Inter come back with a win: Lukaku and Lautaro combine to beat Sampdoria

MILAN - 115 days later. San Siro last hosted Inter on 27 February in their clash with Ludogorets, a match that was already behind closed doors. But no one predicted the events which would go on to unfold in the next few days. Days of extraordinary crisis, moments that changed so many things. What never changed however, was our love for Inter and our passion for the game of football. We’d been awaiting this game, the return of Serie A, with so much anticipation, perhaps even a bit of scepticism: a summer league, at 21:45, without fans. But the Nerazzurri fans were there, alongside our players, virtually present on the LED screens thanks to our Social Wall. It was a match like none before, in which the first thoughts of everyone involved went to Mario Corso, the Nerazzurri legend who left this world on Saturday. 90 sweet yet difficult minutes. 90 minutes that ended in victory. This Nerazzurri victory, a 2-1 win over Sampdoria with the usual contributions from Lukaku and Lautaro, marks the return of our league campaign. A first half close to perfection, but a second which was a bit more complicated. Inter now sit on 57 points after 26 games played, six points off top spot. We’re back. The next match is just around the corner though with Inter vs. Sassuolo on Wednesday.

Ready, set and a goal from Eriksen but it was disallowed for an earlier Candreva offside but it set the tone for Inter. The Dane was in dominant form with his vision, timing and movement. Candreva was lively as always while Sampdoria looked timid as they looked to sit back and played passively. The goal came in the tenth minute. Lautaro received the ball from Skriniar and played the backheel on to Lukaku before a one-two with Eriksen set the Belgian up for the finish. Lukaku’s celebration was a symbolic and touching moment as he took the knee with a raised fist as the message of the Black Lives Matter movement came alongside our BUU - Brothers Universally United philosophy. No to discrimination.

Candreva and Lukaku missed further chances in the first half while Sampdoria’s first real sight of goal came in the 45th minute when Ramirez pounced on an error by Gagliardini but he failed to test Handanovic and fired over. Sampdoria looked a different side after the break and got back into the game. Colley struck the bar from a corner with Handanovic beaten only for the rebound to fall for Thorsby who scored despite Samir getting something on it. At 2-1, the tempo of the match changed as the pace dropped and Inter’s play became less fluid. Chances stopped falling for the Nerazzurri and Sampdoria kept fighting in search of a late and unexpected equaliser. At the end, Leris forced Handanovic into a save with his free kick but Conte’s team showed maturity to hang on for the win.

Overall, they’re three valuable points and a good starting point for this final run-in with twelve key matches coming up. 

MATCH SUMMARY INTER (3-4-1-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni; 87 Candreva (11 Moses 73'), 5 Gagliardini, 23 Barella, 15 Young (34 Biraghi 73'); 24 Eriksen (20 Borja Valero 78'); 9 Lukaku, 10 Lautaro (7 Sanchez 83').Substitutes: 46 Berni, 2 Godin, 13 Ranocchia, 18 Asamoah, 30 Esposito, 31 Pirola, 32 Agoumé, 33 D'Ambrosio.Coach: Antonio Conte.SAMPDORIA (3-5-2): 1 Audero; 24 Bereszynski, 34 Yoshida, 15 Colley; 18 Thorsby, 7 Linetty (4 Vieira 82'), 91 Bertolacci (16 Askildsen 82'), 14 Jankto (26 Leris 70'), 29 Murru; 11 Ramirez (12 De Paoli 70'); 17 La Gumina (9 Bonazzoli 76').Substitutes: 30 Falcone, 3 Augello, 5 Chabot, 6 Ekdal, 21 Tonelli, 23 Gabbiadini, 33 Rocha.Coach: Claudio Ranieri.Referee: Mariani.Assistants: Mondin, Galetto.Fourth Official: Piccinini.VAR and Assistant VAR: Aureliano, Passeri.Goals: 10' Lukaku (i), 32' Lautaro (I), 52' Thorsby (S)Bookings: Bertolacci (S), Lautaro (I), Thorsby (S), Borja Valero (I), Gagliardini (I).Stoppage: -, 4'.

Candreva e Lukaku si iscrivono al tabellino anche per le occasioni da gol sfiorate in un primo tempo in cui l'unico sussulto della Sampdoria arriva al 45' con Ramirez dopo un errore in disimpegno di Gagliardini: un sinistro alto che non spaventa Handanovic ma che di fatto dà il là alla ripresa della Sampdoria, che rientra dagli spogliatoi con piglio deciso. E infatti dopo pochi minuti riapre il match: calcio d'angolo, colpo di testa di Colley, traversa ad Handanovic battuto. Thorsby è il più lesto a mettere il piede sulla ribattuta, la spaccata disperata di Samir non è sufficiente ad evitare il gol. Il 2-1 incanala il match in un binario un po' sconnesso. Partita a singhiozzo, su ritmi più blandi e con minor piglio da parte dell'Inter. Le occasioni per i nerazzurri non arrivano, la Samp si trova a pochi minuti dal novantesimo con la possibilità di strappare un pareggio insperato. Nel finale Leris su punizione impegna Handanovic, ma il finale è gestito con grande maturità dalla squadra di Conte, anche grazie all'innesto dei giocatori a gara in corso.

Tre punti pesantissimi, una vittoria dalla quale ripartire per iniziare questa lunga volata finale. Mancano 12 partite, sarà un'estate bollente. 

INTER-SAMPDORIA 2-1 - IL TABELLINO

INTER (3-4-1-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni; 87 Candreva (11 Moses 73'), 5 Gagliardini, 23 Barella, 15 Young (34 Biraghi 73'); 24 Eriksen (20 Borja Valero 78'); 9 Lukaku, 10 Lautaro (7 Sanchez 83').A disposizione: 46 Berni, 2 Godin, 13 Ranocchia, 18 Asamoah, 30 Esposito, 31 Pirola, 32 Agoumé, 33 D'Ambrosio.Allenatore: Antonio Conte.

SAMPDORIA (3-5-2): 1 Audero; 24 Bereszynski, 34 Yoshida, 15 Colley;  18 Thorsby, 7 Linetty (4 Vieira 82'), 91 Bertolacci (16 Askildsen 82'), 14 Jankto (26 Leris 70'), 29 Murru; 11 Ramirez (12 De Paoli 70'); 17 La Gumina (9 Bonazzoli 76').A disposizione: 30 Falcone, 3 Augello, 5 Chabot, 6 Ekdal, 21 Tonelli, 23 Gabbiadini, 33 Rocha.Allenatore: Claudio Ranieri.

Arbitro: Mariani.Assistenti: Mondin, Galetto.Quarto Uomo: Piccinini.VAR e Assistente VAR: Aureliano, Passeri.

Marcatori: 10' Lukaku (i), 32' Lautaro (I), 52' Thorsby (S)Ammoniti: Bertolacci (S), Lautaro (I), Thorsby (S), Borja Valero (I), Gagliardini (I), Vieira (S).Recupero: -, 4'.