The Federico Dimarco show and Mkhitaryan's wisdom
On the surface, it seems simple. An imperceptible touch, so natural that it softly makes contact with the ball. A touch that is almost a goal, certainly a good part of it. Touch and dribble, then the right-footer. That's how Federico Dimarco got us the lead against Parma, in a match dominated far and wide by Inter, with plenty of scoring chances and a game that was always in their grasp. The Nerazzurri wing-back's stats are fantastic, all to be discovered below.
DIMARCO AT THE TOP
It was his second goal of the season, and his 16th for Inter. Federico Dimarco continues to give us super performances. All of the left-back's last six goals in Serie A came at the Meazza: more than any other defender in home games in Europe's top five leagues since November 2023.
Dimarco is one of only four defenders to have scored more than 10 goals and provided more than 10 assists (11G+11A) in the last three seasons in Europe's top five leagues, along with Achraf Hakimi, Álex Grimaldo, and Jeremie Frimpong.
BARELLA AND DE VRIJ: 250 APPEARANCES
A double Nerazzurri milestone in the match against Parma: Nicolò Barella and Stefan de Vrij reached their 250th apperances for Inter: a milestone that the two celebrated with a great performance, including a beautiful goal by the midfielder.
Nicolò Barella and Stefan De Vrij have already collected their 250th game wearing an Inter shirt at the Franchi in the match against Fiorentina, but their presence will only be counted when the match, postponed until a later date, is played.
By the same token, Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu, who reached 300 and 150 appearances with Inter respectively when playing against Parma at San Siro, will officially reach these milestones when they next take to the pitch.
MKHITARYAN, PROFESSOR OF ASSISTS
First the assist for Federico Dimarco, then the sensational ball in for Barella for the second goal. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, awarded MVP of the match by Serie A, put on a great performance in the match against Parma, even coming close to scoring.
The Armenian, out of all Inter players, has dished out the most assists (12) in Serie A since his arrival in 2022/23. Among midfielders, only Charles De Ketelaere and Luis Alberto (14 both) have more in the Italian top flight.
THURAM AND PARMA: WHAT A STORY!
Marcus Thuram played his first match against Parma in Serie A, 23 years and 203 days after his father Lilian's last game against the Nerazzurri in the Ducali's shirt (Parma 3-1 Inter on 17 May 2001).
It was Thuram's 11th goal of the season, his tenth in the league: he is second in the table of top-scorers, behind Retegui (12). The French striker is the only player to have scored double figures in this Serie A season and the last: 10 goals in the current tournament, and 13 in 2023/24.