Netherlands Star Praised For Impeccable Marking Job On Atalanta Owned Striker In Cagliari 0-3 Inter Milan Serie A Clash | OneFootball

Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij has won praise for his impeccable marking job on Cagliari striker Roberto Piccoli.

Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, hail the Dutchman’s vital efforts.

Piccoli is a key player for Cagliari this season.

The 23-year-old is still on Atalanta’s books. But he has become something of a journeyman striker, with this only the latest in a series of loan spells.

Last season, Piccoli was playing for Lecce.

But in Sardinia, the Italian youth-team international has fit in exceptionally well.

Cagliari have certainly been relying on a physical presence in attack for much of their time in Serie A.

The likes of Gianluca Lapadula and Leonardo Pavoletti had their say last season.

But this time out, the more youthful Piccoli has done well to displace those veteran’s from the starting lineup.

Stefan De Vrij Praised For Marking Job On Cagliari’s Roberto Piccoli

It was little surprise to see Cagliari attempting to play through Piccoli yesterday.

The Rossoblu had little hope of winning the possession battle or stringing together too many fluid attacks that would break Inter down.

However, Piccoli has been a player who offers Cagliari a constant out-ball this season.

And that’s how Davide Nicola’s team used the 23-year-old.

However, there was a problem for Cagliari. And that was Stefan de Vrij.

The 32-year-old former Lazio and Feyenoord defender has been a regular in Inter’s starting eleven since the loss of Francesco Acerbi to a thigh injury.

And de Vrij has impressed with his physicality and, above all, his instincts and reading of the game around the penalty area in his recent starts.

It was more of the same from the Dutchman in that respect yesterday.

Piccoli tried to force something out of de Vrij. But throughout the tussle, the Dutchman always seemed to be half a step ahead of his opposite number.

It was a vital effort in Inter’s clean sheet and unfazed defensive performance.