Easy win for Inter as they prepare for Napoli

Inter have begun to leave scars on the faces of all their rivals. At this moment, based on form, Cristian Chivu’s team is the best side in Serie A. While the other contenders are struggling, the Nerazzurri are dealing with opponents routinely. That is exactly how the current European runners-up looked against Parma. Confident, authoritative, and with a clear plan of attack. It was precisely this that forced the Rossoneri to stay inside their own penalty area. They had an ally in the thick fog, which made it hard to see much, especially in the first 45 minutes. Despite that, Inter managed to rise above the fog: the moment Federico Dimarco’s right foot flashed, there was no escape for the hosts, and in the closing stages Marcus Thuram sealed the victory. The Nerazzurri duo sharpened their claws for the derby against Napoli — 2:0.

Inter’s full-back crowned a fine move at the end of the first half. After a somewhat awkward pass from Francesco Esposito, he smashed the ball with all his might into the near corner, which goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi covered very poorly, practically creating a funnel for the ball to go through. It was the culmination of everything Inter had done and something they deserved earlier. The opening of the match made it clear what kind of game we would be watching. Yann Bisseck hit the crossbar, then a few minutes later Lautaro Martínez missed the goal from seven meters, and shortly after that Esposito also failed to convert. Parma somehow held on for a while. Carlos Cuesta’s team was pinned back in their own half, trying to defend with as many players as possible in a small area in order to block the flow of the ball toward Lautaro and Esposito. It was working to some extent, but the Nerazzurri were patient, searching for a crack in the defense like a police dog sniffing for a trail — and when it barks, you know it has found something.

How dominant the visitors were is shown by the fact that after the first 45 minutes the shot count was 18–2 in favor of the current Serie A leaders. Parma almost even shocked Inter when, out of nowhere, Jakob Ondrejka hit the crossbar after a combination involving Giacomo Oristanio and Matteo Pellegrino. But the truth is that this was all Parma produced in attack for the entire match. Nothing changed in the second half either, even though Cuesta’s team opened up and pushed their lines forward. The problem was that they made too many mistakes in passing, something that ran through the entire game and only made the Nerazzurri defenders’ job easier.

Inter did not want to rush unnecessarily; they protected their lead and once again demonstrated why they have one of the strongest defenses in Italian football. Parma’s most dangerous player, Mateo Pellegrino, was completely cut off, received not a single usable ball, and was easily contained. This was not a vintage Nerazzurri performance to be remembered for years, but they played exactly as much as they needed to, because the real challenge is yet to come.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 19

Tuesday

Pisa - Como 0-3 (0-0)

/Perrone 68, Douvikas 76, 90+6 pen/

Lecce - Roma 0-2 (0-1)

/Ferguson 14, Dovbyk 71/

Sassuolo - Juventus 0-3 (0-1)

/Muharemovic 16 og, Miretti 62, David 63/

Wednesday

Bologna - Atalanta 0-2 (0-1)

/Krstovic 37, 60/

Napoli - Verona 2-2 (0-2)

/McTominay 54, Di Lorenzo 82 - Frese 16, Orban 28 pen/

Lazio - Fiorentina 2-2 (0-0)

/Cataldi 52, Pedro 90+5 (p) - Gosens 56, Guðmundsson 89 (p)

Parma - Inter 0-2 (0-1)

/Dimarco 42, Thuram 90+8/

Torino - Udinese 1-2 (0-0)

/Casadei 87 - Zaniolo 50, Ekkelenkamp 82/

Thursday

20.30: (2.45) Cremonese (3.15) Cagliari (3.05)

22.45: (1.43) Milan (4.30) Genoa (8.00)

***odds are subject to change***