Inter keeps slim Serie A title hopes alive beating Genoa 3-0

Inter Milan kept its slim title hopes alive by beating relegation-threatened Genoa 3-0 in Serie A on Saturday.

Romelu Lukaku scored twice and Alexis Sánchez also netted to help Inter move to four points behind Juventus. The Bianconeri can secure a record-extending ninth successive Serie A title on Sunday with a victory over Sassuolo.

The Nerazzurri also moved a point above Atalanta and four above Lazio in the race for second spot. There are two rounds remaining after this weekend.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, left, scores a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Inter, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Saturday, July 25, 2020. (Tano PecoraroLaPresse via AP)

Genoa remained four points above the drop zone but Lecce can close the gap on Sunday with victory at Bologna.

Both Inter and Genoa were desperate for the points but chances were few and far between.

Lukaku broke the deadlock in the 34th minute, shrugging off Cristián Zapata to head in Cristiano Biraghi’s cross at the back post.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, right, celebrates scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Inter, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Saturday, July 25, 2020. (Tano PecoraroLaPresse via AP)

Just as Genoa upped the pressure in the closing stages, Inter sealed the result seven minutes from time when Sánchez volleyed in a cross from Victor Moses off the underside of the crossbar.

Lukaku added another in stoppage time with a fantastic solo effort, running from midfield and beating two defenders before scoring his 23rd league goal of the season.

KULUSEVSKI STARS

Genoa's Nicolo Rovella, left, and Inter Milan's Christian Eriksen, right, compete for the ball during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Inter, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Saturday, July 25, 2020. (Tano PecoraroLaPresse via AP)

Dejan Kulusevski provided an assist and scored a spectacular winner to help Parma win at already-relegated Brescia 2-1.

Kulusevski curled a magnificent effort into the top right corner nine minutes from time.

The Sweden international earlier rolled the ball across the area for an unmarked Matteo Darmian to slot home the opener in the 59th.

Parma's Dejan Kulusevski, front, celebrates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Brescia and Parma, at the Mario Rigamonti Stadium in Brescia, Italy, Saturday, July 25, 2020. (Gianluca ChecchiLaPresse via AP)

But Daniele Dessena leveled just three minutes later.

The 20-year-old Kulusevski signed for Juventus in January but was loaned back to Parma for the rest of the season.

Napoli was playing Sassuolo later.

Parma's Dejan Kulusevski scores a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Brescia and Parma, at the Mario Rigamonti Stadium in Brescia, Italy, Saturday, July 25, 2020. (Gianluca ChecchiLaPresse via AP)

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Brescia's Daniele Dessena, right, celebrates after a goal score during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Brescia and Parma, at the Mario Rigamonti Stadium in Brescia, Italy, Saturday, July 25, 2020. (Gianluca ChecchiLaPresse via AP)

Parma's Matteo Darmian, right, celebrates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Brescia and Parma, at the Mario Rigamonti Stadium in Brescia, Italy, Saturday, July 25, 2020. (Gianluca ChecchiLaPresse via AP)

Federico Bernardeschi scored against his former club as Juventus beat Fiorentina 2-0 on Wednesday to set up an Italian Cup final against Inter Milan.

After Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski failed to intercept a cross, Bernardeschi controlled the ball with his chest then volleyed in shortly after the half-hour mark.

Danilo sealed it in stoppage time after being set up by Juan Cuadrado.

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Aiming to defend its title, Juventus advanced on 3-0 aggregate.

Defending Serie A champion Inter beat city rival AC Milan 3-0 on Tuesday to advance.

Juventus has won the Italian Cup a record 14 times, while Inter has seven trophies in the competition — the last from 2011.

Juventus' Adrien Rabiot, right, and Fiorentina's Jonathan Ikone battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

The final is scheduled for May 11.

Juventus also had a goal from Adrien Rabiot wiped off for offside following a VAR check.

SALERNITANA SUCCESS

An injury-time winner earned Salernitana a 1-0 win at Udinese in Serie A, keeping the southern club’s hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, left, and Fiorentina's Alfred Duncan battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Having won at Sampdoria on Saturday, it marked the first time this season that Salernitana posted consecutive victories.

Substitute Simone Verdi finished off a counterattack three minutes into stoppage time.

The bottom three clubs — Venezia, Salernitana and Genoa — are now level on points, each six points from safety.

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Arthur Cabral battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

The match was postponed four months ago amid a coronavirus outbreak within Salernitana’s squad.

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