Inter Milan veteran Francesco Acerbi delivered yet another exceptional performance against Manchester City powerhouse Erling Haaland, earning him accolades of the highest regard.
Despite being 36 years old, the Italian demonstrated once again that he is one of the top man-markers in Europe.
The former Lazio star evoked memories of the Champions League final in Istanbul by once again keeping the Norwegian striker quiet.
At just 24 years old, Haaland has been unstoppable in the Premier League, netting an impressive nine goals in four appearances.
However, on Wednesday night, when Man City and Inter clashed on the opening day of the Champions League group stage, Haaland struggled to break through Acerbi’s defense.
The match ended in a goalless draw, earning the Nerazzurri a valuable point away from home.
Acerbi, for his part, further cemented his reputation as one of the most formidable defenders in the game.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (via FcInterNews) compared the veteran’s performance at the Etihad to that of Claudio Gentile in the 1982 World Cup match between Italy and Brazil.
The Juventus icon was one of the toughest defenders of his era, famously marking Zico out of the game during that encounter.
Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi has been praised for neutralizing Man City striker Erling Haaland.
However, as the paper points out, attackers today are far more protected by modern refereeing.
While Gentile could employ more aggressive defensive tactics, Acerbi is restricted, particularly with VAR monitoring every move.
Despite this, the Nerazzurri stalwart once again demonstrated his immense value to the team. The source fittingly dubbed him the “Anti-Viking,” as he kept the fearsome Haaland under control.
