Inter finish 2020 on a high: goals from Lautaro and Skriniar seal a 2 - 1 win in Verona!

MILAN - The year is ending with the sweet taste of victory with Inter achieving their seventh successive win. It was mission accomplished for Inter, who were unrelenting at the Bentegodi in a match that was tough as was to be expected. However, the three points made it all worth it. Lautaro and Skriniar (his first in almost three years) were the goalscorers as the Nerazzurri defeated Hellas Verona 2-1 on the road.

As usual, Inter stepped up in the second half and were able to show more quality after the break following a first half that was a tight, tactical affair. Lacking an out-and-out striker, Juric went with a 3-4-2-1 formation with Colley and Salcedo rotating in the false nine position, while the team was set up to press high and suffocate the opposition. For the first time this season, Conte played Perisic as an attack-minded winger with Lautaro and Lukaku making up the rest of the attacking trident. The 3-4-3 formation saw Young and Hakimi playing on the flanks with Brozovic and Barella in the middle.

As mentioned, it was a tight match with few chances of note in a slow first half. Inter’s most notable efforts came from Young and Lautaro, the latter of whom was denied by an excellent Silvestri save following Lukaku’s pull-back. Verona were alert but failed to offer much of a threat of their own. The biggest opportunity, however, did fall for Juric’s side, with Dimarco forcing Handanovic into a great save after getting in behind in the 26th minute. Inter were able to press the issue after the break. Hakimi’s pace on the right was becoming a serious problem for Verona as the Moroccan full-back continues to hit form. The Nerazzurri’s opener was a great goal with Hakimi crossing for Lautaro, who delicately guided his volley in. It was a typical effort from El Toro, reminiscent of a previous attempt that hit the post against Borussia Dortmund. However, the ball found the net this time via the woodwork.

Having taken the lead Inter weren’t able to build on El Toro’s goal and, instead, Verona hit back: Handanovic failed to hold on to Faraoni’s ball in and Ilic, who had just come on, tapped in. However, Inter weren’t about to let two points slip away and stormed back in ferocious style, regaining their lead shortly afterwards. With Brozovic having floated a great ball towards the far post, Skiriniar rose high to imperiously head home. It was the Slovakian’s first goal for 1033 days in Serie A after he’d previously found the net against Benevento in February 2018.

It was a blow for Verona, who no longer had the strength to attack Inter, even if they didn’t give up. After a free kick from Dimarco had skimmed the bar, Lukaku threatened three times late on and had a goal ruled out following yet another quick break from Hakimi.

It didn’t matter, however, as 2020 finished how it started: with an away win. From Napoli 1-3 Inter on 6 January to this evening’s 2-1 win at the Bentegodi. 51 matches, 108 goals. But what counts more is the 33 points that Conte’s men now have in the league. The Nerazzurri will return to action against Crotone on 3 January, when they’ll be looking to continue their winning run.

THE TABLE

MATCH SUMMARY

HELLAS VERONA (3-4-2-1): 1 Silvestri; 27 Dawidowicz (6 Lovato 31'; 21 Gunter 59'), 23 Magnani, 17 Ceccherini; 5 Faraoni, 61 Tameze, 4 Veloso, 3 Dimarco; 20 Zaccagni (8 Lazovic 53'), 90 Colley (19 Ruegg 53'); 9 Salcedo (14 Ilic 46').

Substitutes: 22 Berardi, 25 Pandur, 13 Udogie, 15 Cetin, 45 Yeboah, 72 Danzi, 99 Bertini.Coach: Ivan Juric.

INTER (3-4-3): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni; 2 Hakimi, 23 Barella, 77 Brozovic, 15 Young; 14 Perisic (22 Vidal 70'), 9 Lukaku, 10 Lautaro (5 Gagliardini 87').Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 97 Radu, 11 Kolarov, 12 Sensi, 13 Ranocchia,33 D'Ambrosio, 36 Darmian.Coach: Antonio Conte.

Goalscorers: 52' Lautaro (I), 63' Ilic (V), 69' Skriniar (I)Bookings: Dawidowicz (V), Brozovic (I), Zaccagni (V), Dimarco (V), Magnani (V), Bastoni (I)Added time: 3' - 3'.

Referee: Giacomelli.Assistants: Liberti, Galetto.Fourth Official: Di Martino.VAR: Calvarese.VAR Assistant: Mondin.