Advantage Inter in Title Race
Advantage Inter in Title Race
For so long, Juventus have held a firm grip on the Serie A title. The record currently stands at an incredible nine title triumphs in a row.
But this season, that run is in danger of being ended and at the front of the queue to etch their name onto the Serie A trophy are the two teams hailing from Milan. But it was Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan who gave their title chances a huge boost with a crushing 3-0 win over their arch-rivals AC Milan on Sunday.
Two goals from Lautaro Martinez and another superb solo effort from Romelu Lukaku secured the three points for the blue side of Milan and put Inter four points clear of AC, in what could prove to be a decisive victory in the title race.
The odds will surely have shifted in the favour of Inter as they look to win their first Scudetto since the 2009/10 season and are coming in for much support at sites like these here, with offers also available.
Despite having no fans still in the stadium, the match was played with the intensity expected of a derby match with huge points at stake and it was Inter who gained initial control, especially down the left with Ivan Perisic’s driving runs.
The first goal though, came down the right-hand side, as Lukaku managed to burst clear of Romagnoli on the halfway line before eventually finding space to send in an inch perfect cross for Martinez to head home at the far post.
AC were struggling to impose themselves on the match with Ibrahimovic cutting a peripheral figure throughout a first half, where Hernandez had their best chance, dragging a shot narrowly wide with his weaker right foot.
But they came flying out the blocks in the second half, and Handanovic denied Ibrahimovic twice within the space of a minute with two world-class reaction saves from headers from the Swede. The Inter goalkeeper was also at hand to tip over a rasping drive from Sandro Tonali as AC began to turn the screw.
However, in their search for an equaliser, gaps started to appear at the back for AC and Inter exploited this to the max. In the 57th minute, Hakimi burst through two challenges down the right before finding Eriksen just outside the area.
The Dane found the overlapping Perisic who coolly squared for Martinez to tap in his second. This was a big blow for a Milan team who were just starting to get a foothold in the match.
And it was Lukaku who finished AC off, picking up the ball in the centre circle before driving at the AC defence. A back-peddling Romagnoli failed to engage the Belgian striker and Lukaku shifted the ball onto his favoured left foot before superbly finishing into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
With reigning champions Juventus eight points behind, albeit with a game in hand, this could be the result Inter look back on as a pivotal moment should they secure the title come the end of the season. And it could be that deadly duo of Martinez and Lukaku that proves the difference.