Inter Milan recorded a confidence-boosting 3-0 win at Sassuolo on Saturday to end the home side’s unbeaten start in Serie A.
Alexis Sánchez scored early on and a Vlad Chiricheș own goal shortly after doubled Inter’s lead. Roberto Gagliardini scored in the second half as Inter recorded only its second win in its past seven matches.
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Inter Milan recorded a confidence-boosting 3-0 win at Sassuolo on Saturday to end the home side’s unbeaten start in Serie A.
Inter moved second, level on points with Sassuolo but above it on goal difference. Head-to-head record is the first tiebreak at the end of the season. They are both two points below AC Milan, which hosts Fiorentina on Sunday.
Just like in all the Serie A matches this weekend, there was a tribute to Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday in his native Argentina. That included a minute's silence for the former Napoli player, while his image was also projected again on the stadium screens in the 10th minute, in honor of his jersey number.
Chiricheș’ day went from bad to worse as he limped off with a suspected hamstring injury at the end of the first half.
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Inter's Arturo Vidal celebrates after firing a shot that sent in his own goal by Sassuolo's Vlad Chiriches, for Inter second goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan at the Mapei stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (Massimo PaoloneLaPresse via AP)
Inter played with the ferocity coach Antonio Conte had been demanding and Sassuolo barely had a sight of goal apart from a curled effort from Filip Đuričić that hit the outside of the right post.
Inter Milan's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio emilia, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (Massimo PaoloneLaPresse via AP)
Inter moved second, level on points with Sassuolo but above it on goal difference. Head-to-head record is the first tiebreak at the end of the season. They are both two points below AC Milan, which hosts Fiorentina on Sunday.
Juventus can move a point above Inter with a win at Benevento later Saturday. Atalanta was also playing later, against Hellas Verona.
Sassuolo knew it could move top with a win at Inter. The Nerazzurri were looking to bounce back from a midweek home defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
An image of Diego Armando Maradona is projected on a giant screen prior to the Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio emilia, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (Massimo PaoloneLaPresse via AP)
Just like in all the Serie A matches this weekend, there was a tribute to Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday in his native Argentina. That included a minute's silence for the former Napoli player, while his image was also projected again on the stadium screens in the 10th minute, in honor of his jersey number.
Inter got off to the perfect start when Chiricheș’ clearance was intercepted by Lautaro Martínez, who then rounded goalkeeper Andrea Consigli. Chiricheș got back but Martínez managed to roll it across for the easiest of goals for Sánchez.
The visitors’ doubled their lead 10 minutes later as a corner from the left came to Arturo Vidal and his cross bounced off Chiricheș and squeezed into the bottom right corner.
Players observe a minute of silence to honor Diego Armando Maradona, whose image is projected on a giant screen, prior to the Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio emilia, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (Massimo PaoloneLaPresse via AP)
Chiricheș’ day went from bad to worse as he limped off with a suspected hamstring injury at the end of the first half.
Inter all but sealed the result on the hour with a splendid finish into the bottom left corner from Gagliardini after a cross from Matteo Darmian.
Conte had rested Romelu Lukaku and only put the forward on for the final 11 minutes. That was still time enough for him to find the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside.
Inter's Roberto Gagliardini, not in picture, scores his side's third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan at the Mapei stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (Massimo PaoloneLaPresse via AP)
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Inter coach Antonio conte shouts instructions during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan at the Mapei stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (Massimo PaoloneLaPresse via AP)
Inter's Arturo Vidal celebrates after firing a shot that sent in his own goal by Sassuolo's Vlad Chiriches, for Inter second goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan at the Mapei stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (Massimo PaoloneLaPresse via AP)