Ex Man United & Arsenal Veteran + Italy Star Well Below Par In Midfield In Inter Milan 2-2 Lazio Serie A Draw | OneFootball

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella were both well below par in midfield for Inter Milan against Lazio yesterday.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi went with his usual first-choice midfield trio against Lazio yesterday.

That meant that Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella started alongside Hakan Calhanoglu.

In the case of Calhanoglu, the Turk put in a very tidy performance.

However, the same cannot be said of the other two midfielders in the Nerazzurri engine room.

Mkhitaryan & Barella Both Below Par For Inter Milan Vs Lazio

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Nicolo’ Barella of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Parma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 06, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Firstly, there was Mkhitaryan. The former Arsenal and Roma midfielder was just making his return from a thigh problem.

In spite of the fitness doubts, there was no lack of industry from the Armenian.

As always, Mkhitaryan got through more than his share of running.

However, there was some evidence of rust and fatigue in the 36-year-old’s performance.

Mkhitaryan lost the ball too many times in a sloppy manner. And then in possession, the Armenian offered little in attack.

Even more than Mkhitaryan, the Corriere argue, Nicolo Barella did not manage to have the necessary impact on the match.

There was little urgency to the 28-year-old’s play. Instead of his usual energy, he was at the heart of an overall feeling of complacency from Inter during the second half.