VERONA – Inter made light work of Chievo this evening with a comfortable 0-2 victory. In a pulsating encounter, it was clear that the Nerazzurri had improved psychologically after a difficult few matches.
Encouraged by a test of character in Azerbaijan on Thursday night, Inter set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with D’Ambrosio on the right and Nagatomo taking Dodo’s place on the left. Mancini’s men started brightly, keeping hold of possession well and making incisive breaks forward.
On five minutes, Guarin threatened with a low shot that forced Bizzarri to get down well to preserve his clean sheet. It takes two to tango, as they say, and Chievo responded with an attempt of their own just four minutes later. After some penalty-box pinball, Paloschi found himself one-on-one with Handanovic, only for the super Slovenian to make the save.
Despite the hosts’ competitive start, Inter took the lead on the 20-minute mark. Nagatomo broke down the left flank before whipping a dangerous ball into the box. Icardi knocked it down into the danger zone, causing havoc in the Chievo defence. Ice-cold Kovacic kept his head to slot the ball past Bizzarri and set the Nerazzurri on their way.
Chievo were not about to lie down, however. And they very nearly drew level after Meggiorini pulled off an acrobatic overhead kick to force an excellent save from Handanovic. There was another scare for the Nerazzurri before half-time, with a deep cross from the right ricocheting off the crossbar.
The second half kick-off with a great chance for Inter. Nagatomo picked up the ball on the left, bore down on Bizzarri’s goal and unleashed a potent effort which flashed just past the post. Chievo were still very much in the contest, though, with Paloschi shooting just wide at the other end.
In the 55th minute, Inter started to tighten their grip on the match. From a Kuzmanovic corner, D’Ambrosio showed presence of mind and excellent technique to chest the ball down and draw a goal-line clearance from Meggiorini. Resistance would prove to be futile for the hosts, however, as the subsequent corner brought with it the Nerazzurri’s second goal. Ranocchia thought fastest to pounce on a low cross and lash the ball home.
Bolstered by their two-goal lead, Inter were as astute in their defending as they were quick on the break. On 63 minutes, Guarin squandered possession when the Nerazzurri had engineered a four-on-three counter.
All hope for Chievo was extinguished in the 73rd minute, when Ruben Botta picked up two yellow cards in the space of a few seconds to earn himself an early bath. After getting an initial caution for a stray elbow that caught Kuzmanovic plum in the face, Botta was a little over-exuberant in his protests and had soon talked himself into a red card.
With the result all but secured, Mancini brought on M’Vila and Dodo for Kuzmanovic and Icardi, before Osvaldo took the place of Kovacic five minutes later. There was time for another chance on 82 minutes, as Guarin picked the ball up on the left. Nudging the ball onto his favoured right foot, the Colombian unleashed a looping effort that Bizzarri could only palm behind for a corner.
The final whistle heralded the end of a convinced win for Mancini’s side. Not only do the Nerazzurri pick up their first victory under the newly returned Mancini, but also deliver a second consecutive clean sheet after Thursday’s shut-out in Baku.
Lazio visit the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday 21 December in what is the Nerazzurri’s last match of the calendar year. The Rome-based club are sitting pretty in third spot and are enjoying a good spell, but Inter have rediscovered their form and will be determined to make it back-to-back wins in Serie A.
CHIEVO VERONA 0-2 INTER
Scorers: Kovacic 19, Ranocchia 55.
Chievo Verona: 1 Bizzarri; 20 Sardo, 5 Gamberini, 12 Cesar, 34 Biraghi; 8 Radovanovic, 13 Izco, 56 Hetemaj, 23 Birsa (Botta 64); 43 Paloschi (Maxi Lopez 64), 69 Meggiorini (Pellissier 85).
Subs not used: 25 Bardi, 90 Seculin, 3 Dainelli, 7 Lazarevic, 14 Cofie, 24 Schelotto, 26 Edimar, 63 Bellomo, 84 Mangani.
Coach: Rolando Maran.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 55 Nagatomo, 23 Ranocchia, 5 Juan Jesus, 33 D'Ambrosio; 13 Guarin, 18 Medel, 17 Kuzmanovic (Dodo 75); 10 Kovacic (Osvaldo 81); 9 Icardi (M'Vila 75), 8 Palacio.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 6 Andreolli, 14 Campagnaro, 15 Vidic, 20 Obi, 25 Mbaye, 44 Krhin, 54 Donkor, 97 Bonazzoli.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Booked: Izco 22, Cesar 38, Meggiorini 42, Handanovic 45, Botta 72.
Sent off: Botta 73.
Added time: 1 + 3 minutes.
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LE PAROLE DI ROBERTO MANCINI POST CHIEVO INTER
