Inter Milan emerged 1-0 victors over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday night, with Ange-Yoan Bonny scoring the winner and Alessandro Bastoni shoring up the defence for Cristian Chivu.

The Gazzetta dello Sport were slightly critical in their ratings for the Nerazzurri on the whole but singled out Bonny and Bastoni as Chivu’s brightest performers.

At the sharp end, Ange-Yoan Bonny (7) again justified Cristian Chivu’s faith.

Labelled a “blessed choice,” the Frenchman struck with the economy and aggression that are fast becoming his signature: two consecutive starts, two goals, and relentless work off the ball.

Behind him, Nicolo Barella (6.5) stitched Inter together, setting the tempo before the collective dip and delivering the assist for Bonny’s winner.

If Bonny finished the job, Alessandro Bastoni (7) made sure Roma never had it easy.

The left centre-back defended on the front foot, repeatedly stepping in to pressure Soule, and organising the line as Inter were forced to suffer deeper after the interval.

Alongside him, Manuel Akanji (6.5) offered poise and bite on the right of the three, while Yann Sommer (6.5) provided quiet assurance throughout the game with a competent performance.

Aside From Bonny & Bastoni, Inter ‘Functional’ In Win Over Roma

The rest of the starters were ‘functional rather than flamboyant’.

Francesco Acerbi, Denzel Dumfries, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco (all 6) brought work-rate and structure but without the usual spark.

Two big names fell short.

Hakan Calhanoglu (5.5) struggled to dictate the rhythm, even if his buy-in to Chivu’s aggressive press was evident.

Lautaro Martinez (5) struggled with travel fatigue still in the legs, and ultimately was taken off.

From the bench, Francesco Pio Esposito (6.5) injected personality and energy, while Davide Frattesi (6) helped close the lanes.

Petar Sucic (5.5) couldn’t find timing in limited minutes.

In short: Bonny decided it, Bastoni controlled it, Barella and Sommer underpinned it.