Inter Stats | Hakimi's goals and Lukaku's precision
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— Dec 21st 2020The stats you need to know following Inter's 2-1 victory over Spezia
MILAN – Inter ran out 2-1 winners against Spezia, their sixth league victory in a row. For the first time in the Antonio Conte era, the Nerazzurri have now won four successive home matches, with these victories coming against Torino, Bologna, Napoli and Spezia. Inter have picked up 18 points from their last six fixtures, at least four more than any other side in the league during this period.
HAKIMI SPEEDING TOWARDS GOAL
After his finish against Benevento and brace against Bologna, Achraf Hakimi scored his fourth goal of the season against Spezia. It was a lovely piece of play from the 22-year-old, who sprinted forward in his usual style and beat Provedel with a fine strike. Last season, the Moroccan bagged five goals in 33 appearances in the Bundesliga.
As for this season, the Inter No.2 is the youngest defender to have scored at least four goals in the Top 5 European leagues. He’s also the first Inter defender to have found the net on at least four occasions in his first 13 appearances during a debut season in Serie A.
In total, five Moroccan players have scored at least four goals during a single season in the Italian top flight: Hakimi, Kharja (who scored a single goal when he was on Inter’s books), Benatia, Taarabt and El Kaddouri.
LUKAKU IMPECCABLE FROM THE SPOT
It wasn’t always an easy match for Lukaku, who, however, made it 2-0 to the Nerazzurri from the penalty spot. The Belgian has been faultless from twelve yards in an Inter shirt: since joining the Club, he’s taken eleven spot-kicks and scored every single one of them. Ten of these penalties have seen him send the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Out of the players who have taken at least nine penalties, Lukaku is one of three players in the Top 5 European Leagues to have scored all of their spot-kicks since the start of the 2019/20 season (Veretout and Oyarzabal are the other two).
Lukaku’s goal yesterday was his 147th in 300 appearances in one of the Top 5 European leagues.
LAUTARO’S ASSIST AND A MILESTONE FOR GAGLIARDINI
The goal that gave Inter the lead arrived following Lautaro’s assist for Hakimi, who was picked out to perfection by the Argentine. It’s the third time that El Toro has set up a teammate to score this campaign, and he’s now equalled his tally from last season in this regard (three assists in 35 games). Against Spezia, Roberto Gagliardini made his 100th Serie A appearance in an Inter shirt.