D'Ambrosio and Dimarco strikes see Inter defeat Empoli

EMPOLI - Inter saw off Empoli 2-0 this Wednesday evening with strikes from Federico Dimarco and Danilo D’Ambrosio. The visitors got back to winning ways after going two games without finding three points, overcoming their Tuscan hosts with a side featuring a number of changes. Inter now sit pretty on 21 points heading into Sunday’s clash with Udinese. D’Ambrosio was the most notable of Inter’s performers, delivering a classic all-action performance, not only contributing with a vital strike but also making crucial defensive interventions. 

The Nerazzurri fielded a side with a few changes from the eleven which drew 1-1 against Juventus, while banned Simone Inzaghi watched on from the stands as assistant coach Massimiliano Farris took charge of proceedings from the bench. Six Italians started for the Nerazzurri, equalling the number who faced Udinese in the last campaign. D’Ambrosio and Alexis Sanchez were notable for their appearances in the starting 11, as were Roberto Gagliardini and Dimarco. Aurelio Andreazzoli also rang the changes for the hosts, opting for a youthful looking side. Yet regardless of who’s on the pitch, the Tuscans never stray from their approach and footballing philosophy. 

Lining up with a 4-3-1-2, Empoli were keen to get at the Nerazzurri from the get-go, pressing high and piling men forward in attack in the early stages. They tested Samir Handanovic in the process, with the Slovenian stopper doing well to keep out fellow countryman Petar Stojanovic’s effort in the 13th minute. Six minutes later there was a real sense of deja vu, a moment in the game which was almost a repeat of an incident in Inter v Empoli at San Siro back in May 2019. Just as in the game two and a half years ago, D'Ambrosio made a crucial intervention to keep the scoreline 0-0, blocking Sebastiano Luperto’s shot. This proved to be a wakeup call for the visitors, an impetus for them to take the game by the scruff of the neck in midfield and make things happen.

It wasn’t before long that Dimarco upped the ante, forcing Guglielmo Vicario into a smart stop from a set piece. The Nerazzurri began to make life difficult for Empoli, with Alexis Sanchez combining well with Nicolo Barella to try and create attacking openings. The pressure told in the 34th minute when D’Ambrosio found the opener, his determination, good timing and hunger coming to the forefront. With Sanchez in possession on the flank, D’Ambrosio burst into the box and met the Chilean’s cross to nod it in for 1-0. The strike keeps up his extraordinary track record – the defender has now scored in seven consecutive seasons, a stat only equalled by Leonardo Bonucci, and has scored 12 headers, which is more than any other defender since the 2012/13 season, alongside Stefan de Vrij and Gonzalo Rodriguez. Sanchez was again at the heart of the action as Lautaro Martinez came close to doubling the Nerazzurri’s lead towards the end of the first half.

Inter went into the second half on the front foot, even if the scoreline was still in the balance for the visitors. As in his Serie A debut last April at San Siro for Cagliari, Vicario played a leading role in the match. Yet his heroics were tainted by the actions of his teammate Samuele Ricci, who saw red for a poor challenge on Barella in the 52nd minute. With nearly 40 minutes still left to play Empoli looked like a wounded animal, unable to withstand what the Nerazzurri were throwing at them.

It became an exercise in target practice for the Serie A champions, with Roberto Gagliardini forcing Vicario into two extraordinary saves. It wasn’t long before Inter doubled their lead; Lautaro burst down the right, played it in to Dimarco who slotted in his second goal for the club with a neat left-footed strike. There was no coming back for Empoli from this; 2-0 down, playing with one fewer player, it was now just a question of keeping the scoreline respectable and taming Inter’s attack. Gagliardini and Stefano Sensi both had goals ruled out by VAR before the referee blew the whistle to draw the encounter to a close. Inter come away from Empoli with a satisfying three points on the board.

Empoli 0-2 Inter (HT 0-1) Scorers: 34 D'Ambrosio (I), 66 Dimarco (I)

EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): 13 Vicario; 30 Stojanovic (20 Fiamozzi, 82), 33 Luperto, 34 Ismajli, 65 Parisi; 27 Zurkowski (23 Asllani, 68), 28 Ricci, 25 Bandinelli (8 Henderson, 68); 10 Bajrami (32 Haas, 57); 9 Cutrone (7 Mancuso, 68), 99 Pinamonti.Subs not used: 1 Ujkani, 3 Marchizza, 5 Stulac, 19 La Mantia, 26 Tonelli, 35 Baldanzi, 42 Viti.Coach: Aurelio Andreazzoli.

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 6 De Vrij (11 Kolarov, 80), 95 Bastoni; 36 Darmian, 23 Barella, 77 Brozovic (8 Vecino, 72), 5 Gagliardini (12 Sensi, 84), 32 Dimarco; 7 Sanchez (19 Correa, 72), 10 Lautaro (9 Dzeko, 84).Subs not used: 97 Radu, 2 Dumfries, 13 Ranocchia, 14 Perisic, 20 Calhanoglu, 22 Vidal, 37 Skriniar.Coach: Massimiliano Farris.

Booked: De Vrij (I), Luperto (E), Brozovic (I), Gagliardini (I)Red carded: Ricci, after 52 minutesAdded time: 0+4 minutesReferee: Chiffi.Assistants: Valeriani, MastrodonatoFourth Official: Di Martino.VAR: Valeri, Galetto.