Final score

26 December 2018 20:30

Inter
47' (2nd half) Martínez
1 - 0
Napoli
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni / Linesmen: Costanzo, Paganessi / Fourth official: Abisso / Assistants: Manganiello, Peretti
Watch highlights

Minute Text commentary
47' A breathless first-half comes to a close here at the Meazza, with Inter vs. Napoli still 0-0 after a wonderful goal-line clearance from Koulibaly
47' Perisic feeds Joao Mario, whose right-footed effort doesn't miss by much
45' Two minutes of injury time added on
43' What a stop from Koulibaly! Icardi wiggles his way through the Napoli penalty area but the colossal defender clears
40' Milik's header fails to threaten after he was found by Callejon
39' A wonderful ball from Politano picks out Joao Mario in the middle, although his header is directed straight at Meret
36' Good play from the Nerazzurri going forward but we just can't get a shot off!
32' Perisic finds the back of the net with a lovely volley but it's correctly ruled out for offside
29' Booking for Brozovic after a late foul on Zielinski
28' A shot from Zielinski misses the target
27' Icardi holds the ball up well after a precise pass from Borha Valero, yet the captain's low cross is read well by Albiol
24' First substitution of the match, with Hamsik being forced off due to injury – Maksimovic his replacement
21' The Nerazzurri break after Borja Valero regains possession, but a Perisic effort is then blocked by the visiting defence
17' A speculative left-footed strike from Asamoah misses the target
16' Handanovic pulls off a diving save to keep out Insigne
13' Asamoah swings in a cross but Meret makes it his own
10' Chance for Milik in the Nerazzurri's final third but the ball ends up in the Curva Nord!
8' Space opens up on the left for Politano, but the Nerazzurri No.16 can't keep his effort down
5' A splendid through ball from Icardi for Perisic, who just reaches it at the by-line and earns Inter a corner
1' An incredible chance for Icardi early on, whose shot from kick-off just strikes the crossbar!!!
1' We're underway! Come on lads, Forza Inter!
1' The teams are out here on the Meazza turf, with kick-off imminent!
1' The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is hosting Boxing Day action this evening, with Inter set to take on Napoli on matchday 18 in Serie A
Minute Text commentary
49' The final whistle is blown here at the Meazza and Inter have won it!!! A late strike from Lautaro Martinez ensures the Nerazzurri end the year on a high at home!
48' Insigne is shown a straight red
47' Lautaro Martinez is booked for removing his shirt during his celebration
47' GOAL! GOOOOAAAALLL!!! GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! EL TORO!!! Keita puts it in the box and Lautaro Martinez angles his strike into the bottom corner! YESS!!
45' Three minutes added on...
44' WHAT A STOP!!! A goal-line clearance from Asamoah keeps out Insigne from close-range!
39' A solid save from Meret keeps out a header from Icardi! Still 0-0!!
37' Spalletti shows his intent by sending on Lautaro Martinez in place of Politano
36' Mazzoleni shows Kouliably a second yellow for sarcastically clapping the referee
35' Koulibaly is booked after bringing down Politano
33' Another change for the visitors: Ghoulam on for Mario Rui
29' A second substitution for Spalletti, with Perisic making way for Keita
25' First change for Napoli, as Mertens comes on for Milik
24' Koulibaly to the rescue once again, as his outstretched leg prevents a pass from Perisic finding Icardi! What a chance!!
22' Albiol also enters the referee's notebook after a deliberate foul on Joao Mario
21' A strong low save from Handanovic to keep out a powerful effort from Callejon
19' Spalletti makes his first change, with Vecino replacing Borja Valero
15' De Vrij defends well after Insigne tried to find Milik with a cross
11' Allan is shown a yellow card for a tough foul on Icardi
9' Icardi cuts the ball back for Brozovic on the edge of the area, although the Croatian's first-time shot fails to find the target
7' Nerazzurri protests after Borja Valero is booked for a challenge on Callejon
5' Icardi wins back possession before Politano then misjudges his cross
1' The second half starts at San Siro. Time to turn the screw now lads!

Handanovic
7.08
7.08
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Icardi
6.91
6.91
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
D'Ambrosio
5.83
5.83
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Brozovic
6.32
6.32
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Perisic
5.27
5.27
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Joao Mario
6.85
6.85
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Skriniar
6.98
6.98
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Valero
6.22
6.22
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Vecino
5.84
5.84
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Politano
6.8
6.8
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Martínez
7.8
7.8
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Asamoah
7.67
7.67
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
de Vrij
6.97
6.97
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Balde
6.57
6.57
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X
YOUR RATING
Average rating 6.65 SEND RATINGS
5 shots on target 4
4 shots off target 7
12 fouls committed 10
5 corners 0
3 offsides 3
50% ball possession 50%

Inter have won only one of their last 11 top-flight encounters against Napoli, recording five draws and five losses in this run.

Inter have won only two of their last seven home games against Napoli in Serie A (D3 L2), after they had won all of their previous eight games played at Meazza vs Napoli in the top-flight.

In 72 previous top-flight encounters between Inter and Napoli played in Milan, the Nerazzurri have scored exactly twice the goals scored by Napoli (136-68).

Inter have won each of their last six home games in Serie A, keeping a clean sheet in their last five: the last time the Nerazzurri managed six clean sheets at home in a row in the top-flight was back in April 2010.

Napoli have earned 41 points after 17 matchdays in the current Serie A season, in the three points per win era, only in 2017/18 have they had more after 17 games (42).

The last time Napoli drew away from home in Serie A was at Meazza against AC Milan: since then eight wins and three defeats.

San Siro is the only stadium in which Napoli striker Dries Mertens has played more than two Serie A matches and failed to find the back of the net: 10 games (five vs Inter and five vs AC Milan).

Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne has scored only one goal in Serie A against Inter in 11 appearances: among teams he has faced at least five times in the competition, only against Atalanta does he have a lower goalscoring record (zero goals in 11 games).

 

wins(54) draws(18) defeats(9)

MILAN - A tenacious and determined Inter side won the big match in the 18th round of Serie A TIM fixtures against Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli. Lautaro Martinez’s goal in stoppage time proved decisive and was enough to secure three big points that move the Nerazzurri onto 36 points for the season, five behind tonight’s opponents in second.

It was incredible to see but Inter went close in the first second. Mauro Icardi fired the kick-off straight at goal, Meret was almost caught out but the ball hit the crossbar. The start of the match saw the Nerazzurri on top. In the sixth minute, a teasing Brozovic cross was cleared by Mario Rui. Two minutes later, Politano let fly with a spectacular strike on the turn but it was always rising. The visitors got up the pitch in the tenth minute with a powerful but inaccurate effort from Milik. In the 16th minute, Insigne attempted to curl one in with his right but Handanovic was alert to dive away and make the save. The match became balanced before picking up again in the 32nd minute when Perisic found the net with a superb left-foot volley but it was disallowed for a narrow offside. Napoli responded in the 37th minute when a Fabian Ruiz effort went off target. After, Joao Mario got on the end of a Politano cross but his header was straight at Meret. Inter had another big chance in the 43rd minute. Icardi received the ball from Joao Mario, he span away and got beyond Meret but Koulibaly slid to make a vital clearance off the line. The Nerazzurri finished the half on the front foot with Perisic laying the ball off for Joao Mario who couldn’t keep his effort on goal. Mazzoleni then blew his whistle and the sides went back down the tunnel with it still goalless.

The first chance of the second half fell to Inter. Icardi worked the ball well after being played in by Perisic, as the captain then cut the ball back for Brozovic who missed the target with a first-time effort. Just five minutes later, Politano put the ball across for Perisic, yet the Croatian failed to make contact. Spalletti soon sent on Vecino in place of Borja Valero to help revitalise the Nerazzurri midfield.

The visitors then had a chance of their own in the 66th minute, as Callejon forced Handanovic into a strong low save with a stinging strike. It didn’t take long for Inter to fight back, with Koulibaly pulling off a superb interception to keep out a cross from Perisic that seemed destined to find the foot of Icardi.

With the game locked at 0-0, Spalletti sent on Keita in place of Perisic before Napoli were then reduced to 10 men after two quick-fire yellow cards for Koulibaly. The first was for a foul on Politano, while the crucial second was then for sarcastic applause. The Nerazzurri Coach immediately looked to capitalise on his side’s numerical advantage, bringing on Lautaro in place of Joao Mario for a final assault.

The 84th minute saw Meret make a wonderful save to keep out a diving header from Icardi, while Napoli then very nearly took the lead in the 90th minute. Handanovic palmed out an initial effort before Asamoah then produced a dramatic goal-line clearance to prevent Zielinski.

With danger averted, it was then Inter who snatched the winning goal at the death. A cross from Keita made its way to Lautaro in the middle, whose left-footed effort beat Meret to his bottom corner. The 63,946 fans present at San Siro duly exploded with joy, seconds before Insigne was then sent off before the final whistle.

Inter’s last game of the year will be on Saturday 29 December at 15:00 CET, as they face off against Empoli at the Castellani.

#ForzaInter, now and forever!

 

INTER 1-0 NAPOLI

Goalscorers: 90 +2' Lautaro

 

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 6 De Vrij, 37 Skriniar, 18 Asamoah; 20 Borja Valero (64' 8 Vecino), 77 Brozovic, 15 Joao Mario (83' 10 Lautaro); 16 Politano, 9 Icardi, 44 Perisic (74' 11 Keita)

Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 2 Vrsaljko, 5 Gagliardini, 13 Ranocchia, 29 Dalbert, 87 Candreva

Coach: Luciano Spalletti

 

NAPOLI: 1 Meret; 7 Callejon, 33 Albiol, 26 Koulibaly, 6 Mario Rui (78' 31 Ghoulam); 8 Fabian Ruiz, 5 Allan, 17 Hamsik (24' 19 Maksimovic), 20 Zielinski; 99 Milik (71' 14 Mertens), 24 Insigne

Substitutes: 25 Ospina, 27 Karnezis, 2 Malcuit, 9 Verdi, 11 Ounas, 13 Luperto, 23 Hysaj, 30 Rog, 34 Younes, 42 Diawara

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

 

Bookings: Brozovic (I), Borja Valero (I), Allan (N), Albiol (N), Lautaro (I)

Red cards: 81' Koulibaly (N), 94' Insigne (N)

Added time: 2' + 3'

 

Referee: Mazzoleni

Assistants: Costanzo, Paganessi

Fourth official: Abisso

VAR operators: Manganiello, Peretti

starting lineups

Handanovic 1 1 Meret
D'Ambrosio 33 7 Callejon
de Vrij 6 33 Albiol
Skriniar 37 28 Koulibaly
Asamoah 18 6 Mario Rui
Joao Mario 15 5 Allan
Brozovic 77 17 Hamsik
Valero 20 8 Fabian Ruiz
Perisic 44 20 Zielinski
Icardi 9 24 Insigne
Politano 16 99 Milik

substitutes

Padelli 27 25 Ospina
Vrsaljko 2 27 Karnezis
Gagliardini 5 2 Malcuit
Vecino 8 9 Verdi
Martínez 10 11 Ounas
Balde 11 13 Luperto
Ranocchia 13 14 Mertens
Estevão 29 19 Maksimovic
Candreva 87 23 Hysaj
30 Rog
31 Ghoulam
42 Diawara

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