Looking ahead to Inter–Como, one of the duels that could prove decisive is the midfield clash between Barella and Perrone. Two midfielders identified by Gazzetta dello Sport as fundamental reference points for their respective teams.
According to the pink newspaper, Barella is the most used player in the league by Chivu. This fact alone says a lot about the weight the midfielder carries in the Nerazzurri’s mechanisms. At the start of the season, he declared he wanted to adopt a more “conservative” style of play, yet he remains among those who cover the most ground on the pitch: he manages, offers solutions, pushes forward, launches the winger to his right, looks for the overlap and then a cross into the center or a gap to break through. “I no longer have the brilliance of when I was 23,” he said. But, judging by what he shows on the pitch, you wouldn’t say so.
In Serie A, Barella has already recorded one goal and two assists. Two of these contributions came while wearing the captain’s armband, due to the absence of Lautaro. The role of leader is one the midfielder seems to fill naturally: he talks on the pitch, gives instructions, and motivates his teammates.
On the other side is Perrone, 23 years old, the defensive playmaker tasked with bringing order to Fabregas‘s midfield. Running, playmaking, and recoveries: he provides cover on the right flank, whether playing with Milla or Da Cunha. Last season, he had his best campaign in Serie A, totaling 3 goals and 4 assists. In this league season, his tally is still at zero, but he has already shown quality in the Champions League, with a goal against Leipzig and a decisive assist for Douvikas against Lens. As Gazzetta notes, he doesn’t lack personality: he too, in his own way, tries to fulfill that delicate task. Because, in the middle of the pitch, the mind counts as much as the legs.
CONTINUE READING