Bastoni dominates ratings as Inter secure key win over Feyenoord

epa11942934 (L-R) Stefan de Vrij of Inter, Anis Hadj Moussa of Feyenoord and Alessandro Bastoni of Inter in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 soccer match between Feyenoord and Inter at Feyenoord Stadium de Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 05 March 2025. EPA-EFE/KOEN VAN WEEL

Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram scored one goal each and made headlines in Inter’s 2-0 win over Feyenoord, but Italian media suggest that Italy international Alessandro Bastoni was the MVP in Rotterdam on Wednesday.

The Nerazzurri grabbed a vital 2-0 win over Feyenoord on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.

Simone Inzaghi was forced to cope without four wing-backs, including Federico Dimarco, so the Inter boss deployed Bastoni as a left wing-back, and the Italian’s performance was scintillating.

Gazzetta rated Bastoni and Thuram 7.5 but gave the Italian defender their MVP award.

“It’s right to praise him: he is the symbol of an Inter where everyone knows what to do and also what their teammates are doing. A perfect interpretation of a role that is not his.”

Tuttosport also rated Bastoni 7.5, saying that UEFA should have given him the official MVP award for the game rather than to his teammate Lautaro Martinez, who still put in a solid performance and was rated 7.

Inter will host Feyenoord for the decider at San Siro on March 11 next week.

Inter player ratings v. Feyenoord

Gazzetta: Martinez 6; Pavard 6, De Vrij 6.5 (72′ Bisseck 6), Acerbi 7; Dumfries 7, Barella 7 (72′ Frattesi 6), Asllani 6 (80′ Calhanoglu N/A), Zielinski 5.5, Bastoni 7.5; Thuram 7.5 (62′ Taremi 5.5), Lautaro Martinez 7 (82′ Arnautovic N/A). Coach: Inzaghi 7.5.

Corriere dello Sport: Martinez 6; Pavard 6, De Vrij 6.5 (72′ Bisseck 6), Acerbi 7; Dumfries 7, Barella 7.5 (72′ Frattesi 6), Asllani 6 (80′ Calhanoglu N/A), Zielinski 5, Bastoni 7; Thuram 7 (62′ Taremi 5), Lautaro Martinez 7.5 (82′ Arnautovic N/A). Coach: Inzaghi 7.5

Tuttosport: Martinez 6; Pavard 5.5, De Vrij 6.5 (72′ Bisseck 6), Acerbi 7; Dumfries 7, Barella 6.5 (72′ Frattesi N/A), Asllani 6.5 (80′ Calhanoglu N/A), Zielinski 5, Bastoni 7.5; Thuram 7 (62′ Taremi 5.5), Lautaro Martinez 7 (82′ Arnautovic N/A). Coach: Inzaghi 7.