Sassuolo stops Inter from topping the Serie A table

 

Inter Milan to their second consecutive defeat this season after suffering a 2-0 defeat at home in the hands of Sassuolo on Sunday.

A win would have taken Simeone Inzaghi’s men to the top of the log and leapfrog city rivals AC Milan to the summit of the table, but they couldn’t do that a few days after suffering a defeat against Liverpool in the midweek champions league game.

The defending champions were shocked by their visitors through goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamacca, who pounced on defensive errors. This is a repeat of the feat for Sassuolo, who had recorded a win at the San Siro earlier this season against AC Milan.

Meanwhile, Milan were held 2-2 by relegation-chasing Salernitana on Saturday night.

The visitors showed their intent with early intent from Hamed Junior Traore. The winger failed to make the most of two early promising runs down the left.

They eventually took a deserved lead when Domenico Berardi robbed Hakan Calhanoglu in midfield, releasing a pass for Raspadori, whose shot squirmed under Samir Handanovic’s body.

To atone for his error, Calhanoglu’s angled drive went wide and Lautaro Martinez also shot wide on a Barella through ball.

Sassuolo then took over the contest by doubling their lead. Traore floated a ball over the top to Scamacca, who was left unmarked by Ivan Perisic. The Croatian winger stood appealing for offside rather than marking the scorer.

Inter would have reduced the deficit through Milan Skriniar’s header from a corner, but Andrea Consigli made a fine one-handed save to stop that from happening.

Roberto Gagliardini also had his shot parried by the goalkeeper from distance.

Sassuolo could have scored 3-0 up before the break, Berardi’s curler beat Handanovic to thump the crossbar.

Despite the introduction of Edin Dzeko and Denzel Dumfries in place of Matteo Darmian and Gagliardini, the visitors held on to their two-goal lead to win the game.

The result leaves Inter two points behind Milan with a game in hand.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed