Italian press praises Ekkelenkamp despite Udinese's loss at Inter

Despite Udinese's 5‑3 loss away to Internazionale, the 26‑year-old Dutch midfielder Jurgen Ekkelenkamp can charm the Italian press; he scored at San Siro on Monday evening and received praising scores the next day. He is a Dutchman who received a 6.5 from Eurosport and Corriere della Sera, and was praised by several media for his timing.

Match Progress in Milan

Udinese started strongly in Milan. After a quarter of an hour of play the team was 0‑2 down against Internazionale.

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp broke the deadlock with a low cross from the left, which he tapped into the net via the Inter goalkeeper with a flick. His goal was the second for the Italian club.

The match ended 5‑3 in favour of Internazionale, after which Udinese, despite the early pressure, missed out on the win. Nevertheless the team briefly showed a stunt against the top club.

Italian press honours Ekkelenkamp

The Italian branch of Eurosport gave Ekkelenkamp a 6.5 and praised his ‘perfect timing with his goal to double the score’. The former Ajax player played eighty minutes before being substituted.

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Corriere della Sera followed with the same 6.5 and named him as one of the few bright spots on Udinese's side. ‘He made eager use of the assist from Keinan Davis’, the newspaper said.

Tuttosport saw Ekkelenkamp as a ‘pest’ for Internazionale's defence. ‘He is everywhere in between and disrupts the defence with his pressing runs, and also scores goals’, the newspaper wrote.

Sky Sport joined the other media and also gave the midfielder a 6.5. ‘Maduka Okoye, Keinan Davis and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp are the best of Udinese’, the assessment read.

The unanimous praise from the Italian press, despite the loss, underscores the impact Ekkelenkamp had at San Siro. His performance remains a positive example for the Dutch midfielder in Serie A.