Benevento 1 - 2 Inter: Brozovic brace decisive

BENEVENTO – Inter are coming back from Campania with three more points thanks to a strenuous 2-1 win at the Stadio Vigorito. The result moves the Nerazzurri up to 19 points after seven matches ahead of the derby following the international break on 15th October. 

Inter looked to impose themselves from the opening exchanges.  In the third minute, Miranda headed into the side netting from a Brozovic corner. In the seventh minute, Skriniar won the ball and forced Belec to get down to make a save while D’Ambrosio saw his attempt deflected wide a minute later. The Campania side’s goalkeeper was in action again in the twelfth minute from a shot-cum-cross by Brozovic and again from Candreva’s great effort in the 18th minute. A minute later, Inter opened the scoring as Candreva set up Brozovic perfectly for a header. Just 180 seconds later, the Croatian scored his second from a free kick won by Icardi. The home side found the strength to react and were very dangerous on two occasions. In the 25th minute, Memushaj hit the bar with a shot from 20 metres while D’Alessandro’s daisy cutter went just wide in the 29th minute. It was the Benevento winger who halved the deficit after being set up well by Iemmello three minutes before the break. After the goal, Inter were straight back on the front foot as Letizia blocked from Candreva before Borja Valero just missed the top corner with a strike from the edge of the box. The sides went into the breaks with Spalletti’s side 2-1 up. 

The rhythm of play was much more composed after the interval, with Joao Mario coming on for Candreva in the 51st minute. Vecino tried his luck just four minutes later, although his effort failed to beat Belec. Strong going forwards, the Nerazzurri still had to keep a close eye on their defensive commitments, with D’Alessandro particularly effective in making a nuisance of himself. In the 58th minute, the Benevento midfielder struck the post with a close-range header, which could well have altered the game’s ultimate outcome. Inter increased the pressure during the final quarter of the match, with Perisic initially going close in the 66th minute following a Brozovic cross, before Icardi then failed to find the target 10 minutes later despite a sweet delivery from Perisic. Come the 79th minute, Joao Mario exerted further influence by playing in the Nerazzurri’s No. 44, whose subsequent effort was saved well by Belec. The match remained open for the final stages, with the home defence clearing well six minutes from the end after some additional intricate link-up play from our Croatian paring. The contest between Perisic and Belec continued once again in the 90th minute, with the latter coming out victorious to keep out a cross-come-shot. Five minutes of added time were awarded late on, although Inter stood strong and eventually secured all three points following Doveri’s final whistle.

BENEVENTO1-2 INTER Goalscorers: 19' and 22' Brozovic (I), 42' D'Alessandro (B)

BENEVENTO: 1 Belec; 23 Venuti, 6 Djimsiti, 21 Costa, 3 Letizia; 8 Cataldi, 14 Viola (84' 77 Lazaar), 20 Memushaj (66' 13 Chibsah); 7 D'Alessandro, 33 Iemmello, 87 Lombardi (72' 26 Parigini)Bench: 22 Brignoli, 4 Del Pinto, 11 Coda, 17 Di Chiara, 18 Gyamfi, 32 Puscas, 90 Armenteros, 95 GravillonCoach: Marco Baroni

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 37 Skriniar, 25 Miranda, 55 Nagatomo (85' 29 Dalbert); 11 Vecino, 20 B. Valero (78' 5 Gagliardini); 87 Candreva (51' 10 J. Mario), 77 Brozovic, 44 Perisic; 9 IcardiBench: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 13 Ranocchia, 17 Karamoh, 21 Santon, 23 Eder, 99 PinamontiCoach: Luciano SpallettiBookings: Borja Valero (I), Costa (B), Lombardi (B), Miranda (I), Vecino (I)Stoppage Time: 0' + 5'Referee: DoveriAssistants: De Meo, Di VuoloFourth Official: FourneauVAR Operators: Valeri, Giallatini