MILAN, Italy – Inter Milan earned a 3-1 victory over Empoli at home on Sunday to remain in the hunt for Napoli at the top of the Serie A standings.
Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring with a curling shot in the 55th minute, Denzel Dumfries doubled the lead with a powerful header from a corner in the 79th minute, and Marcus Thuram sealed the victory ten minutes later after Empoli reduced the gap.
Inter occupies second place with 47 points, three lengths behind the Neapolitan leaders, while having a game in hand. Empoli ranks 14th with 20 points.
The hosts dominated the first half, creating several chances, but their lack of precision in front of goal left the scoreboard blank at the break.
Martinez sparked excitement early on with an acrobatic free-kick return, but Empoli goalkeeper Devis Vasquez made an impressive save.
Martinez came close to scoring five minutes before the break when a bouncing ball broke through the Empoli defense but his close-range half-volley hit the post.
The Argentine striker finally found the net in the 55th minute, receiving a pass outside the box before unleashing a curling shot that grazed Vasquez’s tense fingers before lodging in the aim.
-Dumfries doubled the lead with a powerful header from a corner, the ball bouncing on the ground before lodging in the top corner.
Inter, led by assistant Massimiliano Farris due to the suspension of Simone Inzaghi, relaxed their effort after the Dumfries goal.
Empoli briefly threatened a comeback when Sebastiano Esposito, on loan from Inter, reduced the deficit in the 84th minute by controlling a cross and scoring from close range.
However, the visitors failed to capitalize on this momentum, and Thuram scored Inter’s third goal on a counter-attack, sealing the points.
Takeaways
- Inter Milan displayed great control of the game, especially in the first half.
- Despite a good attempt from Empoli in the second half, Inter was able to maintain their lead.
- Lautaro Martinez’s performance was decisive, illustrated by his decisive shot.
- The absence of Simone Inzaghi on the bench highlighted the key role of the assistants.
- Empoli, although in difficulty, shows great promise with players on loan like Esposito.
From a general point of view, the meeting highlights the importance of consistency and pressure management at the top of the rankings. As Inter continue their race behind Napoli, this dynamic could influence not only the next meetings, but also the final constitution of the Serie A table. What tactical adjustments will be necessary for the teams wishing to compete with the big names? This deserves careful consideration.
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- Source : https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/inter-dispatch-empoli-3-1-to-stay-on-napolis-tail
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