Verona – Inter showed no sign of letting up. In the late game of the eleventh round of Serie A TIM fixtures, Luciano Spalletti’s side came away with the win at the Bentegodi after a tricky match. Perisic’s goal in the 66th minute was decisive after Pazzini cancelled out Borja Valero’s first-half opener. Thanks to this result, Inter move back up to second on 29 points, two behind top side Napoli.
The Nerazzurri started positively. In the first ten minutes, Candreva tried from the right before Vecino had a go with an inaccurate effort from distance. The home side looked to show that they could do with a Cerci effort that was blocked by Miranda. In the 17th minute, Icardi won the ball at the back before launching an Inter counterattack that ended with Candreva playing it back to Icardi at the edge of the box in the end but he couldn’t hit the target. Vecino tried again in the 22nd minute with a scruffy connection that Nicolas saved down low. Ten minutes later, Borja Valero played a dangerous through-ball in for D’Ambrosio who was stopped by an excellent piece of defending from Heurtaux. The moment which broke the deadlock came in the 36th minute. Candreva played in a cross from the right which Borja Valero met on the volley inside the six-yard box with a precise finish that beat Nicolas. Inter maintained control in the final minutes of the half and went back to the changing rooms 1-0 up.
The Nerazzurri came close to doubling their lead just after the interval, with Perisic initially releasing Icardi who fired his strike just over. Just minutes later Vecino tried his luck, although his effort also failed to find the target. The 54th minute saw Inter demonstrate impressive attacking skill once again, with the ball eventually falling to Perisic who unfortunately scuffed his shot into the hands of Nicolas. Soon after, Verona began to regain their footing in the match, with Cerci initially going close with a left-footed strike, before they were then awarded a 58th minute penalty thanks to the help of VAR. The referee opted to award the spot kick following a foul from Handanovic on Cerci, with Pazzini then coming on from the bench to replace Kean and instantly score the equaliser. Inter responded well to the goal, with Vecino looping a header off the crossbar in the 63rd minute following a corner from Candreva. Soon after the Nerazzurri’s No. 87 fired a fierce strike to force a solid save from Nicolas. The resulting corner saw the ball fall kindly for Perisic on the edge of the area, who made no mistake in smashing the ball past Nicolas to help Inter regain the lead. Despite conceding once again, Pecchia’s side kept on pushing, as Fares fired in a dangerous left-sided cross, only missing Pazzini by inches. During the final stages of the match, Spalletti brought on Brozovic, Cancelo and Eder, with the Nerazzurri defending well to ultimately seal all three points in a hard-fought 2-1 win at the Stadio Bentegodi.
HELLAS VERONA 1-2 INTER
Goalscorers: 36' Borja Valero (I), 59' pen. Pazzini (H), 66' Perisic (I)
HELLAS VERONA: 1 Nicolas; 2 Romulo, 75 Heurtaux, 12 Caracciolo, 69 Souprayen; 7 Verde, 8 Fossati, 24 Bessa (64' 5 Zuculini), 93 Fares; 10 Cerci (79' 21 Lee), 9 Kean (58' 11 Pazzini)
Substitutes: 17 Silvestri, 40 Coppola, 4 Laner, 20 Zaccagni, 27 Valotti, 37 Bearzotti, 77 Buchel, 97 Felicioli
Coach: Fabio Pecchia
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 37 Skriniar, 25 Miranda, 55 Nagatomo; 11 Vecino, 5 Gagliardini; 87 Candreva (73' 77 Brozovic), 20 B. Valero (78' 7 Cancelo), 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi (86' 23 Eder)
Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 10 Joao Mario, 13 Ranocchia, 17 Karamoh, 21 Santon, 29 Dalbert, 99 Pinamonti
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
Bookings: Fares (H), Gagliardini (I), Pazzini (H), Brozovic (I), Heurtaux (H), Lee (H)
Added time: 1' + 5'
Referee: Gavillucci
Assistants: Crispo, Di Vuolo
Fourth Official: Baroni
VAR operators: Irrati, Preti
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