Inter Milan Dominates Como in a Strong Performance
In a stunning display of dominance, Inter Milan claimed the top spot in Serie A after defeating high-flying Como 4-0 at the San Siro on Saturday. This victory not only highlights their current form but also sets the stage for an important match against struggling Liverpool in the Champions League.
The match saw a strong performance from Inter’s strike partnership, with Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram each scoring in the first and second halves. Hakan Calhanoglu and Carlos Augusto added late goals to ensure a comfortable win for the Nerazzurri. This result pushed them two points ahead of AC Milan and Napoli, who are yet to play their next fixtures.
Key Performances and Tactical Adjustments
Martinez expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “Today we showed how good we are against a really good side in Como. We showed just how hungry we are to get as many points as we can… it’s a really good win for us.”
The victory was also a positive sign for manager Cristian Chivu, especially considering the strong performance by Luis Henrique at right wing-back. This position has been a challenge for Inter since Denzel Dumfries suffered an ankle injury last month. Henrique’s contribution was crucial, particularly in setting up Martinez’s goal in the 11th minute. The Brazilian made a run from his own half, cut inside, and provided a perfect pass for Martinez to score his seventh goal of the season.
Thuram, who returned from a hamstring injury in September, added to his brace with his first league goal of the campaign in the 59th minute. His goal came after Federico Dimarco’s corner caused chaos in the Como defense. Despite a strong start from Como in the second half, they failed to capitalize on their chances, with Tasos Douvikas and Alex Valle missing key opportunities.
Como’s Struggles and Manager’s Reaction
Cesc Fabregas’ Como suffered their first defeat since August, dropping to sixth place, six points behind Inter. Calhanoglu’s seventh goal of the season in the 81st minute and Carlos Augusto’s fine volley sealed the 4-0 victory. Fabregas commented on the loss, saying, “It’s hard to analyse when you’ve been beaten 4-0. It’s a heavy defeat… but honestly I didn’t see a huge difference between the two teams tonight.” He added that such results help teams grow and learn.
Fiorentina’s Deepening Crisis
Meanwhile, Fiorentina continued to struggle, suffering a 3-1 defeat to promoted Sassuolo. This loss left them at the bottom of the table without a single win this season. The “Viola” have managed just six points from 14 matches, highlighting their ongoing crisis.
Despite the support of around 4,000 traveling fans, Fiorentina performed poorly in Reggio Emilia. They went ahead through Rolando Mandragora’s penalty in the ninth minute, but Sassuolo equalized through Cristian Volpato’s deflected shot. Tarik Muharemovic then gave Sassuolo a deserved lead just before halftime with his first Serie A goal.
Fiorentina failed to respond effectively, and Ismael Kone sealed the victory for Sassuolo in the 65th minute. A controversial decision during the match led to Sassuolo’s coach Fabio Grosso being sent off for dissent. Paolo Vanoli, who took charge of Fiorentina a month ago, was unable to change the outcome, leaving his team six points from safety with over a third of the season remaining.
Atalanta’s Setback
Raffaele Palladino’s promising start as Atalanta’s coach faced a setback with a 3-1 loss to Verona, marking their first win of the season in the day’s late fixture. This result adds to the challenges facing several teams in the league as the season progresses.