Asllani and Sanchez score as Inter beat Genoa 2 - 1!

Inter do it once again, and this time with a happy Asllani, following his first goal in a Nerazzurri jersey, and with the determination and coolness of Alexis, who tucked home from the penalty spot with composure. And by tooth and nail at the end of a very difficult match against a dangerous and always-threatening Genoa. It ended 2-1, with a hint of suffering and a few scares. But it means that we are top of the table with a 15-point lead over Juventus, in second, on 72 points after 27 games.

The victory at San Siro came about around the half-hour mark, after a not-so-simple opening, in which Sommer kept the scoreline to 0-0, with Genoa looking the more dangerous side of the two. Precisely in the 30th minute, Sanchez’s inventive play - opening up a perfect corridor to attack through – helped create the breakthrough, as Asllani was able to slip through into the area and smash home a powerful right-footed shot under the crossbar for his first goal for the Club. A few minutes later, Barella was found in the 18-yard box area and as he was about to shoot he was upended and the referee pointed to the spot, a decision that was confirmed after an on-field review. Up stepped Alexis to make 2-0, which nearly turned into three after Mkhitaryan’s effort was excellently stopped in first-half stoppage-time.

After the break, Genoa didn't give up an inch. On the contrary, they went all-out attack, playing with three strikers. Inter came close to scoring right from the off through Darmian and Mkhitaryan, before then conceding to make it 2-1 with Vasquez volleying home with his left foot from the edge of the box. The visitors were back in the game, which gradually became more and more difficult for the home side. Vitinha thought he had found an equaliser, but it was ruled out for offside. Inter looked to second-half substitutes, Thuram and Arnautovic, to try and change the game. But it was the defence, above all, who were mostly involved, with Carlos Augusto, De Vrij, and then Acerbi and Bisseck all taking part in holding out and defending until the very end, which they did with skill and savvyness, battling out a very precious 2-1 win, which launches us even further ahead.

INTER 2-1 GENOA | MATCH DETAILS

Scorers: 30' Asllani (I), 37' Sanchez (I) pen., 54' Vasquez (G)

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 28 Pavard (31 Bisseck 74'), 6 De Vrij, 30 Carlos Augusto; 2 Dumfries (36 Darmian 46'), 23 Barella, 21 Asllani, 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco (15 Acerbi 65'); 70 Sanchez (9 Thuram 65'), 10 Lautaro (8 Arnautovic 76'). Subs: 12 Di Gennaro, 77 Audero, 14 Klaassen, 16 Frattesi, 17 Buchanan, 41 Akinsanmiro, 50 Stankovic. Head Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

GENOA (3-5-2): 1 Martinez; 4 De Winter, 13 Bani, 22 Vasquez; 20 Sabelli (18 Ekuban 88'), 10 Messias (9 Vitinha 63'), 47 Badelj, 32 Frendrup (8 Strootman 46'), 3 Martin (90 Spence 63'); 11 Gudmundsson, 19 Retegui. Subs: 16 Leali, 39 Sommariva, 2 Thorsby, 5 Bohinen, 14 Vogliacco, 17 Malinovskyi, 23 Cittadini, 53 Pittino. Head Coach: Alberto Gilardino.

Bookings: Frendrup (G), Dumfries (I), Strootman (G), Vasquez (G), Lautaro (I), Simone Inzaghi (I) Stoppage-time: 3' - 4'

Referee: Ayroldi. Assistants: Del Giovane, Mastrodonato. Fourth official: Giua. VAR: Paterna. Assistant VAR: Doveri.

ONE BOOKING FROM A SUSPENSION Inter: Mkhitaryan. Genoa: Sabelli, Retegui, Vasquez SUSPENDED Inter: Bastoni. Genoa: -