Inter suffered more than expected at the Stadio Tardini in Parma on Thursday night but eventually came home with a full score, courtesy of a brace from El Nino Maravilla Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean thus helped the Nerazzurri reinforce their top spot in the Serie A table, establishing a six-point cushion over cross-town rivals Milan, who struggled to salvage at least one point yesterday.
The Scudetto seemed already destined to somehow land in Milano this season, but has now taken a clear direction towards the black-and-blue side of the side. Next Monday’s game against an in form Atalanta will say more about the consistency of Antonio Conte’s side – who at least seem to have overcome one of their major limits seen early in the season: Winning when it matters the most. And tonight it did matter a lot.
Second-to-last Parma, on the other hand, were perhaps believing they could snatch a golden point out of their impossible test against the Nerazzurri, especially after ending the first half on a nil-nil score. But they were stunned by Sanchez’s powerful one-two, and were left with empty hands despite Hernani’s late goal. Their performance was encouraging, but safety in now six points away – consequence of direct contender Cagliari beating Bologna on Wednesday night.
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— Parma Calcio 1913 (@ParmaCalcio_en) March 4, 2021
A first start for Dennis Man! ?#Cetilar | #ParmaInter pic.twitter.com/CsZvIbhzEp
Comeback coach Roberto D’Aversa is doing what he can. Tonight, he lined up striker Dennis Man for the first time from the start, partnering him with former Inter man Yann Karamoh. The Nerazzurri, on the other hand, displayed their usual 3-5-2 setup, with Achraf Hakimi retaking his right wing-back spot after suffering a one-match ban, and Alexis Sanchez supporting Romelu Lukaku on the front line.
The first half was a balanced affair, with both sides having their chances to trouble the scorers. Inter tried to draw first blood after just two minutes, but goalkeeper Luigi Sepe was up to the task when Hakimi tested him from a Lukaku service.
Parma protested for an alleged foul on Man in the box, but referee waved play on, supported by the VAR. On 15 minutes, the Crociati gave Samir Handanovic some work to do, prompting the Slovenian goalkeeper to parry back a Jasmin Kurtic header.
Christian Eriksen was the next in line to attempt to make it to the scoresheet, but was a split second too early when Hakimi bested his marker and crossed the ball in the middle of the box. Luigi Sepe went above and beyond to deny a Milan Skriniar attempt, then it was up to center back Lautaro Valenti to neutralize an Ivan Perisic chance.
Before half time, there was one more chance for each side as both Lukaku and Man failed to hit the goal target from a header. The two sides went for the break on a goalless draw, though Inter’s pressure was a clear omen that things were about to change.
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— Inter (@Inter_en) March 4, 2021
The team Antonio Conte is sending out for #ParmaInter! #FORZAINTER ⚫️? pic.twitter.com/O2iY3ZyLf1
Coach D’Aversa left Dennis Man in the changing room as the young Romanian picked up an injury and replaced him with his fellow countryman Valentin Mihaila. Antonio Conte made no changes and perhaps he was right in doing so as his starters soon managed to steer the game into their direction.
Alexis Sanchez built a double lead in the space of seven minutes, first with a left-foot shot for which Sepe should have had a better answer, and then beating him again on a one-on-one after Lukaku had done most of the heavy lifting by breaking away from the Gialloblu defense.
The game seemed done and dusted for the Nerazzurri, but D’Aversa came up with a triple substitution and managed to keep his side’s hopes alive. One of the three inductions was left back Giuseppe Pezzella who, on 71 minutes, served Hernani a fine pass that the Brazilian volleyed home after anticipating Ivan Perisic.
That was all that Parma could do however, as Handanovic had no more causes for concern until full time, despite veteran striker Graziano Pellé making his debut among the Gialloblu lines. D’Aversa and his boys will need to find the points they need in their relegation struggle elsewhere, starting from their next test against Fiorentina on Sunday.
Inter have never been so close to the Scudetto in quite a few seasons and, based on what their direct contenders have shown these past few weeks, the impression is that their only real enemy can be themselves.
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— Inter (@Inter_en) March 4, 2021
MATCH REPORT
March 4, 2021 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 25
PARMA-INTER 1-2
SCORERS: 54′ Sanchez (I), 61′ Sanchez (I), 71′ Hernani (P)
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PARMA (4-3-1-2): Sepe; Bani, Osorio, Valenti (66′ Busi), Gagliolo (66′ Pezzella); Hernani (85′ Pellè), Brugman, Kurtic; Kucka (66′ Inglese); Karamoh, Man (46′ Mihaila) (Colombi, Bruno Alves, Brunetta, Cyprien, Grassi, Iacoponi, Sohm) Coach: D’Aversa |
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INTER (3-5-2): Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Eriksen (67′ Vidal), Perisic (84′ Darmian); Sanchez (75′ Lautaro Martinez), Lukaku (Radu, D’Ambrosio, Gagliardini, Kolarov, Pinamonti, Ranocchia, Sensi, Vecino, Young) Coach: Conte |
REFEREE: Mr. Pasqua from Tivoli
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Darmian (I); Extra Time: 1st Half 3′, 2nd Half 4′