Final score

21 August 2021 18:30

Inter
42' (2nd half) Dzeko
29' (2nd half) Vidal
14' Calhanoglu
6' Skriniar
4 - 0
Genoa
Referee: Valerio Marini / Linesmen: Liberti, Vecchi / Fourth official: Marchetti / Assistants: Valeri, Carbone
Watch highlights

Minute Text commentary
48' The first half ends with Inter two goals to the good thanks to Skriniar and Calhanoglu
47' Brozovic plays a slide-rule pass for Perisic and he finishes clinically but the ref rules it out after a VAR check
45' There'll be three minutes of added time
44' Inter fail to clear their lines and Pandev finds Kallon but he turns it wide!
41' Inter break forward with Sensi, Brozovic and Dzeko but Genoa manage to shut out the final pass for the striker
38' Perisic exchanges passes with Calhanoglu at the top of the box but then can't pick out Barella on the penalty spot. Another good chance for a third!
37' Inter looking for more as Brozovic sees an effort turned behind for a corner
36' Skriniar finds Sensi with a through ball, the Italian looks for Dzeko but Genoa put it out for a throw-in
33' Sensi wins the ball off Biraschi but the ref says it's a foul
29' Bastoni goes on a superb run driving forward all the way into the box but is blocked before he can shoot. Corner to Inter
27' Brozovic volleys wide from the edge of box
25' There's a much-needed cooling break on this very hot afternoon in San Siri
24' Dzeko hits the bar! Calhanoglu plays a delightful crossfield pass to Darmian, who centres for the Bosnian, but his shot on the swivel comes off the frame of the goal
21' Barella bursts forward and plays in Perisic for the cross. Sirigu claws at it then Rovella clears the lines
18' After a scintillating start, the pace has dropped a touch now. But Inzaghi's men are still pushing forward
14' GOAAAAAAL!!! Calhanoglu with a brilliant finish from outside the box! 2-0!
12' Inter almost score a second! Barella plays in Calhanoglu, who chests down for Brozovic but the Croat's shot is turned behind by Sirigu
9' Genoa try to respond. Rovella plays in Kallon but the striker can't get his effort on target
6' SKRINIAR! Calhanoglu curls in a corner and the defender rises highest to power home a header!
2' Early chance! Calhanoglu sends in a free kick, Bastoni knocks it down and De Vrij shoots over!
1' Here we go! Goran Pandev takes the opening kick and Inter v Genoa is under way! FORZA INTER!
1' The teams are out on the pitch. We're almost ready to go!
1' San Siro and the champions of Italy welcome the fans back to the Meazza as Inzaghi's side host Genoa for this 2021/22 Serie A opener
Minute Text commentary
49' Full time. What a start! The champions of Italy begin their title defence with a 4-0 win over Genoa, Skriniar, Calhanoglu, Vidal and Dzeko the scorers
45' There'll be four minutes of stoppage time
42' DZEKO!!! That's his first goal for the club as he rises to head Vidal's cross past Sirigu. 4-0!
39' Time for Denzel Dumfries to make his Nerazzurri debut. Bastoni goes off
38' Bianchi has a go from outside the box but it's straight down Handanovic's throat
33' Vecino picks up a booking within seconds of entering the fray
32' Barella also receives the crowd's applause as he makes way for Matias Vecino
32' Martin Satriano comes on for Hakan Calhanoglu to make his first-team debut. The Turk meanwhile is applauded off after an impressive display
31' Sirigu comes to Genoa's rescue again, turning away Dimarco's shot
29' NUMBER THREE! Sirigu's palms away Dzeko's shot, Barella sets up Vidal with a cheeky backheel and the Chilean fires home!
26' Time for the second cooling break of the game. It's still 2-0 here at the Meazza
26' Genoa make their final change, with Melegoni replacing Sturaro
25' Sirigu pulls off a stunning save to keep out Dzeko's header from Dimarco's corner
23' Dimarco also comes on, with Perisic making way
23' Simone Inzaghi makes his first sub: Vidal replaces Sensi
23' Perisic is played in by Calhanoglu but his shot is deflected behind for a corner
21' Sturaro is shown the yellow card for a nasty challenge on Barella
17' Rovella tries his luck from distance: it ends up in the stands
15' Inter have a couple of openings to put this one to bed but Calhanoglu and Sensi can't get the final ball right
12' Chance for Genoa: Pandev sets up Sabelli but Handanovic saves
11' Inter have another goal disallowed. Calhanoglu is denied his second of the game as Perisic was offside at the start of the move
9' Genoa make a fourth substitution: Favilli is on for Kallon
7' A delightful chest-down by Dzeko for the onrushing Calhanoglu but Serpe slides in to make the block
6' Perisic stands up a lovely ball to the back stick. Sensi can only get a touch on it then Barella fails to hit the target
2' Kallon's angled effort is easily saved by Handanovic
1' Ballardini looks to shake up his side with three half-time changes: Sabelli, Bianchi and Serpe are on for Biraschi, Hernani and Cambiaso

Handanovic
6.27
6.27
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Dimarco
6.73
6.73
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Brozovic
7.49
7.49
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Perisic
6.71
6.71
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Skriniar
8.06
8.06
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Vecino
5.97
5.97
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
de Vrij
7.09
7.09
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Sensi
6.11
6.11
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Barella
7.54
7.54
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Bastoni
7.27
7.27
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Vidal
7.26
7.26
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Darmian
6.77
6.77
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Satriano
6.16
6.16
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Calhanoglu
8.26
8.26
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Dzeko
8.11
8.11
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Dumfries
6.43
6.43
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Average rating 7.01 SEND RATINGS
8 shots on target 5
8 shots off target 6
18 fouls committed 7
8 corners 2
2 offsides 2
60% ball possession 40%

Genoa’s midfielder Hernani has had a hand in two goals in his last two Serie A meetings against Inter: one at the Meazza in October 2020 and one at the Tardini last March.

Genoa have won their last two Serie A away games without conceding: they have registered three such wins in a row without conceding in the top-flight only once before in their history, in January 2009 under Gian Piero Gasperini.

This could be Edin Dzeko’s 200th Serie A appearance: the new Inter striker has been involved in eight league goals against Genoa (three goals, five assists): against no other side has he had a hand in more goals.

On Saturday August 21st 2021, Inter will play a Serie A match as the title-holder for the first time since 22/05/2011 against Catania (3-1 under Leonardo, 3744 days ago).

Inter have won their last 16 home Serie A matches, only three teams have had a longer winning home streak in the competition: Torino in 1948 (21), AC Milan in 1950 (19) and Juventus in 2014 (25) and 2017 (33).

Inter have won their last six Serie A matches against Genoa by an aggregate score of 21-0; they’ve only had a longer run without conceding against a single side in the competition in 2008 versus Reggina (11 games).

wins(46) draws(12) defeats(12)
1/122

MILAN - There’s nothing quite like coming home. On Saturday night at the San Siro, it was an occasion for goosebumps. Because you can’t beat being there. And we were back, supporting the team, cheering on the boys, and singing proudly as champions of Italy. 27,402 voices united as one to back the 11 Nerazzurri on the pitch. 

The season kicked off in the same way the last one ended with three points, a hatful of goals and an unforgettable spectacle. Inter marked the return of their faithful supporters by putting on a show as they tore through Genoa for a stunning 4-0 win.  

Edin Dzeko and Hakan Calhanoglu are the new faces of Inzaghi's Inter. The Nerazzurri lined up in a 3-5-1-1 formation against Genoa's 3-5-2, who were aiming to keep it tight at the back and rely on Pandev and Kallon front, a strikeforce with 18 years between them. It only took two minutes to set the mood for the evening, with the Nerazzurri's set-piece routines and overlapping defenders constantly causing problems for the opposition. Stefan de Vrij skied an effort from a good position, and then in the 6th minute came the first roar of joy when Calhanoglu's corner found Milan Skriniar's head in the box. 

It was lift-off for Inzaghi’s Inter in a cacophonous San Siro and the Nerazzurri were off and running. In the 12th minute, Marcelo Brozovic hit a shot from the edge of the box that found its way into Salvatore Sirigu’s hands. But the Genoa goalkeeper could do nothing two minutes later when Calhanoglu hit an unstoppable shot from 20 yards out that curled into the corner to make it 2-0. 14 minutes into his debut, the Turkish international had already registered a goal and an assist.

Inter showed no signs of letting up and continued to grind away, with Genoa not able to find any space. In the 24th minute, Dzeko took the ball on his chest and spun to hit a volley against the crossbar. Davide Ballardini's side grew into the game but it was only towards the end of the first half that they were able to really threaten Samir Handanovic with Yayah Kallon shooting wide from a good position. Before the end of the first half, VAR ruled out Ivan Perisic's goal to make it 3-0 having strayed into an offside position.

The second half didn’t match the first’s frenetic pace as the players started to suffer under the intense heat, and Genoa made three changes to try and impose themselves on the game. Pandev was the man pulling all the strings and he was instrumental in creating Kallon's right-footed effort which was blocked by Handanovic. But it was Calhanoglu who once again lit up the evening in Milan. His right-footed effort found the crossbar, and Perisic was once again offside as Inter kept searching for their third.

The fans were making themselves heard in the second half, and Inter continued to threaten down the left-hand side. Dzeko linked up well with his new team-mates as Inter finally made it 3-0 in the 74th minute. Dzeko’s shot was parried by Sirigu and Nicolo Barella pounced on the ball with an exquisite back-heel flick to set up Arturo Vidal’s right-footed finish from a few yards out. 

That goal extinguished any hope of a Genoa comeback, and Edin Dzeko put the cherry on the cake to complete a perfect evening at the Meazza. His debut goal arrived in the 87th minute with an unstoppable header from Vidal’s cross.

It was a 4-0 win that filled the hearts of all Nerazzurri fans, who, after paying their respects to ex-player Goran Pandev, celebrated with the team in front of the Curva. It was the perfect conclusion to a day that saw four players make their debut (Dzeko, Calhanoglu, Denzel Dumfries and Martin Satriano), two of them scoring goals, a return of our fans, three points, four goals and a clean sheet.

It was the evening everyone was waiting for, and the evening that Inter deserved. We’re back. Forza Inter!

INTER 4-0 GENOA (HT 2-0)

Scorers: Skriniar 6 (I), Calhanoglu 14 (I), Vidal 74 (I), Dzeko 87 (I).

INTER (3-5-1-1): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 De Vrij, 95 Bastoni (2 Dumfries 84'); 36 Darmian, 23 Barella (8 Vecino 77'), 77 Brozovic, 20 Calhanoglu (48 Satriano 77'), 14 Perisic (32 Dimarco 69'); 12 Sensi (22 Vidal 69'); 9 Dzeko.

Subs not used: 21 Cordaz, 97 Radu, 11 Kolarov, 13 Ranocchia, 18 Agoume, 33 D'Ambrosio, 99 Pinamonti.

Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

GENOA (3-5-2): 57 Sirigu; 3 Vanheusden, 14 Biraschi (66 Serpe 46'), 4 Criscito; 27 Sturaro (10 Melegoni 71'), 47 Badelj, 65 Rovella, 33 Hernani (24 Bianchi 46'), 50 Cambiaso (2 Sabelli 46'); 19 Pandev, 91 Kallon (9 Favilli 54').

Subs not used: 22 Marchetti, 5 Masiello, 20 Ekuban, 44 Buksa, 80 Agudelo, 89 Eyango, 90 Portanova.  

Coach: Davide Ballardini.


Bookings: Criscito (G), Sturaro (G), Vecino (I).
Added time: 3 + 4 minutes.

Referee: Marini.
Assistants: Liberti, Vecchi.
Fourth official: Marchetti.
VAR: Valeri.
VAR assistant: Carbone.

starting lineups

Handanovic 1 57 Sirigu
Skriniar 37 14 Biraschi
de Vrij 6 3 Vanheusden
Bastoni 95 4 Criscito
Darmian 36 27 Sturaro
Barella 23 47 Badelj
Brozovic 77 65 Rovella
Calhanoglu 20 33 Hernani
Perisic 14 50 Cambiaso
Sensi 12 19 Pandev
Dzeko 9 91 Kallon

substitutes

Radu 97 22 Marchetti
Cordaz 21 2 Sabelli
Dumfries 2 5 Masiello
Vecino 8 9 Favilli
Kolarov 11 10 Melegoni
Ranocchia 13 20 Ekuban
Agoume 18 24 Bianchi
Vidal 22 44 Buksa
Dimarco 32 66 Serpe
D'Ambrosio 33 80 Agudelo
Satriano 48 89 Eyango
Pinamonti 99 90 Portanova

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