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.
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