Italy Stars Prove They Can Play Together At High Level In Inter Milan Serie A Thrashing Of Frosinone

Nicolo Barella and Davide Frattesi demonstrated that they can play effectively together for Inter Milan in Friday’s thrashing of Frosinone.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, highlight the duo’s performances – individually, and in tandem.

When Frattesi arrived at Inter from Sassuolo last summer, one of the biggest questions about the midfielder concerned how he’d fit into the team with Barella.

In many respects, Frattesi and Barella are players who have followed similar trajectories. The pair have fairly similar playing styles as all-action box-to-box midfielders.

Moreover, both Frattesi and Barella are right-footed.

Barella has usually played on the right of the midfield trio for Inter. Meanwhile, that is where Frattesi had played at Sassuolo.

So the question was how the duo would fit together at Inter.

Barella and Frattesi had played in the same lineup for Italy already. It was the former who would shift over to the left of midfield.

But there was no guarantee that this would be accommodated by Inter’s system of play.

Barella & Frattesi Prove They Can Play Together For Inter Vs Frosinone

This season, Frattesi has not slotted straight into Inter’s starting eleven. Rather, it has been the veteran Henrikh Mkhitaryan who has remained the undoubted starter.

The former Arsenal and Roma man’s versatility has been the element that has balanced not just Inter’s midfield trio, but their entire 3-5-2 formation.

That has raised doubts about how both Barella and Frattesi can fit into the team together.

But against Frosinone on Friday, there were no issues.

Barella played on the left, although the former Cagliari midfielder often sat deeper in midfield.

Meanwhile, Frattesi shone as he took full advantage of the spaces that appeared in midfield – the 24-year-old showed his potency in the final third as he scored Inter’s opener.