Inter defeated Empoli 3-0 at their own turf. Romelu Lukaku scored a brace in the process while Lautaro Martinez scored the third goal
Ismajli was reintroduced to Empoli’s defence after he overcame a muscular issue following De Winter’s knee injury last week, and Cambiaghi moved to the front. Guglielmo Vicario, the team’s first-choice custodian, was still out, so Perisan was once again asked to fill in.
Today, Inter made a number of lineup adjustments. While Lukaku, Correa, and Gosens were three of the players brought in, Barella, Martinez, and Mkhitaryan were rested. Handanovic took over in goal for Onana and was also made captain. Due to a back injury, Milan Skriniar continued to be absent.
On the edge of the Empoli box, Lukaku outran Luperto to the ball before clipping a dangerous ball across that Correa just managed to keep in play from the byline but was unable to control well enough to shoot at goal.
Acerbi’s long run from the back forced Empoli’s backline back towards their box, and from 20 yards out, Calhanoglu tried to drag a low attempt well past the left-hand post.
From left side of the field, Parisi tried to deliver a cross, but it was stopped. Bellanova did not receive a handball penalty despite the left back’s loud protests because the ball bounced up off from the Inter player’s boot and then rubbed his hanging arm.
On the outskirts of Inter’s area, an optimistic long ball forward fallen nicely for Cambiaghi, but Handanovic used his vast knowledge to recognise the threat and sprinted out to block the forward’s low shot.
Two of Empoli’s rising stars partnered in the Inter area as Parisi created some space with a winding run before cutting the ball back for Baldanzi. The latter then attempted to score with a shot that was blocked by Handanovic in the bottom-left corner.
Gagliardini ran onto another attempt from outside the box after Lukaku failed to collect the ball within the box and Marin botched his clearance. This time, he barely cleared Perisan’s crossbar with his shot.
Correa made a deft move, but he was unable to properly connect with a cross from the right, bundling the ball wide of the near post. Gosens missed a good opportunity to cross the ball into a danger zone from the left, and Empoli quickly broke down the other end and won a corner.
Lukaku scored, scoring his 1st open-play goal since August in Serie A. A narrow window of space was created on the edge of the box after the striker’s quick one-two with Brozovic, and he cannoned the ball in bottom-left corner to give Inter the lead.
Correa and Bellanova attempted to combine on the right side of Empoli’s box, but Parisi made a crucial interception. Inter appeared more assured at this point and capable of adding a second goal.
Cambiaghi’s wild shot went well over the crossbar after Baldanzi’s pass found him on the left side of the box. Having gained some valuable breathing room, he ought to have performed better from that point on.
D’Ambrosio snatched the ball behind for a corner after successfully completing a crucial clearance from his own zone. Finally, Bandinelli was given the opportunity after the set-piece, but his rising shot from about 20 yards out went over the crossbar.
In the Inter box, there was some head-to-head play after the most recent of several Empoli corners, but Inter eventually cleared the ball. Then, while on the move, Calhanoglu shot at Perisan, forcing him to tip the ball over while fully extended. Gagliardini’s inviting cross from the left found De Vrij’s head, but the woodwork stopped the Dutch defender.
With the score at 2-0 in favour of the Nerazzurri, Inter had surely won. Lukaku forced Ismajli back into his box when he was invited to run at an open Empoli defence, and then he emphatically fired the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Ebuehi collapsed clutching his shoulder after struggling mightily to drag Martinez out of the way of the ball by the touchline. However, as soon as he stood back up, the game immediately resumed.
Martinez was connected by Lukaku’s pass into the box as he made a strong run through the middle. Later, Martinez from 10 yards out struck the ball and tucked it into the bottom corner for another goal. Inter won the game 3-0.
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