INTER MILAN climbed back to the top of Serie A after a 2-1 win against Genoa, ending the Grifone's five-game unbeaten streak in the league.
MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP
With AC Milan and Napoli both losing earlier in the day, Inter knew they had a chance to take the lead again. They were full of energy and controlled the first half well. Inter had scored a league-high 12 goals in the first half this season, and within six minutes, they took the lead.
Defender Yann Bisseck, an unlikely hero, scored from just outside the box, beating goalkeeper Nicola Leali to give Inter the early advantage. The visitors had the ball and territory but didn’t look like making it 2-0. Genoa kept them at bay and didn’t let them create many clear chances.
But just seven minutes before halftime, Lautaro Martinez made it 2-0. He dribbled past two defenders and fired a left-footed shot into the top corner, putting Inter in a strong position at half-time.
Genoa had shown some improvement since Daniele De Rossi took over in November, but they struggled to create chances.
Inter looked confident with their two-goal lead. The match seemed on its way to a quiet finish, but with over 20 minutes left, Genoa struck.
Vitinha collected a loose ball, went past the goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, and scored, cutting the deficit to 1-2. The home fans hoped for a comeback, but Inter stayed composed and kept their composure in the final stages.
This was their fifth win in their last six away games. Genoa, now winless in their last 13 matches against Inter, dropped to 16th place in the league, just two points above the relegation zone.