his top level.

Lucio: 5. A calamitous first half + a boss-mode second half = right in the middle. Eaten by Matri, then solid against Juve’s attacking waves.

Chivu: 4. Tricked by Matri. Tricked by Vucinic. Guilty on both goals. A tough night.

Nagatomo: 4. In a defense that slept all through first half, Yuto got a lesson from Lichtsteiner, a real constant fullback.

Cambiasso: 5/6: No more half grades TFO told himself, yet that doesn't seem to resolve the problem, especially for Cambiasso, successfully dominating Pirlo and Vidal in the first half hour, then slowly disappearing from the game.

Zanetti: 7. Running, experience, the only Inter player to tread over water.

Obi: 5. Like Zanetti a lot of running, but unlike his captain, not enough experience to impact such a game.

Sneijder: 6: If his vision and technical ability automatically place him in the higher tier of players, his lack of pace and tendency to repeat himself unveil his lack of form this season. Come back to us!

Zarate: 5/6: An encouraging performance from Mauro who relentlessly provoked his opponents, even if he tends to hold the ball a little too long.

Pazzini: 5. “Il Pazzo” was under the weather; just watch his header hit Buffon’s crossbar, isolated at the front of the Inter attack.

Subs:
Castaignos (in at 45’) 3/4: inexplicably replacing Zarate, the Dutchman added nothing to a game that had already slipped out of his team’s hands.

Stankovic (in at 64’) 5: replacing Obi, Dejan put in a lot of work with very little success.

Alvarez (in at 75’) 5: replacing Sneijder, it took him four minutes to receive a decent ball, and when he did, he had to diagonally dribble past 4 Juve players before attempting to make a good pass. What would have happened had he had more time on the pitch?

Juventus: 7/8. An impressive display of talent, confidence and strength by the Bianconeri, constantly stretching the game with their “4-2-4” formation. Talent floods all of Juventus’ lines, undoubtedly one of the “Bigs” of Serie A again.

Buffon: 6: Against a relatively passive Inter side, saved by his crossbar, this is one of Gigi’s easier wins against Inter.

Lichtsteiner: 6/7. Diligent defensively, at the origin of the first goal, a good game from the Swiss.

Barzagli: 6. A low key performance, a shadow worker.

Bonucci: 7. On Pazzini, Zarate or Sneijder, Bonucci was impeccable tonight, showing his tactical and technical abilities on many occasions. Juve fans rejoice…

Chiellini: 6. ….because if Chiellini has gone to a left back position, it’s only for the better. Strong and industrious, Chiellini got the better of his critics.

Vidal: 5. The only Juve player slightly under par with a few lost passes, his defensive work is still essential to his team’s good functioning.

Pirlo: Disbelief. Everything Pirlo does is magic, yet tonight he missed some of the easier passages of plays.

Marchisio: 7. Juve’s strong man proved again tonight his preciousness (and not the cute way). With an utmost important goal and intelligent passing in the midfield, especially making the Inter players run, Claudio also allowed himself a winning tackle on Zanetti.

Pepe: 6. Not the most flamboyant of players, Pepe nevertheless reveals himself perfectly in tune with coach Conte’s idea of a right winger: pace and will.

Vucinic: 6/7. Who knows how important that first goal is? He probably does.

Matri: 8. A bold grade, yes, but Matri proved himself to be Juventus’ number one weapon with his incessant calls, his ability to direct play (whether facing the goal or not), his one delicious assist to Marchisio and his strength. Also the reason why Vucinic got to score the first goal.

Subs:
Etegarribia (in at 70’) 6: replacing Matri, showed some good pace, had a real chance to seal the score, the young Paraguayan seems promised to a bright future at Juve.

Del Piero (in a 85’) NG: replacing Vucinic, Del Piero was just there so that we were sure it actually was Juve playing. Should have score the 3-1, but didn't bother to.

Pazienza (in at 89’) NG: replacing Vidal, no grade for four balls played.

TFO