MILAN - It was a harsh result to say the least for Inter on matchday four in Serie A TIM. The Nerazzurri lost 1-0 at home to Parma in front of 60,000 fans at San Siro after dominating for large spells while fate meant that the winning goal was scored by former Inter man Federico Dimarco ten minutes from time.
Inter took control from the start, pushing Parma back towards their own area. In the eighth minute, Candreva forced Sepe into making his first save before he then kept Brozovic out straight after. Ten minutes in, the side from Emilia looked to respond on the break. Di Gaudio played in Inglese who fired with his left but Handanovic saved down low. The Nerazzurri continued to press. In the 16th minute, Perisic was in a good position at the far post but volleyed Keita’s over. There was a big chance in the 27th minute, Perisic nodded on at the near post from a corner but neither D’Ambrosio nor Skriniar could turn home at the far post from close range. Four minutes later, Dalbert got away on the left before playing it into the middle for Keita but his left-foot strike was saved by Sepe. Inter kept going but couldn’t break down the Parma defence. In the 38th minute, a long-range Nainggolan effort narrowly missed the target before a deflected Brozovic effort soon after also missed. There was another chance in the 41st minute when Gagliardini played it to Perisic on the left. The Croatian opted to hit it with power rather than playing it to Keita, but Sepe saved again. The half ended with the score goalless.
Luciano Spalletti made a half-time change as he brought on Mauro Icardi to replace Keita. The first attempt of the second half, however, came from the visitors as Handanovic pushed away Stulac’s effort from distance. Following this, the Nerazzurri really upped the pressure: in the 53rd minute, Candreva hit the side-netting after being played in by Perisic. Just four minutes later, Inter went close twice: Parma defender Dimarco blocked a Nainggolan effort and then somehow cleared off the line (possibly with his hand) as Perisic’s shot looked to be heading in. Spalletti then made another substitution as he replaced Candreva with Politano: Inter’s number 16 was immediately involved as his low cross ended with D’Ambrosio firing over. Inter’s pressure was relentless, and Parma needed Sepe to save them once more in the 73rd minute as he pushed away Nainggolan’s powerful strike. Just 60 seconds before this, Parma defender Gagliolo narrowly avoided scoring an own goal following a header by Perisic. In the 80th minute, something unbelievable happened: Dimarco let fly with his left foot from a long way out to give Parma the lead. In the final few minutes, Inter went in search of a way back into the match, but nearly conceded another as Handanovic saved from Gervinho and Inglese. At the other end, Icardi and De Vrij had efforts on goal, but Inter weren’t able to find a way past Sepe, whose goal lived a charmed life at times.
The best way to recover immediately from such a painful and undeserved defeat is to concentrate on the opening Champions League game coming up. On Tuesday Inter will once again be playing at San Siro against Tottenham Hotspur at 18:55 CEST.
INTER 0-1 PARMA
Goals: 80' Dimarco (P)
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio (71' 18 Asamoah), 6 De Vrij, 37 Skriniar, 29 Dalbert; 77 Brozovic, 5 Gagliardini; 87 Candreva (59' 16 Politano), 14 Nainggolan, 44 Perisic; 11 Keita Balde (46' 9 Icardi)
Bench: 27 Padelli, 8 Vecino, 13 Ranocchia, 15 Joao Mario, 20 B. Valero, 23 Miranda
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
PARMA: 55 Sepe; 2 Iacoponi (76' 13 Sierralta), 22 B. Alves, 28 Gagliolo, 18 Gobbi (46' 3 Dimarco); 32 Rigoni, 5 Stulac, 17 Barillà; 20 Di Gaudio (63' 8 Deiola), 45 Inglese, 27 Gervinho
Bench: 1 Frattali, 56 Bagheria, 7 Da Cruz, 9 Ceravolo, 10 Ciciretti, 23 Gazzola, 26 Siligardi, 93 Sprocati, 95 Bastoni
Coach: Roberto D'Aversa
Bookings: Stulac (P), Brozovic (I), D'Ambrosio (I)
Stoppage Time: 2' + 4'
Referee: Manganiello
Assistants: Peretti, De Meo
Fourth Official: Sacchi
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