INTER STATS | Dumfries the flying Dutchman, Calha king of assists

Inter turned a direct and rampant performance to run out 3-1 winners over Roma on Saturday and pick up their fourth consecutive league victory. Earned through three goals of varying nature, the win demonstrates the many ways this Nerazzurri side can hurt their opponents. 

GOAL ANALYSIS

Denzel Dumfries' goal to open the scoring was a masterpiece. It showcased the team's ability to link up seamlessly and get the ball forward in direct fashion. After Samir Handanovic restarted play, it only took 10 touches for the ball to find Dumfries. who tucked the ball away while sprinting at a speed of almost 34 km/h. The two forwards played a key part in the move, with their backs to goal, opening the corridor for Denzel. Hakan Calhanoglu did the rest with a fantastic ball into space.

The second goal was triggered by another direct ball forward. Federico Dimarco played it, to find Ivan Perisic infield and Marcelo Brozovic did the rest, with a masterful piece of play: he twisted and turned before firing an unstoppable shot into the Roma goal. Calhanoglu, who now has 10 assists in this league campaign, created the third, sending in a corner for Lautaro Martinez to head home. 

DUMFRIES REACHES FIVE GOALS 

Dumfries scored his fifth goal of the league season to break the deadlock, just as he did in the reverse fixture against Roma. Interestingly, he is one of the few Inter defenders to score home and away against Roma in the same Serie A campaign, alongside Giacinto Facchetti who did so in 1968/1969.

The Dutchman with the most goals in a single season for Inter is Faas Wilkes, who was known as the Flying Tulip and scored 23 goals in the 1950/1951 season. In more recent times, only Dennis Bergkamp (8) and Wim Jonk (6) have bettered Dumfries in terms of goals in a single season.

Dumfries' display contained plenty of excellent work. One aspect that stands out is his success in duels, winning nine of 17, of which five were in the air. 

CALHANOGLU: ASSISTS AND SUBSTANCE

Saturday's win saw Calhanoglu reach 10 assists in the league this season, a personal best, after laying on two during the game: the first a pearl of a pass for Dumfries and the second his usual perfect corner kick. Since Serie A became a 20-team league (2004/05), Calhanoglu is one of only three Inter midfielders to hit double figures for assists in a single season, after Dejan Stankovic (10 in 2006/07) and Antonio Candreva (10 in 2016/17).

Meanwhile, since his arrival in Serie A (from 2017/18), Calhanoglu has provided 41 assists, with only Luis Alberto laying on more (44).

Calhanoglu's display had plenty of substance and was not solely about assists. He was the player who ran the most in the match, covering 12 kilometres. Always in the thick of the action, with 69 touches he was the most active player in the match. He also sent in four crosses, completed 90% of his passes but above all won possession five times, made four interceptions and two defensive clearances. A complete range of contributions to help the team.

GOALS FROM BROZOVIC AND LAUTARO, ASSISTS FROM PERISIC

Marcelo Brozovic scored for the second successive league match on Saturday, taking his tally to 28 in 284 appearances for the Nerazzurri (drawing level with Mario Balotelli). It is the first time Marcelo has scored in two straight games. 

Lautaro Martínez meanwhile has taken his goal tally for the season to 20. Only in the 2019/20 season has he scored more for the Nerazzurri (21). El Toro is on 69 goals for the club in 175 appearances.

In the last 15 seasons (since 2007/08), Ivan Perisic is the player to have laid on the most assists (36) in an Inter shirt in Serie A, having now surpassed Maicon (35).