Inter prevailed in a keenly-contested Serie A contest against Bologna on Saturday night to move a step closer towards lifting the league crown. The Nerazzurri are now eight points clear of closest chasers Milan and seem to be on the brink of ending an 11-year title drought.
It was a tight affair at Renato Dall’Ara, with referee Piero Giacomelli showing eight yellow cards combined – four to each side. However, the Lombardians once again showcased they thrive in high-tense fixtures.
Romelu Lukaku slotted the ball past Federico Ravaglia after a pinpoint delivery from Alessandro Bastoni to put Inter in front just after the half-hour mark.
It was the 27-year-old’s eighth strike in his last nine Serie A appearances, as he continues mount challenge for the capocannoniere award. His tally of 20 goals scored is only four short of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 24 heading into the business end of the season.
Although it seemed highly unlikely that the Belgian’s goal will separate the sides at full-time, neither team managed to find the net by the final whistle. Lautaro Martinez came closest to scoring, only to see his low-placed effort kept away by the left post.
Despite enjoying most of the ball possession (54%), Bologna struggled to create enough clear-cut chances in front of Samir Handanovic’s goal.
Roberto Soriano squandered a golden opportunity to even the score on the stroke of half-time, sending the ball well over the bar from a point-blank range.
In the second half, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s team put up some high-octane performance but to no avail. They failed to put Handanovic to the test, with Nicola Sansone’s half-volley being the highlight of the hosts’ second-half display.
Antonio Conte’s men have now won nine Serie A matches on the trot, last enjoying such a long winning streak in the title-winning 2006-07 campaign.
Even though he has brought Inter to the threshold of domestic glory, the Italian manager urges his players to stay focused down the final stretch of the season.
“Inevitably, as we get closer to the finish line, every victory weighs more and more,” Conte told Sky Sport Italia.
“Winning in Bologna against a team that plays good football and presses you hard, that was certainly a big step forward. Bologna did very well, they have an excellent coach in Sinisa Mihajlovic, and it wasn’t easy. This was also a very long day for us, as we were in the hotel watching Milan’s game at lunch, then I watched Sassuolo against Roma. Juventus played just before us, so I didn’t see that one.”
“It wasn’t easy playing after everyone else, especially after international duty, but the lads kept their focus and the right spirit. It was not to be taken for granted,” the gaffer added. “I told the lads, this is a victory that we must follow up with Sassuolo on Wednesday.”
“This cannot be a Scudetto celebration because we have to earn that on the pitch and it needs to be mathematically certain. There are ten games to go for us, nine for some others, and 27-30 points up for grabs.
“We know full well that Serie A is very difficult, and every match is a battle to get the victory. The closer to we get to the finish line, the clearer we can see the prize at the end.
“Everyone is looking in that direction, and we see it from a different angle to the others right now, but we still have it all to do. We’ve achieved nothing yet.“