Inter-Bologna 3-1
GOALS: 39’pt Zielinski, 3’st Martinez, 29’st Thuram, 38’st Castro.
INTER (3-5-2): Sommer 6; Bisseck 6, Akanji 6, Bastoni 6.5 (31’st Augusto 6); Henrique 6, Barella 6 (23’st Mkhitaryan 6), Calhanoglu 6.5 (23’st Sucic 6), Zielinski 7, Dimarco 6.5; Thuram 7 (38’st Lavelli sv), Martinez 7 (31’st Esposito 6). On the bench: Martinez, Taho, De Vrij, Acerbi, Frattesi, Cocchi, Cinquegrano. Coach: Chivu 6.5.
BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia 7; Holm 5.5 (23’st Zortea 5.5), Heggem 6, Lucumì 5 (1’st Vitik 5.5), Lykogiannis 6; Moro 6 (1’st Pobega 5), Ferguson 5.5; Rowe 5.5, Odgaard 5.5 (34’st Freuler sv), Cambiaghi 5 (23’st Orsolini 6); Castro 6. On the bench: Pessina, Franceschelli, Casale, Immobile, Dallinga, De Silvestri, Dominguez, Miranda, Sulemana, Fabbian. Coach: Italian 5.5. REFEREE: Torre Annunziata Guide 6.
NOTES: Cloudy evening, playing field in good condition. Booked: Calhanoglu, Bastoni, Barella, Vitik, Rowe, Lykogiannis. Corners: 7-1. Recovery: 2’pt, 4’st.
Inter forcefully regains the top of the table by crushing Bologna with their fifth consecutive victory in the championship. The Nerazzurri dominate against Italiano’s men (who continue their negative streak without success in Serie A since last November 22nd), returning ahead of Milan and Napoli with a clear 3-1 scored by Zielinski, Lautaro and Thuram, with Castro who in the final made the rossoblu’s evening less bitter. Driven by the almost 75,000 fans at San Siro, Inter set off immediately by putting their foot down on the accelerator. At the start Lautaro first made the Meazza tremble by remaining on the ground after a mid-field tackle due to a blow to the hand, then he came close to taking the lead with a first-time right-footed shot which Ravaglia saved with a great reflex.
And the rossoblu goalkeeper repeats himself shortly afterwards, when Lautaro serves Thuram and the Frenchman, alone in the area, kicks too weakly and finds the response from the Emilian number one. Inter then didn’t take advantage of a sensational gift from Lucumì, who launched Lautaro alone towards the goal: the pass to Thuram, however, was too short with Heggem saving everything with a slide. Ravaglia confirms himself as the protagonist again within a few seconds, first flying to deflect Calhanoglu’s deflected left-footed shot from the edge of the edge into a corner and then, on the following corner, also holding onto Bastoni’s header with a bit of luck. Bologna reacts and comes close to taking the lead with Odgaard, who heads just a few centimeters away from the former’s goal. But it is the Nerazzurri who, deservedly, break the deadlock: Thuram heel launches Lautaro, assist for Zielinski who beats Ravaglia with his left foot from the edge and puts Chivu’s team ahead. The home team didn’t stop, with Lautaro coming close to doubling the lead first with a header and then with a left-footed shot from inside the area which was well blocked by the usual Ravaglia.
Crackling recovery
The second half began as the first half ended, with Ravaglia being decisive, as the rossoblu goalkeeper immediately saved from a left-footed shot from Dimarco. On the ensuing corner, however, he can do nothing about Lautaro’s header which doubles the lead. And shortly after Akanji almost made it 3-0, with a touch in front of goal following a free kick from Calhanoglu which went just wide. But the sensational opportunity for the third goal arrives shortly after, when Lautaro with an empty goal assisted by Thuram sensationally shoots onto the crossbar. And again the Argentine wastes alone in front of Ravaglia, with Heggem then saving on the goal line after yet another great intervention by the Emilian goalkeeper. The Italian tries to revive his team by inserting Orsolini, but Inter are now on the move and on the umpteenth occasion the 3-0 arrives: from a corner Thuram touches randomly with the shoulder, beating Ravaglia again for his tenth goal of the season. However, Bologna didn’t give up, finding the 3-1 goal thanks to a deflection in front of goal by Castro following a lateral free kick by Lykogiannis. But it wasn’t enough for the rossoblu to avoid a fifth game in a row without a win: Inter, on the other hand, forcefully regained the top of the table with their fifth consecutive win.