Inter 3 - 1 Cremonese: the Nerazzurri return to winning ways

INTER 3-1 CREMONESE

Goalscorers: 12' Correa (I), 38' Barella (I), 76' Lautaro (I), 90' Okereke (C)

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 De Vrij, 32 Dimarco (33 D'Ambrosio 72'); 2 Dumfries (12 Bellanova 79'), 23 Barella, 77 Brozovic (14 Asllani 72'), 20 Calhanoglu, 36 Darmian (8 Gosens 79'); 9 Dzeko, 11 Correa (10 Lautaro 55'). Unused substitutes: 21 Cordaz, 24 Onana, 5 Gagliardini, 16 Salcedo, 22 Mkhitaryan, 42 Agoumé, 46 Zanotti, 47 Fontanarosa, 95 Bastoni. Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

CREMONESE (3-5-2): 97 Radu; 4 Aiwu (19 Castagnetti 81'), 15 Bianchetti, 44 Lochoshvili (5 Vasquez 67'); 18 Ghiglione, 6 Pickel, 32 Escalante, 8 Ascacibar (98 Zanimacchia 46'), 33 Quagliata (3 Valeri 67'); 77 Okereke, 90 Dessers (11 Di Carmine 67'). Substitutes: 13 Saro, 45 Sarr, 7 Baez, 9 Ciofani, 10 Buonaiuto, 17 Sernicola, 20 Afena-Gyan, 21 Chiriches, 62 Milanese, 74 Tsadjout. Coach: Massimiliano Alvini.

Added time: 1' - 3'. Booked: Aiwu (C), Vasquez (C)

Referee: Fourneau. Assistants: Del Giovane, Yoshikawa. Fourth official: Manganiello. VAR: Irrati. VAR assistant: Valeriani.

Three goals, three points, three different goalscorers. Another 3-1 scoreline, but this time in the Nerazzurri’s favour. Inzaghi’s Inter responded strongly this evening, running out convincing winners over Cremonese at San Siro. Correa, Barella, Lautaro were the players to get on the scoresheet in a match where, despite the result never being in doubt, the visitors gave as good as they got and threatened on more than one occasion, especially at the start of the second half. Tonight’s victory means that Inter sit on nine points after four matchdays.

Bouncing back, and doing so with strength, courage and self-awareness. Knowing the intense period that lies ahead, it was time for the Nerazzurri to put the defeat in Rome behind them. In front of 70,000 fans, Inzaghi’s side were fired up and focused, aware that they were up against a fearless team that like to get it forward quickly. Dimarco was part of the backline, Dumfries and Darmian were selected on the wings, while Dzeko and Correa were chosen up front. Inter started the game well, looking to attack and put the visitors’ defence under pressure. Dimarco came close with a free-kick early on, before the first explosion of joy at San Siro came on the twelve-minute mark.

Barella was involved, as he was throughout the match. The Italian drove his team forward following a Cremonese corner and picked out Dzeko, whose shot was saved. However, Correa was there to turn home the rebound and score his second goal of the season, once again in front of the Curva Nord. Alvini’s side continued to try to play and have a very interesting player in Dessers, who displayed good movement on several occasions in the box, always looking to make space for himself to shoot. As for Inter, they looked to keep the ball on the ground, with Dimarco, Barella and Calhanoglu combining well in particular and the team in general displaying a lot of quality and intensity.

Another charge towards the Cremonese box resulted in the Nerazzurri’s second goal: Dumfries raced down the right and picked out Correa, who then found Calhanoglu. Hakan then produced a wonderful ball for Barella, who met it on the volley and rifled home in style. A goal worthy of a standing ovation, which is exactly what San Siro gave Nicolò for his stunner.

The start of the second half, however, showed that the Nerazzurri had yet to put the game to bed. Cremonese attacked in numbers and also created opportunities. Aiwu headed narrowly off target, while Zanimacchia fired over from a good position. Then, Dessers failed to keep his acrobatic effort down. The warning signs were there for Inter, who had made a slow start to the second period but then started to pick up the pace again. In the 68th minute, an attempt from Brozovic lacked power, while, at the other end, Skriniar made a crucial block to stop the visitors from reducing the arrears.

In the 76th minute, Inter killed off the game. Barella was in the thick of the action again as he played Lautaro through on the counter, and El Toro did the rest, holding off the attentions of Aiwu and shooting low and hard into the bottom corner with his left foot. A great finish for his third league goal of the campaign.

The closing stages saw Bellanova make his Nerazzurri debut, Asllani and Gosens get some minutes under their belts and, finally, a lovely goal from Okereke, meaning the match finished 3-1.

LIVE UPDATES

FULL-TIME Inter beat Cremonese and now sit on nine points in the league.

90' Okereke scores for the visitors, 3-1.

76' GOALLLL! Brilliant strength and composure from Lautaro, who makes it three!

73' Three chances for Inter as Radu denies Dzeko and Dumfries and Lautaro sends the ball over the bar!

68' At the other end, Skriniar makes a big block to stop the away side from reducing the arrears.

68' Brozovic has a go from inside the box but his effort lacks power, allowing Radu to smother

64' Dessers' acrobatic effort from Okereke's cross finishes over the bar.

48' A corner is whipped in and Aiwu heads just wide for the visitors.

46' The second half begins at San Siro!

LIVE UPDATES

HALF-TIME Inter are two to the good at the break thanks to goals from Correa and Barella!

38' GOOOAAAALLLLLL! Calhanoglu picks out Barella for a stunning volley!

25' Dimarco goes for the spectacular but it's over the bar.

21' Dessers flicks it on for Pickel, whose shot is saved by Handanovic

17' Barella lays it off for Calhanoglu, who fires wide on the half-volley

12' GOAAAAAL! CORREA! Dzeko's shot is saved, but the Argentine turns home the rebound!

3' Dimarco's free-kick finishes just wide!

1' Away we go at San Siro!

MATCHDAY 4 IN SERIE A

Tuesday 30 August 18.30 Sassuolo 0-0 Milan 20.45 Roma 3-0 Monza 20.45 Inter 3-1 Cremonese

Wednesday 31 August 18.30 Sampdoria vs. Lazio 18.30 Udinese vs. Fiorentina 18.30 Empoli vs. Hellas Verona 20.45 Juventus vs. Spezia 20.45 Napoli vs. Lecce

Thursday 1 September 20.45 Atalanta vs. Torino 20.45 Bologna vs. Salernitana