Final score

22 September 2013 12:30

Sassuolo
0 - 7
Inter
38' (2nd half) Milito
30' (2nd half) Cambiasso
18' (2nd half) Milito
8' (2nd half) Alvarez
33' Pucino o.g.
23' Taïder
7' Palacio
Referee: Carmine Russo / Linesmen: Petrella, Vivenzi / Fourth official: La Rocca / Assistants: Tagliavento, Pinzani
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' The ref brings a halt to proceedings after a minute's added time. Nerazzurri three goals to the good at the break
45' One minute of added time
45' Floro Flores finds a yard of space on the edge of the area and tries his luck: Handanovic has the angle covered
38' Substitution for Sassuolo: Chisbah makes way for Zaza
36' Another fine move by the Nerazzurri, with Jonathan's cross-shot from close to the byline saved by the keeper
33' 3-0 TO INTER! Guarin lobs the ball forward, Taider challenges for it on the bounce, and Pucino heads into his own net
29' A well-worked move by Sassuolo finishes with Floro Flores shooting at goal, but it's an easy save for Handanovic
23' 2-0 TO INTER! Palacio's low drive towards the far post is palmed up into the air by Pomini, Taider swoops to bundle it over the line
22' Missiroli is shown a yellow card for diving
19' Sassuolo make their first foray into Nerazzurri territory: Floro Flores' header is off target
17' Nerazzurri keeping up the pressure here: Jonathan sees his shot charged down and Inter have another corner
16' Taider is cautioned for a foul on Schelotto
14' Taider curls a well-struck free kick just wide
13' Magnanelli is the first name into the ref's book, after tugging Cambiasso down just outside the area
7' GOOOAAAAL FOR INTER! Superb wing play down the left channel, Nagatomo slides it across the box for Palacio to poke home. 1-0 to Inter
7' Guarin swings in a cross following a free kick, Ranocchia is unable to steer it back across the box
3' Inter press forward from the off. Palacio squares for Guarin on the edge of the box but his weak effort is saved
1' Welcome to Mapei Stadium for live commentary of Sassuolo v Inter. Kick-off is at 12:30
1' The Nerazzurri - wearing white today - get us up and running here at Mapei Stadium. FORZA INTER!!!
1' The five-man midfield is made up of Jonathan and Nagatomo out wide, and Guarin, Cambiasso and Taider in the middle. Alvarez partners Palacio up front
1' Mazzarri sticks with the men who drew with Juventus last week: Handanovic in goal with Campagnaro, Ranocchia and Juan Jesus in defence
Minute Text commentary
45' The referee decides that's enough and blows the final whistle with no stoppage time played. Sassuolo 0-7 Inter
45' Bianco is booked
38' GOAL FOR INTER! Guarin gets to the byline and slides the ball into the path of Milito. Two for El Principe and seven for Inter
30' 6-0! That's a stunning finish by Cambiasso, who bends it into the top corner from 20 yards. Milito the provider
22' Mazzarri makes his final substitution: Wallace takes over from Jonathan on the right flank
18' GOAL FOR INTER! El Principe is back! Credit to Alvarez, who shows brilliant control to serve it up on a plate for his team-mate. 5-0!
17' Guarin almost makes it five, firing just wide after collecting Jonathan's pass
13' Zaza sees his header saved by Handanovic
12' Last roll of the dice for Di Francesco: Bianco replaces Rossini
11' Another change by Mazzarri: Kovacic comes on for Taider
10' Milito has a chance moments after coming on: he defends the ball well before powering a shot fractionally wide
9' That's Palacio's last contribution to this game: he's replaced by Milito, making his first appearance since February
8' GOAL FOR INTER! That's 4! Alvarez and Palacio break at pace, Rodrigo's shot is parried into the path of Ricky, who makes no mistake
3' Alvarez jinks his way into a shooting position on the left, but his effort skids across the face of goal
2' An early chance for the hosts: Zaza's long-range attempt is smothered by Handanovic
1' The second half is under way
Cambiasso
8.08
8.08
Milito
9.16
9.16
Ranocchia
7.67
7.67
Nagatomo
8.11
8.11
Alvarez
9.07
9.07
Jonathan
7.52
7.52
Jesus
7.85
7.85
Guarin
7.41
7.41
Palacio
8.7
8.7
Handanovic
7.78
7.78
Kovacic
7.46
7.46
Campagnaro
8.25
8.25
Wallace
7.36
7.36
Taïder
8.58
8.58
Average rating 8.07
5 shots on target 14
3 shots off target 8
5 fouls committed 9
2 corners 7
2 offsides 3
19:14 ball possession 31:21
First time for De Francesco against the Nerazzurri...

Eusebio Di Francesco has never met Inter in a competitive match during his coaching career. As a player, he crossed swords with Inter 16 times, ending up on the losing side on 12 occasions with two draws and two victories. The former Piacenza and Roma midfielder also notched two goals in those fixtures.

...and first for Mazzarri against Sassuolo

Walter Mazzarri is facing Sassuolo for the first time in a competitive match as a coach.

Di Francesco seeking first home win in Serie A

Eusebio Di Francesco has yet to win at home in his first 16 matches as a coach in Serie A. His record on home soil at Lecce in 2011/12 and Sassuolo in 2013/14 stands at one draw and seven defeats.

First halves in 2013/14: no goals scored by Sassuolo, none conceded by Inter

Sassuolo v Inter sees one of the two Serie A sides yet to score in the first 45 minutes of games this season (Di Francesco's men are joined by Roma) face off against one of the three teams who have not conceded any goals in the first period (Livorno and Torino boast the same record as Mazzarri's men).

Inter reach 2700 mark in Serie A

When they take to the pitch against Sassuolo today, the Nerazzurri will clock up their 2700th game in Serie A since a single national league was formed in 1929/30 (regular-season fixtures only, not play-offs). Inter will be the first Italian club to reach this milestone, as they are the only team to have spent every season in the top flight. The numbers from the first 2699 games read W1338, D757, L604, with 4532 goals for and 2793 against. Inter's first match in the newly formed national championship was away to Livorno on 6 October 1929. The hosts took an early lead through Palandri (6) before Rivolta (31) and Meazza (60) turned it around to seal a 2-1 victory.

Two clean sheets in a row for Inter – first time in a year

Inter have not conceded on the road for 192 minutes, since Cavani scored in the 78th minute of Napoli 3-1 Inter on 5 May last season. The Nerazzurri back line has remained unbreached in the 12 remaining minutes of that game plus the matches played at Genoa (0-0, Serie A 2012/13) and Catania (3-0, Serie A 2013/14), keeping two consecutive clean sheets on their travels for the first time in a year.

Birthday boy Kuzmanovic

Zdravko Kuzmanovic turns 26 today: he was born in Thun, Switzerland, on 22 September 1987.

One game, one defeat and one sacking for Di Francesco against Mazzarri

Eusebio Di Francesco and Walter Mazzarri have crossed paths on just one previous occasion as coaches: Napoli 4-2 Lecce (Serie A) on 3 December 2011, a result that led to the current Sassuolo boss being relieved of his coaching duties for the second time in this career.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(6) draws(0) defeats(4)

REGGIO EMILIA – Inter celebrated becoming the first Italian club to clock up 2700 games in Serie A by brushing aside top-flight newcomers Sassuolo at Mapei Stadium with a devastating 7-0 final scoreline.

The match also marked Diego Milito's return to first-team action following a seven-month lay-off, with El Principe helping himself to brace after coming off the bench.

But let's start at the beginning. Mazzarri kept faith with the same starting line-up that drew 1-1 with Juventus last weekend: Handanovic between the sticks behind a back three of Campagnaro, Ranocchia and Juan Jesus; five across the middle with Guarin, Cambiasso and Taider in the centre and Jonathan and Nagatomo providing width; Alvarez in support of frontman Palacio.

It took Inter seven minutes to get their noses in front with a goal conjured up down the left channel. Juan Jesus sent Nagatomo scuttling away and the Japanese sent in a low delivery for Palacio to stab home from six yards.

Midway through the first period it was 2-0. Guarin surged forward before picking out Palacio with a dinked pass; the Argentine's low drive was parried by Pomini but Taider swooped to knock in the loose ball and notch up his first goal in black and blue.

Inter tightened their stranglehold on the game in the 33rd minute. Guarin's up and under was aimed at Taider but the Algerian was beaten to it by his marker Pucino, who headed over the stranded Pomini and into his own net. 3-0.

The second half was eight minutes old when Alvarez extinguished any faint hopes Sassuolo may have had of making an improbable comeback. The Argentine broke forward along with Palacio before feeding his team-mate on the right of the box; El Trenza's angled strike was pushed into the path of the onrushing Ricky, who gratefully steered in the Nerazzurri's fourth.

A minute later, Mazzarri brought off last season's topscorer and handed Diego Milito his first appearance since 14 February. The Prince drew a fine save out of Pomini just minutes after coming on but it wasn't long before he did see the net bulge again. Alvarez sold his man a dummy on the right and slid the ball into the six-yard box: easy pickings for Milito. That was the cue for scenes of joy as the Nerazzurri rushed over to celebrate with El Principe.

Yet there were still more goals in this remarkable match. Cambiasso added his name to the already crammed score sheet in the 75th minute with a splendid curled effort from the edge of the box, goalscorer Milito turning provider for the occasion.

Then, with seven minutes left on the clock, Guarin charged down the right and served Milito on a platter for the Argentine's second and Inter's seventh.

Sassuolo 0-7 Inter (HT: 0-3)
Scorers: Palacio 7, Taider 23, Pucino (og) 33, Alvarez 53, Milito 63 and 83, Cambiasso 75.

Sassuolo:
1 Pomini; 4 Magnanelli, 7 Missiroli, 15 Acerbi, 23 Gazzola (Pucino 13), 27 Kurtic, 35 Rossini (Bianco 57), 45 Chisbah (Zaza 38), 37 Schelotto, 83 Floro Flores, 86 Ziegler.
Unused subs: 79 Pegolo, 22 Rosati, 3 Longhi, 5 Antei, 11 Alexe, 14 Masucci, 21 Laribi, 24 Marzorati, 70 Farias.
Coach: Eusebio Di Francesco.

Inter:
1 Handanovic; 14 Campagnaro, 23 Ranocchia, 5 Juan Jesus; 2 Jonathan (Wallace 67), 13 Guarin, 19 Cambiasso, 21 Taider (Kovacic 66), 55 Nagatomo; 11 Alvarez; 8 Palacio (Milito 54).
Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 6 Andreolli, 7 Belfodil, 9 Icardi, 17 Kuzmanovic, 25 Samuel, 31 Pereira, 35 Rolando, 90 Olsen.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri.

Referee: Carmine Russo.
Booked: Magnanelli 3, Taider 16, Missiroli 22, Bianco 90.
Added time: 1+0 minutes.

starting lineups

Pomini 1 1 Handanovic
Magnanelli 4 14 Campagnaro
Missiroli 7 23 Ranocchia
Acerbi 15 5 Jesus
Gazzola 23 2 Jonathan
Kurtic 27 13 Guarin
Rossini 35 19 Cambiasso
Chisbah 45 21 Taïder
Schelotto 37 55 Nagatomo
Floro Flores 83 11 Alvarez
Ziegler 86 8 Palacio

substitutes

Pegolo 79 12 Castellazzi
Rosati 22 6 Andreolli
Pucino 2 7 Belfodil
Longhi 3 9 Icardi
Antei 5 10 Kovacic
Zaza 10 17 Kuzmanovic
Alexe 11 18 Wallace
Masucci 14 22 Milito
Bianco 20 25 Samuel
Laribi 21 31 Pereira
Marzorati 24 35 Rolando
Farias 70 90 Olsen