Audero denies Inter as Sampdoria win in the pouring rain

GENOA - It was a game that saw a lot of use of hands. It’s strange that a game of football would be defined by the appendage on the end of a human arm. Gloved hands, those of Audero, to be specific. His fingerprints – muddy ones at that – are all over these three points which Inter will feel they have dropped at the Ferraris. The Sampdoria goalkeeper was the key figure as the Blucerchiati won 2-1. It’s a win that halts Inter’s winning run of eight consecutive matches. The result may hurt, but what is more painful is the way it unfolded: Sanchez’s penalty was saved by Audero, Barella’s handball that led to Candreva’s goal from the spot, Keita’s finish. We leave empty-handed but need to pick ourselves up right away, with Roma on the horizon.

Handballs were the key theme of a frantic first half, which was a disaster from an Inter point of view. Conte’s side started well at the Ferraris on a ropey pitch. It all exploded in the ninth minute and the game took on a life of its own. Skriniar headed just wide but Valeri, notified by VAR, awarded a penalty to the Nerazzurri for a handball against Thorsby. Sanchez stepped up to take it, Audero saved and Young hit the post on the rebound.

Inter had missed the chance to take the lead, and then the action of this crazy half of football shifted to the Nerazzurri’s penalty area. Tonelli hit the bar with a header before Lautaro conceded a penalty for handball, which was then overturned by VAR as the infringement was outside the box. But it was another handball, committed by Barella, that gave the hosts the lead; the penalty, given after another VAR review, was converted by Candreva, who sent Handanovic the wrong way. Goals from a former player, it’s a common story.

Inter continued to work hard but were struggling to find space. Then, almost out of nowhere, they conceded their second goal: Damsgaard broke free in midfield, strode forward and then whipped in a ball for Keita, who became the second former Nerazzurri player to find the net. Despite having eleven shots in the opening period and looking a threat throughout, Conte’s men found themselves two behind at the break.

The second half was all about whether the Nerazzurri could mount a comeback. Inter poured forward from the off, while Ranieri’s side remained compact and attentive as they looked to do damage on the break. With the rain crashing down on the Ferraris surface, Lautaro failed to hit the target with a header and Thorsby was unable to score a decisive third due to a solid stop from Handanovic.

Then, in the 65th minute, Brozovic played in a corner that was met by de Vrij, who reduced the arrears. It was a goal that gave Inter hope, but a comeback wasn’t about to materialise. Conte tried to inject new energy into the side by bringing on Lukaku, Eriksen, D'Ambrosio and Vidal (in addition to Perisic at the break) for an assault at the Sampdoria goal, but another goal wasn’t forthcoming. The Nerazzurri weren’t able to make the most of several dead ball situations, with the home side holding firm until the full-time whistle.

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SAMPDORIA 2-1 INTER | MATCH DETAILS

SAMPDORIA (4-4-1-1): 1 Audero; 22 Yoshida, 21 Tonelli (24 Bereszynski 68'), 15 Colley, 3 Augello; 87 Candreva, 5 Silva, 18 Thorsby (16 Askildsen 75'), 38 Damsgaard; 14 Jankto (26 Leris 75'); 10 Keita (20 La Gumina 92').Substitutes: 30 Ravaglia, 34 Letica, 35 Avogadri, 2 Rocha, 8 Verre, 11 Ramirez, 19 Regini, 27 Quagliarella.Coach: Claudio Ranieri. 

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar (33 D'Ambrosio 81'), 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni; 2 Hakimi, 23 Barella (22 Vidal 81'), 77 Brozovic, 5 Gagliardini (9 Lukaku 63'), 15 Young (14 Perisic 46'); 10 Lautaro, 7 Sanchez (24 Eriksen 70').Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 97 Radu, 11 Kolarov, 12 Sensi, 13 Ranocchia, 36 Darmian.Coach: Antonio Conte.

Goalscorers: 23' Candreva (S) su rig., 38' Keita (S), 65' de Vrij (I)Bookings: Lautaro (I), Barella (I), de Vrij (I), Thorsby (S), Keita (S), Askildsen (S), Hakimi (I)Added time: 3' - 5'.Notes: Audero (S) saved a  Sanchez (I) penalty (12')

Referee: Valeri.Assistants: Passeri, Vivenzi.Fourth Official: Massa.VAR: Chiffi.VAR Assistant: Paganessi.