Napoli 0-3 Inter Milan: Lautaro Martinez’s side defeats reigning champions, goes on top of table surpassing Juventus
Inter Milan struck three goals once again in this campaign after a magical performance from the Nerazzuris snatched the spotlight from defending champions Napoli. Calhanoglu, Barella and Thuram were on target as Inter go on top of Serie A table after a blitzkrieg performance in weekend showdown at UEFA Champions League against Benfica, where they scored three goals within the second half to ensure a solitary point in a hard-fought game.
Inter Milan- strong Serie A contenders?
Inter Milan has been one of the Serie A title contenders this season, owing to their exceptional performances which have once again propelled them to the top of table. They have defeated reigning champions Napoli at their den, with a clinical performance from Simone Inzaghi’s men, which have raised the question once again as who would be winning the Scudetto this season, owing to a two-faced race at the top, shared between Juventus and Inter Milan.
While Napoli hardly pose any challenge for Nerazzuris, Lautaro Martinez and his men were on lethal form, with all of their stars coming on the pitch with all guns blazing. Napoli’s defensive frailties were once again exposed last night, as all three goal scorers from Inter scored when the defending champions were looking to up their ante. Walter Mazzarri, newly appointed manager of Napoli would seriously be disappointed owing to his team’s performance, as they fall back on the fifth spot, as their title defense seems to be little far from achievable, trailing Inter by 11 points.
A Turkish draws the first blood
Hakan Calhanoglu was the first person from Inter to begin the goal fest, as after 44 minutes of play with both sides hardly finding any scope for scoring, Barella provided an all-important assist for the Turkish Calhanoglu, who belongs among the rare group of players who have played for both AC Milan and Inter Milan. Against the run of play, when Napoli was looking lethal, Barella heaped Calhanoglu with the pass, who fired a low shot in the bottom corner of the net, thus finding a breakthrough for Inzaghi’s men. With the score line at 0-1 in favor of the hosts, the game was poised for a lovely climax, as lots were at stake with the result of the game.
In the second half, buoyed by home support, Napoli went on the field, riled up for some revenge, as last-season’s hero Kvaratskhelia’s angled drive agonizingly missed the net, as time passed the hour mark. But, on the 61st minute, once again, against the run of play, Inter fired their second goal, when Barella received a lovely cross from Lautaro Martinez, before slaloming past two Napoli defenders to carefully place the shot amidst the sticks, beyond Alex Meret’s reach, thus doubling the lead.
Thuram was the hero of the final goal once again as he literally barged in to the opponent box unmarked to score the third of the night, when he tapped past Meret from a immaculate cross from substitute Juan Cuadrado. With this result, Simone Inzaghi’s men propelled themselves to the top of the table, replacing Juventus from that spot., thus snatching all three points from Napoli’s den.
