Inter keep up with the pace of Juventus as they cruise past Frosinone in a convincing 2-0 victory at the Stadio San Siro, moving two points ahead of the Bianconeri and slotting themselves at the top of the Serie A standings heading into the international break.
Federico Dimarco’s superb strike and Hakan Calhanoglu’s goal from the spot enabled the Nerazzurri to record their fourth consecutive win of the 2023/24 Serie A term, as well as record their eighth clean-sheet of the campaign.
Federico Dimarco Breaks the Deadlock with World-Class Strike
Inter asserted their dominance on Milanese soil as they knocked the ball around swiftly and with fine creativity. Alessandro Bastoni dispatched an exquisite over-the-top ball to find wing-back Federico Dimarco into space. The 25-year-old brought the ball down with a fine first touch, but his delivery was blocked by the back-line.
Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu delivered a fine centre from a corner shortly after towards the second post, but Marcus Thuram made the run slightly late despite being left unmarked in point-blank range from goal.
In the 15th minute mark, Lautaro Martinez combined with Thuram as he fed the Frenchman into space with a pin-point line-breaking pass. The 25-year-old marksman attempted to square it off, but Thuram mishit the ball while running towards the byline.
In-form Argentine Matias Soule managed to test Yann Sommer as he received the ball at the edge of the box from the left-hand side, but the Swiss veteran stopped the shot with ease.
Imminently, Henrikh Mkhitaryan sprayed a sublime ball out-wide to find Dimarco in acres of space. The wing-back found Nicoló Barella as he slid to toe-poke the ball for Lautaro. The Inter skipper’s venomous strike was saved by the young Frosinone shot-stopper as he palmed the ball above the bar.
Inter were ruthless throughout the first forty-five as they continued to launch waves of attacks towards Di Franesco’s men, but Frosinone remained compact defensively.
However, the Nerazzurri managed to break the deadlock as Dimarco noticed Turati being off his line as he lifted his head after having been played into space by Mkhitaryan. Dimarco fired a world-class strike from nearly the halfway line, soaring above the promising shot-stopper and into the back of the net to seal the opener before the closure of the half.
Calhanoglu Cool as a Cucumber from the Spot
The Beneamata immediately picked up where they left off at the start of the second half as Thuram took advantage of central defender Caleb Okoli’s slip, breaking out into space and dazzling round the Gialloblu back-line, forcing a poorly timed challenge in the box which handed Inter a penalty within two minutes of play.
The Turkish midfielder rose to the occasion as he sent Turati the wrong way, converting from the spot with such ease to double Inter’s advantage.
Despite conceding two goals, Frosinone maintained focus were ruthless going forward. Soule combined with Walid Cheddira out-wide, enabling the Moroccan international to release the trigger, but his attempt rattled the frame of the goal.
Centre-back Riccardo Marchizza launched a shot from long-range, which was diffused by Sommer as the veteran shot-stopper made an incredible acrobatic effort. Young starlet Arijon Ibrahimovic also had an opportunity to strike from out-wide, but the Nerazzurri custodian came through with his services yet again.
Throughout the rest of the half, Inter took full control and seized all three points, sending a message to Juventus prior to the upcoming Derby D’Italia at the Allianz following the break.