Four goals and three points: a comfortable win for Inter against Benevento

MILAN - There are nights of hidden dangers and potential pitfalls. Nights where the three points are a must but it’s never easy to win. This was Inter vs. Benevento, a game that wasn’t to be taken for granted but rather to be approached with aggression. It was very much mission accomplished as Inter won 4-0, didn’t receive a single booking, rotated players and put in a totally convincing performance with no shots against. The own goal from Improta paved the way, before Lautaro and Lukaku made it comfortable in the second half with their determination to get on the scoresheet and make things certain. The win takes us up to 44 points in the table and the four goals are testament to the attacking capabilities of this side.

On a chilly night, the weather was the least of our worries in a match which was the typical one where you can’t get anything wrong at a time when Inter were looking to build on the good Derby win while keeping pace in the league. In the reverse fixture, Inter went ahead after just 28 seconds. This time around, it took seven minutes for the deadlock to be broken. After scoring a free kick against AC Milan, Eriksen was pivotal for the opener today. His free kick from the right was heading towards Ranocchia, but Improta got there first and turned the ball into his own net. It was the fourth own goal which has gone Inter’s way this season, with the Nerazzurri dominating possession and looking to extend their lead thereafter. It wasn’t a foregone conclusion, however, as Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation looked tight at the back. Conte's men knocked the ball around and finished the first half with 65% possession, and they never looked like conceding as Benevento failed to muster a shot against Handanovic in the first half.

Despite being clearly in control, Inter weren’t creating the number of chances that might have been expected. Despite there being little space, Perisic and Hakimi were offering movement on the flanks while looking to create overloads and Eriksen was pulling the strings in the middle. At points, Barella and Lautaro were able to push the issue and get at Benevento. In the 36th minute, the Argentine put a right-footed shot over and then didn’t have enough time to finish from a good position three minutes later.

Less wind and less rain: the conditions were slightly different in the second half, but the direction the match was heading in didn’t change. Compared to the opening period, Benevento found it particularly difficult to contain the Nerazzurri, who, after striking the bar through Eriksen on the 48-minute mark, struck a knockout blow with 57 minutes on the clock. It was Lautaro who grabbed Inter’s second of the game, with the Argentine shooting low into the near bottom corner to put daylight between the teams.

Inzaghi’s team failed to muster up a response and even contributed to their own downfall. Ten minutes later, Montipò gave the ball away at the back – a mistake that came from Inter’s high pressing – and Lukaku took full advantage, firing in the Nerazzurri’s third after Lautaro had slid in to set the Belgian up.

There was still over 20 minutes to be played, with Vidal, Sanchez and de Vrij (Sensi and Pinamonti would also come on) entering the fray to add some freshness on both a physical and mental level. And Alexis got involved immediately, brilliantly threading the ball through to Lukaku, who expertly tucked it away for his second and Inter’s fourth. A dominant display from the Nerazzurri, who need to keep going down this path.

MATCH CENTER: TEXT COMMENTARY

THE TABLE

MATCH SUMMARY

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar (6 de Vrij 74'), 13 Ranocchia, 95 Bastoni; 2 Hakimi, 23 Barella (22 Vidal 64'), 24 Eriksen, 5 Gagliardini (12 Sensi 81'), 14 Perisic; 9 Lukaku (99 Pinamonti 81'), 10 Lautaro (7 Sanchez 74').Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 97 Radu, 11 Kolarov,  15 Young, 36 Darmian, 77 Brozovic.Coach: Cristian Stellini

BENEVENTO (3-5-2): 1 Montipò; 15 Glik, 5 Caldirola (58 Pastina 60'), 93 Barba; 27 De Paoli, 56 Hetemaj, 10 Viola (28 Schiattarella 60'), 29 Ionita (8 Tello 70'), 16 Improta (18 Foulon 70'); 17 Caprari (19 Insigne 76'), 9 Lapadula.Substitutes: 12 Manfredini, 22 Lucatelli, 6 Abdallah, 14 Dabo, 20 Di Serio, 30 Masella, 44 Falque.Coach: Filippo Inzaghi.

Goalscorers: 7' Improta (OG) (B), 57' Lautaro (I), 67' and 78' Lukaku (I)Bookings: Caldirola (B), De Paoli (B)Added time: 0' - 

Referee: Pasqua.Assistants: Longo, Raspollini.Fourth Official: Gariglio.VAR: Calvarese.VAR Assistant: Galetto.