EMPOLI – A superb collective performance from Inter that brought two goals in the first half proved too much for Empoli to handle this evening at the Stadio Castellani.
Frank de Boer's men responded perfectly to their coach's call to build on last Sunday's comeback victory against Juventus with a display that oozed quality, hard work and effective game management.
The second half was a much more even contest as the hosts came back into it, but aside from a couple of saves against Nerazzurri loanee Federico Dimarco, Samir Handanovic had little to do.
The only downside were the four unnecessary yellow cards, which could prove costly later in the campaign.
Inter's first chance came in the seventh minute when Antonio Candreva drove into the box from the right flank and fired in a low cross for Mauro Icardi, but Giuseppe Bellusci did well to avert the danger with a sliding clearance. This turned out to be the dress rehearsal as the same pair linked up again moments later: the Italy winger whipped in a perfect cross this time, allowing the Argentine to score with a diving header with ten minutes gone.
The Nerazzurri were running amok in the first half and in the 17th minute Joao Mario, so often at the heart of Inter's moves, won back the ball from Marcel Buchel in midfield. The Portuguese took one look up and split the Tuscan defence with an inch-perfect pass to Icardi. All the captain had to do was beat the onrushing Lukasz Skorupski, which he did emphatically.
The game could have been dead and buried before the half-hour mark, as both Icardi and D'Ambrosio were faced with presentable chances, but neither could convert and Empoli were let off the hook.
Frederico Dimarco, arguably the home side's best player, did give Handanovic something to think about in the first half with two long-range efforts with ten minutes to go. On both occasions, the Slovenian was equal to the Nerazzurri youth-academy product and Inter went in at the break with their clean sheet intact.
The hosts came out for the second half with much more energy, as they probed for a way back into the match. However, despite upping the pressure, the Tuscan side failed to create much in the way of clear-cut chances.
There was always the feeling, on the other hand, that Inter carried the greater threat. After a one-two with Geoffrey Kondogbia, Icardi had a chance to bag his hat-trick but couldn't find the right connection, before shortly afterwards he turned provider for Candreva, whose shot was too central.
De Boer made some changes in the final 20 minutes, sending on some fresh legs in the form of Assane Gnoukouri, Felipe Melo and Eder to make sure of the points. Inter played out the rest of the contest without danger and took home a valuable three points.
Empoli 0-2 Inter (HT: 0-2)
Scorers: Icardi 10, 17.
EMPOLI: 28 Skorupski; 2 Laurini (3 Zambelli, 68), 6 Bellusci, 19 Barba, 4 Dimarco; 88 Tello, 8 Diousse, 77 Buchel (11 Croce, 57); 10 Saponara (89 Marilungo, 68); 20 Pucciarelli, 7 Maccarone.
Subs not used: 23 Pelagotti, 5 Jose Mauri, 9 Mchedidze, 17 Maiello, 18 Gilardino, 21 Pasqual, 24 Cosic, 31 Pereira, 33 Krunic.
Coach: Giovanni Martusciello.
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 25 Miranda, 24 Murillo, 21 Santon; 17 Medel (5 Melo, 85), 7 Kondogbia (27 Gnoukouri, 74); 87 Candreva (23 Eder, 75), 6 Joao Mario, 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 8 Palacio, 10 Jovetic, 13 Ranocchia, 15 Ansaldi, 55 Nagatomo, 94 Yao, 95 Miangue, 96 Barbosa.
Coach: Frank de Boer
Yellow cards: Murillo 3, Medel 23, Miranda 25, Joao Mario 58.
Additional time: 0+6 minutes.
Referee: Marco Guida.
Assistants: Afonso Marrazzo and Gianmattia Tasso.
Fourth official: Filippo Valeriani.
Additional assistants: Fabbri and Rosario Abisso.
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