New signing Edin Dzeko scored twice as impressive Inter Milan thumped Bologna 6-1 to move top of Serie A on Saturday evening in a match played at San Siro in Milan.
Lautaro Martinez’s fourth goal this season put Simone Inzaghi’s side ahead, making it 23 consecutive league games that Inter have scored in, only managing a longer runway 71 years ago in 1950.
Milan Skriniar and Nicolo Barella also added their names to the scoresheet in the first half, with Matias Vecino and Dzeko’s double completing the rout after the interval.
Arthur Theate headed a late consolation goal for Bologna but Inter made it four league games unbeaten to sit at the helm of Serie A, albeit their nearest rivals in the table, Napoli are still to play this weekend.
Martinez had gone five Serie A games without a goal against Saturday’s opponents but ended that barren run when he ghosted in to poke home Denzel Dumfries’ low delivery.
Inter Milan players join Lautaro Martinez in celebrating the forward’s goal against Bologna in a Serie A tie. | PHOTO: Courtesy |
Samir Handanovic kept his side’s slender lead intact with a magnificent save to deny Roberto Soriano’s drive, after which Nicola Sansone volleyed wide.
Instead, it was Inter who fired in a second, Skriniar towering above goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski to nod in from inside the six-yard area following Federico Dimarco’s impressive corner.
Inter was at it again four minutes later and Lorenzo De Silvestri’s failed clearance fell to Barella, who finished ruthlessly from close range.
Martinez almost scored his second early in the second half but was denied by the crossbar, while he also wildly lashed over moments later.
Vecino did manage to grab a fourth goal for Inzaghi’s side with a simple tap-in at the back post after Dimarco’s deflected cross had evaded the incoming Dumfries.
Substitute Edin Dzeko came in just after the hour-mark, prodding into the corner after Martinez’s intelligent dummy before smashing his second into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Inter forward Edin Dzeko celebrates after scoring for Inter against Bologna on Saturday evening in a Serie A meeting. | PHOTO: Courtesy |
Bologna did finally beat Inter shot-stopper Handanovic when Theate nodded in at a corner, but that did not spoil what was a memorable victory for the hosts at San Siro.
Inter have now recorded three consecutive Serie A wins over Bologna for the first time since 2010, back when Jose Mourinho was in charge. Notably, that was the season they also won the Champions League and the Serie A title.
The current Inter group has now won their last 18 league home games in a row, with only three teams in Italian top-flight history enjoying longer unbeaten streaks in front of their own fans.
Inter’s Barella was the man of the moment for the current Serie A Champions completing a game-high 63 passes, with 46 of those coming in the opposition half which was also another game-leading figure. also gaining possession seven times during the contest.
Both teams will be in action over the midweek. Inter travel to Fiorentina on Tuesday as Bologna looks to bounce back from a first league defeat of the season when they host Genoa on the same day.
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