Hat - trick for Lautaro as Inter cruise past Crotone

MILAN - Six goals ensured that the Nerazzurri kicked off the New Year in style on Sunday, as Inter beat Crotone 6-2. The result meant another three points for Conte's men, who now move up to 36 in Serie A thanks to an eighth successive league win. It was an emphatic triumph for the hosts, who eased past their opponents despite a tricky start. Crotone initially took the lead and the first half finished 2-2, meaning a devastating second-half performance was required.

Lautaro was the inspiration behind the win, as he scored his first Nerazzurri hat-trick after an own goal from Marrone denied him a fourth. Lukaku also played a key role by providing an outlet for high balls up front, while Hakimi’s finish was one to savour as he scored his fifth league goal. The only negative in the game came in the form of Lukaku’s substitution in the 75th minute, as he went off with an injury to his right thigh.

The match started as if there wasn’t a winter break, with the opening stages encapsulated by pure pace with no sluggishness to speak of. Inter immediately went in search of yet another win, while Crotone were in no mood to roll over, even despite a bright start from the Nerazzurri. However, despite superiority in possession and attack, the home side were unable to turn early pressure into goals. It was the pacy and unpredictable Junior Messias who inspired Crotone’s first couple of chances on the counter. The first forced a good block from Bastoni, while Handanovic succeeded in keeping out the second. Prior to the latter, the visitors took the lead through Zanellato, who headed in his first goal in Serie A. Messias the man with the assist. 

Inter responded strongly to the goal and remained on the front foot, with Lautaro proving a threat with his agility and unpredictability. Unsurprisingly, it was then the Argentine who bagged the equaliser in the 20th minute, latching onto a pass from Lukaku before rifling in a right-footed effort. Inter kept pressing following the goal, with Hakimi and Young both threatening Crotone from the flanks. A second soon followed via an own goal from Marrone, who turned the ball into his own net after pressure from Lautaro and a pull-back from Barella.

With a one-goal advantage and the momentum to score more, it was then a setback for Inter when Crotone netted their second in the 36th minute. Golemic was the scorer, also his first in Serie A, as he made no mistake from the penalty spot. The decision was given for a foul from Vidal on Reca after Aureliano had consulted VAR. Subsequently, Lautaro had a chance to score again just before half-time; however, Cordaz came out on top in a dangerous one-on-one.

In the second half, Inter only had one thing in mind: go out and attack Crotone with even more vigour, pin them back and pick up three points for the first time in 2021. Sensi was brought on for Vidal, a move which added new impetus to the Nerazzurri’s attacking play. Lautaro continued to look unstoppable, constantly keeping Crotone’s defence on the move. In the 57th minute, Lukaku, who produced yet another selfless display for the Nerazzurri, backheeled the ball to Brozovic, who, in turn, played in El Toro. The Argentine then let fly with his left foot, scoring the goal that gave Inter the lead once more.

For Crotone, it was a blow that they would never recover from. The Nerazzurri, meanwhile, continued to pour forward in confident style. With 64 minutes on the clock, Lukaku won the one-on-one battle with Luperto, a goal which all but put the game to bed. Compact and ferocious in their play, Inter weren’t giving their opponents an inch, with the away side failing to muster up any kind of reaction. Lukaku leaving the pitch didn’t put a stop to Inter’s momentum, with substitutes Perisic and Darmian also contributing in the final third. The Croat was involved in the Nerazzurri’s fifth, with his shot being saved by Cordaz and Lautaro latching onto the rebound to head home his third of the match.

Hakimi then added the cherry on the cake following Darmian’s run down the left flank: the Moroccan expertly picked out the bottom corner with his left foot to make it 6-2.

Six goals, a convincing performance and Inter’s eighth consecutive league victory. It’s the best possible start to the new year for Conte’s men, who have begun 2021 in the same way they finished 2020. On Wednesday, another battle awaits in Genoa.

MATCH DETAILS

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni (11 Kolarov 81'); 2 Hakimi, 22 Vidal (12 Sensi 46'), 77 Brozovic, 23 Barella (5 Gagliardini 70'), 15 Young (36 Darmian 75'); 9 Lukaku (14 Perisic 75'), 10 Lautaro.Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 97 Radu, 7 Sanchez, 13 Ranocchia, 24 Eriksen, 33 D'Ambrosio.Coach: Antonio Conte.

CROTONE (3-5-2): 1 Cordaz; 5 Golemic (26 Djidji 85'), 34 Marrone, 13 Luperto (6 Magallan 70'); 32 Pereira, 17 Molina (77 Vulic 85'), 21 Zanellato, 95 Eduardo, 69 Reca; 30 Messias (20 Rojas 85'), 97 Riviere (25 Simi 62').Substitutes: 16 Festa, 3 Cuomo, 11 Dragus, 14 Crociata, 28 Siligardi, 33 Rispoli, 44 Petriccione.Coach: Giovanni Stroppa.

Goalscorers: 12' Zanellato (C), 20' Lautaro (I). 31' Marrone OG (C), 36' Golemic (C), 57' Lautaro (I), 64' Lukaku (I), 79' Lautaro (I), 87' Hakimi (I)Bookings: Reca (C), Golemic (C), Luperto (C)Added time: 1' - 0'.

Referee: Aureliano.Assistants: Cecconi, Zingarelli.Fourth Official: Ayroldi.VAR: FabbriVAR Assistant: Ranghetti.