Inter-Como, CM’s player ratings: Thuram leads the way, Spence picks the lock. Paz and Da Cuhna disappoint

Inter-Como

Inter

J. Martinez 6: Has little to do in the first half, though he saves Inter from Nico Paz's dangerous cross from the right. It is the only time he is called upon.

Akanji 6.5: Alongside his fellow defenders, he puts in an excellent performance and neutralises the attacking threat of Douvikas.

Bastoni 7: Space is hard to find in the box when he is around, and he becomes an impassable wall in the second half. This is an out-and-out defensive performance, something he does not always deliver.

Carlos Augusto 6.5: After threatening with a header midway through the first half, he picks up a booking following a fine piece of play from Nico Paz. He generally stays alert to the Argentinian's surging runs.

Spence 7: His run down the right and cross lead to Esposito's goal, unlocking the match. A constant threat to the Como defence, he has impressed more than any other signing so far.

Barella 6.5: In midfield, he makes his physical presence felt and risks a yellow card several times. He is often the one who starts dangerous moves.

Calhanoglu 6: For a player like him, he is unusually quiet in a match Inter dominate for long spells. He does not look at his physical best. (Sucic, on from 81', not rated)

Zielinski 6.5: With intelligence and structure, he organises Inter's attacking play effectively. (Mkhitaryan, on from 73', 5.5: Looks a little careless after coming on and loses the ball in a dangerous position, allowing Como to threaten)

Dimarco 6.5: The running power of his best days returns in the first half. He then fires two dangerous shots at goal in the second, coming close to his first goal of the season. This is a performance up to the standard of last season. (Diouf, on from 88')

P. Esposito 7: Spence's assist gives him the chance to open the scoring, and he takes it like a true striker. A powerful presence in the middle of the box, he also battles away from goal and picks up a yellow card. He goes off exhausted. (Bonny, on from 73', 6: Races through after a well-placed pass for what would be 3-0, but is offside)

Thuram 7.5: First he finds Spence in the move for Esposito's goal. Then, helped by Valle's blunder, he takes matters into his own hands to score the second, his fifth league goal. He plays with maturity and leadership, showing flashes of class and doubling up in defence. Ricci's mistake gives him a chance for a second goal in the second half, but he goes close. The best player on the pitch. (Pavard, on from 88', not rated)

Coach Chivu 7: After their fine win in Rotterdam, his Inter respond superbly in Serie A too. His fierce pressing and devastating counter-attacks overwhelm Fabregas in the first half, although the Como side at San Siro are a far cry from the team admired so far in the league and the Champions League. He remains the Spanish manager's kryptonite.

COMO

SANCHEZ 5.5: Fabregas surprisingly picks him ahead of Butez, but the decision doesn't pay off. He looks uncertain from the start, failing to call for the ball and nearly making a mess of it with Ramon. He reacts slowly to Thuram's left-footed strike for the second goal, although the shot is powerful and comes from close range. He then concedes a corner from a Carlos Augusto effort that was going wide. In the second half, he fumbles an attempt to save a Dimarco effort.

YAN COUTO 5: Too lightweight at this level against certain opponents, he watches Inter attack down his flank without responding. He barely gets forward in the first 45 minutes. After the break, he tries to push further up but remains off the pace.

(from 74' CAQUERET: not rated)

RAMON 4.5: A breakdown in communication with Sanchez almost produces a spectacular own goal after just a few minutes. Esposito gets the better of him completely in the move for the 1-0. Ramon's movement also keeps Spence, who provides the assist from the right, onside. He stands and watches for Inter's second goal too.

KEMPF 5: With an extra yard of pace, Thuram repeatedly seeks him out and runs at him. Kempf, like the entire defensive line, struggles with Inter's constant off-the-ball runs.

VALLE 4.5: Spence runs rampant on the right in the build-up to the first goal, where Valle should be defending even as he tries to attack. His attempted clearance from Zielinski's cross ends up at Thuram's feet for the 2-0. He narrowly fails to reach Nico Paz's shot-cross.

(from 74' KAIKI 6: His arrival immediately brings running and initiative on the left, everything Valle had lacked. His lay-off leads to Nico Paz hitting the crossbar).

PERRONE 5: Chivu's all-action midfielders close off every passing lane. Even so, the Argentine's performance is timid and uninspired.

(from 46' SMOLCIC 5.5: He comes on to bolster the defensive line and allow Couto to move up into midfield. He doesn't look out of place, although Inter remain dangerous down his side).

MILLA 5: Even a player of his experience cannot stand out in a Como first half as subdued as any. He never finds the timing for the right pass and struggles to manage the ball. Nothing changes after the break.

DA CUNHA 4.5: Beaten to the ball in the counter-attack that produces Inter's 1-0, he struggles throughout the first half. He misplaces virtually every pass, cannot set the tempo and does even less to stop Inter's repeated advances.

(from 74' LIBERALI: not rated)

NICO PAZ 5.5: Como's first attempt towards Martinez's goal comes from him after Baturina's lay-off. He repeatedly waves his arms for the ball in the first half, but the passes he receives are either predictable or beyond his reach. His shot-cross in the 63rd minute gives Martinez his first real scare of the match. In the 83rd minute, he hits the crossbar with a remarkable effort from Kaiki's assist.

BATURINA 4.5: A lone voice throughout the first half, he searches for a position he never finds. Fabregas decides he isn't in the game and leaves him in the dressing room after the interval.

(from 46' RICCI 5: Too ponderous and slow to help the team gain ground or pick up the tempo. A moment of uncertainty from him gives Thuram a good scoring chance).

DOUVIKAS 5: He battles in vain during the first 45 minutes to stay involved and get more touches of the ball. His switch of play to Baturina on the other side of the pitch leads to Nico Paz's first chance. He achieves little in the second half either, coming back down to earth after the high of Lens.

MANAGER FABREGAS 5: Inter overwhelm his Como with their tempo and aggression, exposing mistakes in both his preparation and team selection. Thuram and his team-mates reach the ball first time and again, showing greater desire from the opening challenge. His substitutions come too late and fail to change the game. After the thoroughly deserved praise for Lens, this is a disappointing setback.