Hellas Verona 1-3 Inter: Player ratings as Joaquin Correa bags brace on Nerazzurri debut

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Inter secured their second win in two games so far this season on Friday night, beating Hellas Verona 3-1 at the Bentegodi thanks to new signing Joaquin Correa’s late heroics.

I Nerazzurri started brightly, but they fell behind on 15 minutes, when Samir Handanovic’s misplaced pass landed at the feet of Ivan Ilic, and the midfielder cooly dinked the ball over the shot-stopper.

Inter continued to make a string of horrible mistakes in possession, but survived several scares to enter the dressing room only a goal behind at half-time.

Verona were made to pay for their poor finishing two minutes into the second half, after Lautaro Martinez marked his return to the starting lineup with a decent header beyond Lorenzo Montipo to level the scores.

Inter pushed to complete their comeback, with Martinez coming close with a snap-shot, and Alessandro Bastoni forcing Montipo into a decent save with a strike from the edge of the box.

Simone Inzaghi threw on debutant Correa with 15 minutes to play, and the Argentine repaid his faith eight minutes later, rising highest to plant a super header into the top corner of the Verona net.

Correa repeated his heroics in injury time, too, turning and firing home from the edge of the box to wrap up all three points for Inter, becoming an instant hero in the process.

Let’s check out the player ratings.

Mattia Zaccagni, Milan SkriniarMattia Zaccagni, Milan Skriniar

Getting stuck in / Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

Samir Handanovic (GK) – 5/10 – Horrendous decision-making to pass the ball directly to Ilic just outside the Inter penalty area. Fooled by the calm finish, too.

Milan Skriniar (CB) – 6/10 – A shaky start, along with the rest of the backline, but steadied himself in the second half to nullify Verona’s attacks down the left.

Stefan de Vrij (CB) – 6/10 – Not at fault for the early goal, but didn’t offer the calm and composure needed when heads were being lost around him. Recovered in the second half.

Alessandro Bastoni (CB) – 7/10 – The best of the back three, not allowing the spreading panic to infect him in possession. Almost gave Inter the lead with a brilliant driving run and shot towards the bottom corner.

Nicolo Barella, Mattia ZaccagniNicolo Barella, Mattia Zaccagni

Playing on the edge / Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

Matteo Darmian (RWB) – 8/10 – Found himself free in the box, only for his shot to be blocked. Gave his all to reach Arturo Vidal’s long pass, and then produced a stunning cross to supply the winner. Graft and quality.

Nicolo Barella (CM) – 7/10 – Lost his head way too early in this one, squaring up to a Verona player about 20 minutes into the match. Needs to cut that aspect out of his game, without losing his bite on the pitch. Got the assist for the third. Overall, good.

Marcelo Brozovic (CM) – 6/10 – Did his best to dig Handanovic out of a hole, but he was always on the stretch when making the last-ditch tackle. Dropped a clanger of his own to almost gift Verona a second.

Hakan Calhanoglu (CM) – 6/10 – Much less effective than he was on his debut, struggling to impose himself upon the game further up the pitch. Not handed the freedom he desires, but showed flashes before being subbed.

Ivan Perisic (LWB) – 7/10 – A constant threat on that left flank, putting in so much work at either end of the pitch. The final ball wasn’t always quite on point.

Lautaro MartinezLautaro Martinez

Back among the goals / Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

Lautaro Martinez (ST) – 7/10 – Showed exactly why he’s wanted all over Europe, finding space in the box to power a header home for the equaliser. Flashed a snap-shot agonisingly wide soon after.

Edin Dzeko (ST) – 6/10 – Won the flick-on to nod the ball into Martinez’s path for the equaliser. Not as commanding as in the 4-0 victory over Genoa.

Federico Dimarco (LWB) – 8/10

Arturo Vidal (CM) – 8/10

Joaquin Correa (ST) – 9/10 – SUPER SUB! Off the bench on his debut to rise high and head brilliantly into the top corner of the net. Then struck a second with a brilliant left-foot effort to wrap it up. What an impact! An instant hero.

Stefano Sensi (CM) – N/A

Matias Vecino (CM) – N/A