Till 80th minute - dead; from 81st - welter spread

Inter didn’t start the domestic season well and is already trailing the leading group in the standings, but they won’t give up. That said, if they continue playing like they did today (they actually won), they won’t get very far.

Inter Milan took a narrow 1-0 lead into halftime against Sassuolo after a first half filled with chances at both ends.

The match started with early opportunities for the home side: in the 7th minute, Carlos Augusto broke through the defense and went one-on-one with goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, but his shot to the bottom right corner was saved. A minute later, Augusto jumped highest on a corner delivery, heading just wide of the left post.

Sassuolo responded in the 9th minute when Domenico Berardi received a low ball at the edge of the box and struck toward the center of the goal, only for Josep Martinez to make a superb reflex save.

The breakthrough came in the 14th minute. Sassuolo’s defense reacted poorly to Inter’s attack: Barella initiated a counter and passed to Sucic, who cleverly set up Dimarco, allowing the full-back to slot the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead. The goal is HERE!

Sassuolo threatened again in the 19th minute when Berardi cut in from the right and fired wide. Inter had a promising sequence in the 25th minute, ending with Hakan Calhanoglu shooting narrowly past the goal. Then, in the 29th minute, Marcus Thuram came close with a fine finish after a precise pass from Denzel Dumfries, but the ball went just wide of the left post.

In the 40th minute, Esposito fought through a crowded box for a shot, but his effort lacked accuracy and went over the crossbar. Despite these chances, Inter held their slim advantage into the break.

Inter started second half brightly, and in the 46th minute Nicolo Barella received a low pass inside the box and struck powerfully down the middle, only for Arijanet Muric to make an excellent save. Sassuolo responded in the 52nd minute when Lauriente fired from a promising position, but Josep Martinez collected the shot comfortably.

Francesco Pio Esposito came close for Inter in the 61st minute, taking a well-placed shot from the edge of the box, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar. Sassuolo had a golden chance a minute later when Pinamonti found himself almost alone at the six-yard box, heading toward goal, but Martinez was again alert to deny him.

The most dramatic moment came in the 67th minute. Esposito was presented with a one-on-one opportunity in front of goal and struck immediately, but Muric produced one of the best saves of his career to keep Sassuolo in the game.

In the 76th minute, Carlos Augusto received a precise pass and faced a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, opting to shoot toward the left post. Arijanet Muric reacted like a cat, diving to make a superb save.

If anyone deserved a goal at the end, it was Carlos Augusto. In the 81st minute, he fired from the edge of the box and eventually found the net. Admittedly, the ball deflected off a Sassuolo player, but Inter secured a 2-0 lead. The goal is HERE!

Just when it seemed Inter had wrapped it up comfortably, Berardi played a brilliant pass to Cheddira, who made no mistake in beating the home goalkeeper. The goal is HERE!

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 4

Friday

Lecce - Cagliari 1-2 (1-1)

/Gabriel 5 - Belotti 33, 71 pen/

Saturday

Bologna - Genoa 2-1 (0-0)

/Castro 73, Orsolini 90+9 pen - Ellertsson 63/

Verona - Juventus 1-1 (1-1)

/Orban 44 pen - Conceicao 19/

Udinese - Milan 0-3 (0-1)

/Pulisic 40, 53, Fofana 46/

Sunday

Lazio - Roma 0-1 (0-1)

/Pellegrini 36/

Cremonese - Parma 0-0

Torino - Atalanta 0-3 (0-3)

/Krstovic 30, 38, Sulemana 34/

Fiorentina - Como 1-2 (1-0)

/Mandragora 6 - Kempf 65, Addai 90+4/

Inter - Sassuolo 2-1 (1-0)

/Dimarco 14, Augusto 81 - Cheddira 84/

Monday

21.45: (1.25) Napoli (5.70) Pisa (13.0)

*** odds are subject to change***