Dumfries and Arnautovic also scored in the match dominated at San Siro by the Nerazzurri, with two hits on the woodwork: Campania never in the match, shock debut for Liverani
Inter fly to +10 on Juventus and take another important step towards the second star’s Scudetto. For Inzaghi, there was no better way to prepare for the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday at San Siro against Atletico Madrid: Salernitana, beaten only towards the end by Juventus and Napoli and capable of holding Milan to a 2-2 draw, turns out to be a docile opponent who actually never worries the league leaders. Liverani’s debut on the bench is a nightmare and the defeat is clear also because the Nerazzurri, at their eighth consecutive victory in this record-breaking start to 2024, have another pace, another ferocity and another quality. The match is truly without history: Thuram and Lautaro both score in the space of two minutes, from 17′ to 19′, and then Dumfries closes the matter with the 3-0 already before the break. The recovery thus becomes a maxi workout in view of the duel with the Cholo Simeone, while the Granata finished without any conclusions on target, handing Sommer the clean sheets number 15 in Serie A.
INTERNAL MONOLOGUE
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Inzaghi reduces the turnover to three changes compared to the victory over Roma: De Vrij in place of the injured Acerbi and the wingers Dumfries and Carlos Augusto for Darmian and Dimarco. In Salernitana Liverani chooses the 5-3-2 with Boateng in the heart of the defense and Tchaouna together with Dia up front. Only bench for the new signing Manolas. Inter started very strongly and in the space of 7 minutes created three gigantic chances to take the lead: Ochoa said no to Bastoni and Barella, while Thuram kicked the most comfortable of tap-ins onto the post. The overlaps of Pavard and Bastoni create numerical superiority on the flanks, especially on the right, where the Nerazzurri do badly and create series of chances. The Granata are on the ropes and struggle to get past the halfway mark despite the home team’s pressure not being ferocious. Lautaro, on an assist from Dumfries, takes the opening goal in an uncharacteristic way in the quarter of an hour, then it’s Mkhitaryan who kicks high from the edge. The Inter monologue continues without the Campania players opposing it and two minutes later (17′) Thuram scores from a cross from the left by Carlos Augusto, author of a great progression and a super performance. For the Frenchman double figures in the championship and a downhill race. Not even time to put the ball back in the center and Inter doubled their lead with the Bull, served by a throw-in by Carlos Augusto and left too free by Boateng. For the Argentinian, goal number 125 since he has been in Milan (10 against Salernitana…) and third season in a row with over 20 goals in Serie A: before him only Meazza and Nyers had managed it for the Nerazzurri.
DUMFRIES SEAL
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At 2-0, Inter continues to keep the ball and look for the goal even if with less enthusiasm and anger, while the Granata are forced to replace the injured Boateng with Maggiore. The match ends definitively in the 40th minute: Lautaro triggers Barella’s run who crosses to the center from the back, Pasalidis deflects and Ochoa gets a (bad) shot in, with Dumfries putting the 3-0 in the net. At half-time the league leaders went to drink a hot tea in total control, with numbers that clearly show the progress of the match: 16-0 shots towards goal, 7-0 shots on target, 77% ball possession and 9- 0 corner kicks.
TRAINING
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The second half opens without substitutions and with Ochoa avoiding the poker following a shot from outside by Calhanoglu. After an hour Inzaghi starts thinking about Atletico and inserts Arnautovic, Sanchez and Klaassen for Thuram, Lautaro and Mkhitaryan. Liverani responds with Weissman for Dia and Legowski for Coulibaly. Pasalidis with a last-minute deflection prevents Sanchez from scoring his first goal in the league, then it’s also Asllani’s turn, in the control room for Calhanoglu. The Niño Maravilla he tries again from a free kick without looking at the mirror. Inzaghi gave Buchanan his Nerazzurri debut in the last quarter of an hour at Bastoni, and right at the end he saw Arnautovic celebrate the 4-0 with an assist from Dumfries. Then it’s just a celebration for the Inter fans. Atletico arrives on Tuesday and Inter is ready.
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