Inter 3 - 0 Hellas Verona: Icardi and Perisic with the goals

MILAN – Three goals and three goals at San Siro. Inter made no mistakes on matchday 30 with a 3-0 win against Hellas Verona to continue towards the objective of Champions League football. In front of 60,000 fans, a brace from Mauro Icardi (who was presented with an award pre-match for his 100 Nerazzurri goals, now 102) and another strike from Ivan Perisic took the Nerazzurri to 58 points. The side are now two points behind Roma in third and one point ahead of Lazio, although Inter have a game in hand over both sides from the capital. 

There was barely time to sit down before Inter took the lead. After 40 seconds, Perisic split the Verona defence in two straight from a throw-in to play in Icardi who in typical fashion, made no mistake as he beat the goalkeeper with his left foot. The match was on the right track for the Nerazzurri already and the team continued to push. On nine minutes, an aerial ball from Skriniar allowed D’Ambrosio to head at goal but the ball went over. On 12 minutes, Rafinha was lively and set up Gagliardini who couldn’t keep the shot down. On 13 minutes, Inter doubled the lead. Brozovic played it long to Perisic who brought it down while running and he sent it beyond Nicolas with his right. The Gialloblu timidly attempted to get back into it but D’Ambrosio showed good defensive timing on 18 minutes to close Petkovic down inside the area. Spalletti’s team continued to press despite being two goals to the good. On 33 minutes, Perisic set Icardi up well but he couldn’t keep it on target. Without much more drama, the sides went into the break with the score 2-0. 

The teams returned to the pitch unchanged and it took just four minutes for Inter to make it three. Rafinha and Perisic won the ball back on the left, the Croatian squared it to Mauro Icardi who got there first to turn home. Hellas looked to claim a consolation goal in response. On 51 minutes, Aarons fired just wide of the post with his right and Calvano went wide soon after. On 63 minutes, Candreva went extremely close to making it four when his shot across goal went narrowly wide. Five minutes later, Cancelo got onto a low Perisic cross but couldn’t keep it on target. The side from the Veneto were dangerous again on 72 minutes. Petkovic laid it off for Fares who hit the post. Gagliardini had two chances in the 76th and 78th minutes. The first was blocked in the area and he headed narrowly off target with the second. Inter continued to control the play. Candreva hit a delightful right-foot strike in the 83rd minute that was unfortunate to hit the post. IN the 90th minute, the visitors went down to ten men when Nicolas was sent off for bringing Eder down just outside the area. With no changes left, Romulo went in goal and then made a save from Borja Valero who had replaced Rafinha. 

It finished with the Nerazzurri clearly the better side as the 3-0 result showed. It was the best way to approach the #DerbyMilano in four days, #ForzaInter! 

INTER 3-0 HELLAS VERONA 

Goals: 1' Icardi, 13' Perisic, 49' Icardi

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 7 Cancelo, 37 Skriniar, 25 Miranda, 33 D'Ambrosio (59' 21 Santon); 77 Brozovic, 5 Gagliardini; 87 Candreva, 8 Rafinha (75' 20 B. Valero), 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi (65' 23 Eder)

Bench: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 2 Lisandro, 11 Vecino, 17 Karamoh, 29 Dalbert, 99 Pinamonti

Coach: Luciano Spalletti

HELLAS VERONA: 1 Nicolas; 28 Ferrari (57' 22 Bianchetti), 12 Caracciolo, 26 Vukovic, 69 Souprayen; 2 Romulo, 23 Calvano, 77 Buchel, 93 Fares; 16 Aarons (64' 7 Verde); 70 Petkovic (79' 10 Cerci)

Bench: 17 Silvestri, 40 Coppola, 8 Fossati, 14 Zuculini, 21 Lee, 25 Boldor, 27 Valoti, 37 Bearzotti, 97 Felicioli

Coach: Fabio Pecchia

Bookings: Buchel (H), Fares (H), Gagliardini (I)

Sending Off: 90' Nicolas (H)

Stoppage Time: 2' + 3'

Referee: Rocchi

Assistants: Lo Cicero, Liberti

Fourth Official: Aureliano

VAR Operators: Guida, Fourneau