Inter Milan moved top of Serie A on Saturday after a first-half blitz led to the Italian champions sweeping sorry Verona aside 5-0 and going two points clear.
Simone Inzaghi’s side are provisionally ahead of Napoli after netting all five of their goals in the opening 45 minutes at the Stadio Bentegodi through a Marcus Thuram brace and further strikes from Joaquin Correa, Stefan de Vrij, and Yann Bisseck.
Correa’s opener in the 17th minute, a delightful dink after a smart interplay with Thuram, didn’t just spark a rout, it was also the Argentine’s first Serie A goal in over two years.
Out-of-favour Correa had only played 38 minutes this season before this weekend but was excellent in place of captain and star striker Lautaro Martinez, who was sent home on Saturday morning with the flu.
“I know him well; he’s been training brilliantly since July. He’s got a lot of competition… I’m pleased for him, but I’m also pleased for the boys because they played really well,” said Inzaghi to DAZN.
Correa, 30, hit the woodwork twice and also laid on Thuram for the first of his two near-identical goals, which were netted within the space of three minutes and came after the France forward skipped around Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo.
By the time defenders De Vrij and Bisseck—with another strike set up by Correa—lashed in unlikely finishes, Verona were submerged in boos and whistles from the home support, who loudly chanted for their team to “show some balls.”.
Verona have lost nine of their 13 league matches this season and sit 14th, just three points above the relegation zone.
Inter now host Leipzig on Tuesday night as they push for direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, having thumped Verona with a clutch of starters either injured or rested.
As well as Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglu, Federico Dimarco and Benjamin Pavard missed Saturday’s match after a busy period on international duty.
Atalanta will claim the top spot from Inter on goal difference when they take on promoted Parma in Saturday’s late match, while on Sunday Napoli host Roma on Claudio Ranieri’s return to top-flight management.
Also on Saturday, Juventus will try to move above Napoli into second place when they face AC Milan at the San Siro.
AFP
