PARMA - Inter got back on track on Saturday night at the Stadio Tardini, as they secured their first league win of 2019 thanks to El Toro Lautaro Martinez’s 79th-minute goal. This result against a spirit Parma now leaves Spalletti’s side third in the table on 43 points.
The first chance of the match fell to the Gialloblu, with Kucka heading just wide following a corner in the fourth minute.
Inter threatened in the 19th minute when Nainggolan sent Perisic through but his low cross went through the six-yard box with Icardi and Joao Mario unable to get on the end of it.
Parma responded soon after thanks to some individual play by Gervinho in the 21st minute when the Ivorian drove down the left before coming inside and striking the crossbar with a powerful shot. In the 31st minute, Brozovic lost the ball which allowed Parma to break with Siligardi’s effort blocked by Vecino. From the following move, Joao Mario played it long for Perisic who made his way into the box but Sepe stood strong to save.
Perisic was a nuisance again in the 34th minute when he got on Icardi’s cross at the far post but he couldn’t keep it on target.
In the 41st minute, Parma struggled to clear the ball from their area and it dropped for Joao Mario but he couldn’t connect on the volley. The final chance of the half was for Parma through Inglese who fired just wide before the break and it was 0-0 at the halfway stage.
The two teams took to the pitch for the second half with no changes having been made at the break. Inter started the second half in the ascendancy as Nainggolan got on the end of Joao Mario’s through ball, but Sepe came out on top of the one-on-one situation. Icardi then met Perisic’s cross but could only head the ball wide. In the 53rd minute, Nainggolan looked for Icardi in the penalty area, but the latter was unable to control the ball. Two minutes later, Inter had the ball in the back of the net through D’Ambrosio, but the Nerazzurri’s joy was short-lived as the referee ruled it out for handball following a VAR review. In the middle of the second half, Spalletti’s men continued to push Parma back, with the Crociati being forced to defend in their penalty area. Despite this, Inter were struggling to create a real opportunity. 15 minutes from the end, Spalletti shook things up by bringing on Lautaro for Joao Mario. It proved to be an inspired change as the Nerazzurri took the lead two minutes later: El Toro received Nainggolan’s through ball and held off the attentions of Iacoponi before powerfully firing into the back of the net to make it 1-0. After finding the opening goal, the Nerazzurri continued to push forward and created multiple chances. Vecino came close twice, first firing just wide and then seeing his effort cleared off the line by Bastoni, while Brozovic then hit the post from the edge of the area. In the 88th minute, Gagliardini came on in Nainggolan’s place. Two minutes into stoppage time, Parma looked to level through an acrobatic Inglese effort, but Handanovic was there to make the save. The home side kept coming forward up until the 95th minute but Inter held firm to secure a 1-0 victory.
After getting back to winning ways in Serie A, it’s now time for a different competition outside of Italy for Spalletti’s team: on Thursday at 18:55 CET, Inter will travel to Vienna to play their first-leg match against Rapid Vienna at the Round of 32 stage of the Europa League.
Now and forever, #ForzaInter!
PARMA 0-1 INTER
Goalscorers: 79' Lautaro (I)
PARMA: 55 Sepe; 2 Iacoponi, 22 Alves, 95 Bastoni, 28 Gagliolo; 87 Kucka (84' 93 Sprocati), 21 Scozzarella (77' 5 Stulac), 17 Barillà; 27 Gervinho, 45 Inglese, 26 Siligardi (58' 77 Biabiany)
Substitutes: 1 Frattali, 56 Bagheria, 8 Diakhate, 9 Ceravolo, 14 Machin, 18 Gobbi, 23 Gazzola, 32 Rigoni, 33 Dezi
Coach: Roberto D'Aversa
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 37 Skriniar, 6 De Vrij, 18 Asamoah; 8 Vecino, 77 Brozovic; 15 Joao Mario (76' 10 Lautaro), 14 Nainggolan (88' 5 Gagliardini), 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi (93' 21 Cedric)
Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 13 Ranocchia, 23 Miranda, 29 Dalbert, 87 Candreva
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
Bookings: Vecino (I), Gagliolo (P), Nainggolan (I), Biabiany (P)
Added time: 0' + 5'
Referee: Irrati
Assistants: Lo Cicero, Cecconi
Fourth official: Sacchi
VAR officials: Valeri, Vuoto
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