MILAN: Inter Milan’s revival continued on Sunday with a 2-0 A-series victory over Salernitana after coming close to qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages in midweek.
On a high since Wednesday night’s 3-3 draw away to Barcelona, Simone Inzaghi’s side beat Salernitana at the San Siro thanks to goals either side of half-time from Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella.
Inter are seventh after their second straight league victory and league leaders Atalanta drop six points, a gap that will be increased to eight if Napoli beat Bologna later on Sunday.
They are still without the injured Romelu Lukaku and midfield pivot Marcelo Brozovic, but don’t seem to be missing either, as their form has improved at a time when Inzaghi’s work looked in question.
Three wins in their last four matches, including four points taken from Barca in the Champions League which took them one point clear of the last 16, have given Inter a boost and given Martinez new life.
Martinez had been in a worrying drought until he crashed in his superb strike at Camp Nou, and he continued that strong performance by opening the scoring in the 15th minute.
The Argentina striker scored his first league goal since August – his fifth of the season in all competitions – after being fed by Nicolo Barella following Denzel Dumfries’ raid down the right flank.
Martinez almost doubled Inter’s lead six minutes after the break when he headed Hakan Calhanoglu’s free-kick just over the bar.
But Barella made sure Inter picked up the points six minutes later and Calhanoglu was involved again with a wonderful assist.
The Turkish midfielder netted a perfect left-footed pass over the top, and after cutting inside, Barella broke through home with his left to score his third goal of the campaign.
Barella’s strike ended Salernitana’s resistance and left the visiting side in 12th position, five points above Verona who are just inside the relegation zone ahead of the AC visit Milan on Sunday evening.
Later, two of Italy’s in-form sides meet at the Stadio Olimpico as Lazio host Udinese in one of two afternoon fixtures.
On a high since Wednesday night’s 3-3 draw away to Barcelona, Simone Inzaghi’s side beat Salernitana at the San Siro thanks to goals either side of half-time from Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella.
Inter are seventh after their second straight league victory and league leaders Atalanta drop six points, a gap that will be increased to eight if Napoli beat Bologna later on Sunday.
They are still without the injured Romelu Lukaku and midfield pivot Marcelo Brozovic, but don’t seem to be missing either, as their form has improved at a time when Inzaghi’s work looked in question.
Three wins in their last four matches, including four points taken from Barca in the Champions League which took them one point clear of the last 16, have given Inter a boost and given Martinez new life.
Martinez had been in a worrying drought until he crashed in his superb strike at Camp Nou, and he continued that strong performance by opening the scoring in the 15th minute.
The Argentina striker scored his first league goal since August – his fifth of the season in all competitions – after being fed by Nicolo Barella following Denzel Dumfries’ raid down the right flank.
Martinez almost doubled Inter’s lead six minutes after the break when he headed Hakan Calhanoglu’s free-kick just over the bar.
But Barella made sure Inter picked up the points six minutes later and Calhanoglu was involved again with a wonderful assist.
The Turkish midfielder netted a perfect left-footed pass over the top, and after cutting inside, Barella broke through home with his left to score his third goal of the campaign.
Barella’s strike ended Salernitana’s resistance and left the visiting side in 12th position, five points above Verona who are just inside the relegation zone ahead of the AC visit Milan on Sunday evening.
Later, two of Italy’s in-form sides meet at the Stadio Olimpico as Lazio host Udinese in one of two afternoon fixtures.
