Inter grind out 3 - 2 win over league - leaders

MILAN - A frantic evening at San Siro ended in victory for Inter after a topsy-turvy game against Luciano Spalletti’s side to end the Azzurri’s unbeaten start to the season and close the gap at the top to just four points. It was the perfect tonic to get back into the swing of things after the latest international break, but a huge challenge awaited the hosts against a team that was unbeaten and had only conceded three goals all season. That figure has now doubled on a freezing night in Milan.

It was a game that had the lot, with heart palpations aplenty when Inter nearly relinquished a two-goal lead late on as the San Siro faithful held its breath while Dries Mertens fired his volley into the stands. It made a welcome change from the clashes against the likes of Atalanta, Juve and Milan that ended all square as the Nerazzurri registered a win over one of their title rivals for the first time this season.

Inzaghi made two changes to the team that started the derby, with Andrea Ranocchia and Joaquin Correa coming in, while the visitors lined up in a 4-2-1-3 system with Piotr Zielinski in an advanced role keeping tabs on Marcelo Brozovic and Frank Anguissa tracking Hakan Calhanoglu.

Napoli took an early lead in the 17th minute when Piotr Zielinski fired home from the edge of the box after Nicola Barella was dispossessed in midfield, but the Nerazzurri responded quickly through a pinpoint Calhanoglu penalty in the 25th minute when Barella himself took aim and Kalidou Koulibaly handled the shot. It took an on-field review for the spot kick to be awarded and just as he did in the derby, the Turkish midfielder stepped up confidently to score.

Barella forced a corner just before the interval when his rasping shot was turned behind by David Ospina. Calhanoglu whipped in a perfect cross that Perisic headed home to give the hosts a half-time lead to protect ahead of the break. Ospina did claw the ball away but goalline technology confirmed that it had already crossed the line and the San Siro crowd erupted in celebration.

Shortly before being withdrawn, Correa mustered the energy to set up Lautaro Martinez to score a stunning third goal for Simone Inzaghi’s side with an accurate low strike just after the hour mark in front of the Curva Nord. 

Victor Osimhen had to be replaced for Napoli after suffering a head injury, but the attacking threat remained when substitute Dries Mertens set up a dramatic ending with a thumping drive from outside the box with ten minutes remaining to make it 3-2.

It was a real battle until the final whistle as legs tired, but Inzaghi sent on the likes of Arturo Vidal, Edin Dzeko, Roberto Gagliardini and Federico Dimarco to freshen things up in the second half.

The Nerazzuri had Samir Handanovic to thank for an acrobatic save to keep out Mario Rui’s header late on when the Portuguese seemed destined to score and Mertens ran on to a cross into the box with seconds left, but fired his volley into the stands.

Inter certainly had to dig in to hold on to claim all three points and move to within four points of the league leaders. Next up is a return to Champions League action on Wednesday against Shakhtar Donetsk.

INTER 3-2 NAPOLI (HT: 2-1) 

Scorers: Zielinski 17, Calhanoglu 25 (p), Perisic 44, Lautaro 61, Mertens 78.

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 13 Ranocchia, 95 Bastoni; 36 Darmian, 23 Barella (32 Dimarco, 75), 77 Brozovic, 20 Calhanoglu (22 Vidal, 62), 14 Perisic (48 Satriano, 88); 10 Lautaro (5 Gagliardini, 75), 19 Correa (9 Dzeko, 62).Subs not used: 21 Cordaz, 97 Radu, 2 Dumfries, 8 Vecino, 11 Kolarov, 12 Sensi, 33 D'Ambrosio.Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

NAPOLI (4-3-3): 25 Ospina; 22 Di Lorenzo, 13 Rrahmani, 26 Koulibaly, 6 Mario Rui; 99 Anguissa, 8 Fabian Ruiz, 20 Zielinski; 11 Lozano (7 Elmas, 75), 9 Osimhen (37 Petagna, 55), 24 Insigne (14 Mertens, 75).Subs not used: 1 Meret, 12 Marfella, 2 Malcuit, 5 Juan Jesus, 31 Ghoulam, 68 Lobotka.Coach: Luciano Spalletti.

Booked: Osimhen, Koulibaly, Rrahmani, Calhanoglu, Vidal, Handanovic, Dzeko.Note: S. Inzaghi booked for dissent.Added time: 1+8 minutes.

Referee: Valeri.Assistants: Giallatini, Preti.Fourth official: Marchetti.VAR: Aureliano.Assistant VAR: Longo.