LAST UPDATE | 9 Apr 2022
INTER MILAN CONFIRMED that their Serie A title defence was alive and well with a straight-forward 2-0 win over Verona which took them to within a point of leaders AC Milan.
First-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Edin Dzeko in front of around 60,000 fans at a sun-dappled San Siro made sure that the champions built on their morale-boosting win at Juventus last weekend by moving into second place.
Inter are level on 66 points with Napoli, who host Fiorentina on Sunday, and ahead of Luciano Spalletti’s side in the table thanks to their superior head-to-head record.
Milan meanwhile are at Torino in Sunday’s late match with their two title rivals breathing down their necks and seven rounds of fixtures to be completed.
“This win has given us some continuity after Turin and although there is still some way to go I saw some good signs out there,” said Inzaghi to DAZN.
🤗 | SORRISI
— Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter) April 9, 2022
🧤Il capitano = tutti i tifosi nerazzurri in questo momento ☺ #InterVerona #FORZAINTER ⚫🔵 pic.twitter.com/Eubima9a7W
“We told ourselves that we needed to win otherwise Turin would have been worth nothing and we did it against a team who are very difficult to play against… They’ve made it difficult for a lot of teams.”
The only worry for Inzaghi was a thigh problem for Stefan de Vrij which forced the Netherlands defender off at half-time on his return from a month out with a calf injury, although the coach said it shouldn’t be anything serious.
Verona have never won at the San Siro against either Inter or Milan and were suffocated in a first half which reminded Inter fans why their team were strong favourites for the title right up until early February, when they were four points clear having played one game less than their rivals.
They still have that game in hand, at Bologna later this month, and will have been further boosted by the way they beat one of the league’s most troublesome teams.
Italy midfielder Barella gave the hosts a deserved lead in the 22nd minute, nipping in at the back post to poke home a beautifully clipped Ivan Perisic cross which had evaded a clutch of Inter attackers and Verona defenders.
Another three points 🙌🏾 amazing atmosphere. Thanks for the support! ⚫🔵 #ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/7PCn4V8iki
— Denzel Dumfries (@DenzelJMD2) April 9, 2022
Inter’s tails were up as the crowd roared their enthusiasm and Lorenzo Montipo kept Joaquin Correa from doubling their lead four minutes later.
However he could do nothing about Dzeko’s 13th Serie A goal for Inter on the half-hour mark, the Bosnian left to tap in from practically on the goal line after Perisic flicked on Federico Dimarco’s corner.
Goalkeeper Samir Handanovic then made sure that Inter went in at the break two ahead 10 minutes before the break by charging out to stop Giovanni Simeone from scoring his 17th league goal of the season, and from there the home side shut up shop.
Verona, who sit ninth and are hoping for European football after a strong season, came out looking for some pride after being humbled in the opening 45 minutes but although Simeone and Kevin Lasagna got decent shots off it was Inter who should have added to their lead at least twice more.
Denzel Dumfries shanked an awful shot into the side netting after sliding past Darko Lazovic seconds after the break, while in the 73rd minute, Danilo D’Ambrosio was denied by the impressive Montipo who just managed to tip a close-range finish onto the near post.
That was it for major action as Inter left the stage for Milan and Napoli in the most enthralling title race in a generation.
- Juve bounce back -
Four points behind Inter in fourth are Juve who came back from a goal down to win 2-1 at relegation-threatened Cagliari thanks to Matthijs de Ligt and Dusan Vlahovic.
Dutchman De Ligt levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time in Sardinia after Joao Pedro had given the hosts a shock 10th minute lead and a previous Juve equaliser was ruled out for an odd handball.
Luca Pellegrini’s 23rd minute shot clipped off Adrien Rabiot’s left elbow while the Frenchman’s back was turned and flew past Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno only for the VAR officials to disallow the goal.
Giorgio Chiellini then had his close-range finish rightly chalked off for offside just after the restart before Vlahovic got the better of the impressive Cragno with 15 minutes remaining.
The Serbia forward toed in his 22nd league goal of the campaign to move top of the Serie A scoring charts.
Juve are now eight points ahead of fifth-placed Roma and in place to take advantage of a any slips from Milan or Napoli.
It’s a sign of the times we live in .
That person with the sign should be arrested for assault
@thomas walsh: Assault?
@Thomas O’ Donnell: they hit the rider with a sign causing injuries. That’s assault
@thomas walsh: bit dramatic. From the footage I saw, woman holding sign (stagnant and made of cardboard) and looking the opposite direction, into which the rider cycled.
@Kevin Norris: she was at a bike race and caused a crash…because of her being a spanner…fair play to tour of france..people should be accounable for their actions….
@Kevin Norris: you left out the bit where she was on the road and the only path for the rider was straight ahead.
@Kevin Norris: she was completely reckless and only thinking of herself. People were injured because of her selfishness. She should pay the price
@Kevin Bury: i was commenting on whether I would describe it as assault or not.
@Dave O Keeffe: again – assault?
@thomas walsh: again – assault?
@Kevin Bury: don’t know much about French law but what could charge her with?
Assault Battery Negligence or what?
@Kevin Bury: don’t know much about French law but what could you charge her with?
Assault Battery Negligence or what?
@Kevin Norris: yes assault here in irelamd anyway
a person shall be guilty of the offence of assault who, without lawful excuse, intentionally or recklessly—
(a) directly or indirectly applies force to or causes an impact on the body of another, or
Reckless would cover it
@Kevin Norris: yes did I stutter? Assault. Where people not injured? Did she cause these injuries? That my friend is assault
@thomas walsh: sorry but the video is quite clear. She was standing on the road and the cyclist crashed into her? Cyclist should have avoided her
@seanieP: sure that’s so ambiguous it could mean that the woman involved could sue the cyclist, standing on a public road, if they want to sue then the roads should be closed to the public.
@guineon: ah come on now. There was a race she was well aware of happening and shouldn’t be in the road. It’s her recklessness.
Would you apply the same logic if someone popped out in front of usain bolt with a sign on the track mid pelt and he ran into them. Bolts fault I guess….. he should have just hurdled her.
@Mark Sheehan: what’s ambiguous? The definition of assault?
Was the the cause of impact intentional or reckless by the cyclist ? I never made comment on whether someone should be sued. I chimed in over a debate on assault.
@Mark Sheehan: also do all public roads need to be physically closed off to pedestrians.
Regardless of a race or not should people be standing in them wether or not they are ‘public’? The m50 is a public road sure go stand on that with a sign. Might try and sue the motorist if survive.
@thomas walsh: typical social media two babies having a fight lol
@guineon: how, the only path he could take was straight ahead as seen by the fact that when he went a few inches to the left he collided with other cyclists. Other cyclists that were meant to be there i might add.
Sue her for the millions she has…..some chance
Whatever the sign said it should be tattooed on her forehead
@Anthony Doyle: it’s says “Go Grandma and Grandpa”