To prepare for the upcoming Derby di Milano, Inter needed a convincing win to bounce back from their dreadful performance at Lazio last Friday. Serie A newcomers Cremonese didn’t come to the San Siro to play the part of the sacrificial lamb but eventually had to bend their knee to Nicoló Barella and Lautaro Martinez’s magic as the Nerazzurri won 3-1.
Following Milan’s scoreless draw at Sassuolo, Inter managed to pass their city rivals in the league table and will come to the Derby with a one-point lead over the Rossoneri. Considering the troubled times that Inter are going through, with Romelu Lukaku out for one month and the first Champions League tests in sight, that was all Simone Inzaghi could ask for.
The Nerazzurri coach operated a mini-turnover ahead of the Derby and the UCL game with Bayern Munich, deploying his backup duo Edin Dzeko – Joaquin Correa on the front line.
Cremonese’s approach to the game was fearless but fatally exposed the Grigiorossi to counterattacks. Inter were merciless in taking full advantage of their chances and drew first blood on 12 minutes as Correa tapped the ball in from an ineffective Ionit Radu save from a Dzeko shot.
There’s just no rest for the poor Romanian goalkeeper, who was facing his former club for the first time since his colossal blunder against Bologna costed the Nerazzurri a good portion of their Scudetto chances last season.
Nicoló Barella made it two for Inter before the half time break as he volleyed the ball home from a fine Hakan Calhanoglu service. The third goal was courtesy of Lautaro Martinez, who had replaced a slightly-injured Correa on 55 minutes.
Cremonese saved their pride with a David Okereke goal just before full time, showing that Massimiliano Alvini’s side can have their say in the top flight this season, even though they are yet to collect a single point.
MATCH SCORECARD
August 30, 2022 – Serie A 2022-2023 Round 4
INTER – CREMONESE 3-1
SCORERS: 12′ Correa (I), 38′ Barella (I), 76′ Lautaro Martinez, 90′ Okereke (C)
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INTER (3-5-2): Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij , Dimarco (72′ D’Ambrosio); Dumfries (34′ st Bellanova), Barella, Brozovic (72′ Asllani), Calhanoglu, Darmian (79′ Gosens); Dzeko, Correa (55′ Lautaro Martinez) (Cordaz, Onana, Gagliardini, Salcedo, Mkhitaryan, Agoumé, Zanotti, Fontanarosa, Bastoni) Coach: S. Inzaghi |
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CREMONESE (3-5-2): Radu; Aiwu (81′ Castagnetti), Bianchetti, Lochoshvili (67′ Vasquez); Ghiglione, Escalante, Pickel, Ascacibar (46′ Zanimacchia), Quagliata (67′ Valeri); Okereke, Dessers (67′ Di Carmine) (Saro, Sarr, Baez, Ciofani, Buonaiuto, Sernicola, Afena-Gyan, Chiriches, Milanese, Tsadjout) Coach: Alvini |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Dessers, Aiwu, Vasquez (C)
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