In their first ever meeting in European competition, Inter played host to Saint Etienne in a closely contested goalless draw in Thursday’s Europa League play.
Saint Etienne remain a hard side to break down, as they are only team in the competition to have thee consecutive clean sheets, yet no goals scored as well.
Inter have taken their unbeaten tally in Europe to nine games, but were frustrated to not move further in their points total at first place in Group F.
Inter
Juan Pablo Carrizo – 7 – Awake
The 30-year-old was spectating for much of the first half but was ready with a wonderful save on what could have been a spectacular goal by Tabanou from a 40-yard free kick and another close range effort from Tabanou again in the second half.
Juan – 6.5 – Valuable
The Brazilian was constantly working in both attack and defines with confident tackles and surging runs. Was booked for a time wasting clearance late in the second half.
Marco Andreolli – 6 – Uneasy
When in possession, the defender was very safe in his passes, but was contrastingly brutal in his tackles which resulted in free kicks for the opposition.
Nemanja Vidic – 6.5 – Resolute
The Serbian continues to show confidence in aerial battles, with a headed chance from a corner gone wide amongst his accurate passes from the back.
Dodo – 5 – Frustrated
The Roma man was shut down consistently in his battles down the left with Theophile-Catherine. A shot well wide and over the opponents goal pretty much summed up his night.
Ibrahima Mbaye – 5.5 – Sloppy
Unable to whip in his crosses and caught offside on one occasion, it was not the best night from the 19-year old Senegalese inter national.
Mateo Kovacic – 5.5 – Lacking
Despite playing the full 90 minutes, the 20-year-old could not get his final passes where he wanted and was often the last player involved before turnovers in possession.
Fredy Guarin – 5.5 – Erroneous
An emotional night against his former team was marred by inaccurate shots, lost possession, and desperate tackling. With the only highlight coming from a hopeful cross that would have assisted Kuzmanovic. Mazzarri brought the captain off for Palacio with a half hour left.
Zdravko Kuzmanovic – 7 – Hawk
The midfielder hardly put a foot wrong, with the ball seemingly stuck to his cleats when put under pressure and great prowess in linking up attacking play. Would have broken the deadlock if not for Ruffier’s stunning block.
Yann M’Vila – 6.5 – Fighter
Won possession back for his side many times from his standing tackles, but had to be removed midway through the second half after taking a knock.
Mauro Icardi – 5.5 – Beggar
A blasted effort gone well wide in the opening minutes was one of the rare sniffs that the Argentine was given of goal, spent much of the game complaining for questionable hand balls.
Substitutes
Hernanes (53 mins) – 6 – Predator
When subbed in, the Brazilian took a while to get involved but nearly fired in a winner in the dying stages of the match, much like his heroics in league play on the weekend
Palacio (70 mins) – 5 – Missing
Once the striker came on for Guarin, he was unable to produce a clinical finish that Mazzarri was looking for and was wasteful in possession.
Rene Khrin (85 mins) – N/A
Saint Etienne
Stephane Ruffier – 7.5 – Barricade
The shot-stopper will be given high praise for his reflexes tonight that kept Inter’s best goalscoring chances at bay. Whether it was in catching crosses or from point blank, the Frenchman has undoubtedly earned three consecutive shutouts.
Kevin Theophile-Catherine – 7 – Catalyst
Fully capable in stopping Dodo and was the go-to man for his playmaking up the right flank. Nearly assisted Tabanou’s strike in the second half.
Moustapha Bayal Sall – 6 – Giant
A veteran centre back for Les Vert, the big man gave vital heading clearances from many crosses whipped into his zone.
Jeremy Clement – 5 – Faulty
Drew many fouls with hazardous challenges and could not manage consistency in his long passes lobbed up the field.
Fabien Lemoine – 5 – Battered
The defender gave a determined performance and drew plenty of fouls by finding himself unmarked in attacking plays.
Florentin Pogba – 6.5 – Gritty
A very stout showing that included big tackles and a strong free kick attempt. He was hard to knock off the ball and a key mover of the ball.
Loic Perrin – 6.5 – Calm
The captain led his side well from the back with his link-up play and provided no nonsense clearances with his head and boot alike.
Franck Tabanou – 7 – Ballista
If any of Les Verts were to finally score in the competition, then Tabanou proved to be the likely candidate. A 40-yard screamer just before the halftime break forced a heroic and acrobatic stop from Carrizo. Along with a second half blast that was again parried wide by Inter’s keeper.
Ismael Diomande – 6 – Active
Despite getting knocked around on most occasions, the forward gave Saint Etienne some much needed confidence in build up plays to force errors out of the opposing defence.
Ricky Van Wolfswinkel – 4.5 – Removed
The Dutchman spent much of his plays sandwiched between Inter’s defence and could only muster a headed effort wide from a Diomande cross before eventually subbing off.
Romain Hamouma – 6.5 – Raider
A very productive game for the forward was left without a deserved goal or assist. Looked dangerous in surging runs and dribbling towards defence, which often needed stopping with a foul.
Substitutes
Kevin Monnet Paquet (65 mins) – 4.5 – Waster
Did much of the same as Van Wolfswinkel after replacing his teammate in the second half, the forward played many balls too far for his teammates.
Paul Baysse (78 mins) – 5 – Participant
Did not see much of the ball in the final ten minutes with just two passes and one completed.
Renaud Cohade (85 mins) – N/A
