Serie A

Football Italia

·1 April 2024

Serie A | Inter 2-0 Empoli: Dimarco inspiring leaders

Inter maintain their 14-point lead at the top of the table, as a well-struck Federico Dimarco effort and late Alexis Sanchez tap-in saw off Empoli at San Siro.

The Nerazzurri had a difficult couple of weeks, as Francesco Acerbi eventually escaped punishment for alleged racist insults towards Juan Jesus due to insufficient evidence, but the incident and coverage of that 1-1 draw with Napoli was embarrassing for the club. Yann Sommer was rested after turning his ankle on international duty, with Stefan de Vrij and Juan Cuadrado out, while Empoli missed Tyronne Ebuehi, Etrit Berisha, Ardian Ismajli and suspended Youssef Maleh after three consecutive defeats.

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It took just six minutes to break the deadlock, as Alessandro Bastoni’s cross found Federico Dimarco on the edge of the area to swing left-footed first time into the far bottom corner.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 😮‍💨 Federico Dimarco fires Inter ahead just 5⃣ minutes into the game! 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/9ABMf2wnsl — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 1, 2024

Bastoni also surged forward to smash his shot against the upright, while Emil Audero flew to palm the dipping Razvan Marin strike out from under the bar.

M’Baye Niang saw his effort deflected over and Nicolò Barella drilled wide from a Dimarco cutback with time and space to do better.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan also ballooned over from another Dimarco assist, as did Simone Bastoni after combining with Niang.

Barella’s inspired ball over the top released Benjamin Pavard, whose half-volley was crucially deflected off target by brave Bartosz Bereszynski defending.

Lautaro Martinez couldn’t get enough power behind his finish and this was his fourth consecutive match without finding the net.

Inter eventually doubled their lead when Denzel Dumfries got down the right and flashed a ball across the face of goal, beyond Thuram, but with Alexis Sanchez ready to turn into an empty net from six yards.