Italian sports newspapers commend Memphis Depay following Inter’s elimination from the Champions League against Atletico Madrid, hailing the Dutch forward for his pivotal role in altering the course of the game at the Civitas Metropolitano.
Depay entered the match with a mere ten minutes remaining, yet proved instrumental in Atletico’s triumph over Inter. According to all major Italian sports publications, the Dutchman earned the title of Man of the Match on Wednesday.
Tuttosport awarded Depay a rating of 8.5 out of 10, while Il Corriere dello Sport rated him at 7.5, and Gazzetta bestowed an 8.
In its analysis, the pink paper credited Depay with ‘changing the game’ in Madrid. Within a brief ten-minute stint, he struck the post and netted a late goal, ultimately forcing the match into extra time. Depay exhibited composure even from the penalty spot, successfully converting against Yann Sommer during the shootout.
Italian newspapers also recognized notable performances from other Atletico Madrid players, such as Jan Oblak, Axel Witsel, and Antoine Griezmann, who leveled the score just three minutes after Federico Dimarco’s opener in the first half.
Conversely, several Inter players faced criticism for underwhelming performances, with Sommer emerging as the Nerazzurri’s Most Valuable Player against Atletico, as per Italian media assessments.