Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Inter: Player Ratings as Nerazzurri Held in Entertaining Stalemate
Inter were held to a stalemate by Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday evening, leaving Antonio Conte's side with just two points after two games in their Champions League group.
The visitors dominated from the outset but failed to make their overwhelming superiority count in the opening period. Both Nicolo Barella and Romelu Lukaku were denied by the crossbar.
The contest opened up after the restart but Inter nonetheless remained the supreme force. Amid sporadic moments on the counter from Shakhtar, the Nerazzurri continued to probe and should've gone in front through Lautaro Martinez, but the Argentine missed the target with the goal gaping.
El Toro's chance would prove to be Inter's finest in the second period as the hosts remained resolute in defence.
Here are the Nerazzurri's player ratings from their European clash.
1. Goalkeeper & Defenders
Samir Handanovic (GK) - 6/10 - Wasn't made to work at all on Tuesday evening. Assured.
Danilo D'Ambrosio (CB) - 7/10 - Frequently bombed forward from his centre-back position to combine and even penetrate in behind down the right. Bounced back well after a horror-show in the derby.
Stefan de Vrij (CB) - 7/10 - Once again made the game look simple in defence. Marshalled the Inter backline expertly as the Nerazzurri controlled the contest. Never flustered.
Alessandro Bastoni (CB) - 6/10 - Booked for a cynical foul on Tete in the opening period but was composed otherwise. Elegant with the ball as he drove out of defence effectively on occasions. Astutely dealt with the speed which came down Shakhtar's right.
2. Wing-Backs & Midfielders
Achraf Hakimi (RWB) - 6/10 - Wasn't at his most destructive. His runs and the positions he took up were menacing but he failed more often than not to execute in the final third.
Arturo Vidal (CM) - 6/10 - Overly combative which saw him eventually earn a caution before his substitution. Was nonetheless key in shunning Shakhtar's transitions and helping Inter sustain pressure. Efficient with the ball.
Marcelo Brozovic (CM) - 7/10 - The Croat was tasked with delivering 'the pass' in behind Shakhtar's defence to runners down the right, which he executed with varying degrees of success. Always demanded possession and had a lot of the ball. Perhaps his most impressive display of the campaign thus far.
Nicolo Barella (AM) - 8/10 - Denied a wonderful goal by the crossbar amid a typically all-action display. Drifted out to the right as part of Conte's positional interchanges and his third-man runs were a constant threat to Shakhtar's high line. Everywhere.
Ashley Young (LWB) - 5/10 - Provided a source of width but ball often progressed down Inter's right. Offered 'moments' in possession but nothing more. Should've been made to pay for poor headed back pass late on.
3. Forwards
Lautaro Martinez (ST) - 4/10 - Most notable contribution was an open goal miss. So... not great.
Romelu Lukaku (ST) - 7/10 - Was his typical un-markable self in this one despite the best efforts of Shakhtar's centre-back pairing. Unfortunate not to score in the first half before opportunities waned after the break.
4. Substitutes
Ivan Perisic - 5/10
Christian Eriksen - N/A
Matteo Darmian - N/A
Andrea Pinamonti - N/A