Inter 4-0 Salernitana – Dominant hosts stroll to imperious victory in one-sided Serie A encounter

Inter Milan’s apparent procession towards the Serie A title continued as they thrashed bottom of the table Salernitana 4-0 in Fabio Liverani’s first game in charge of the visitors.

The hosts made an electric start, creating chance after chance as Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella both hit the woodwork within the opening seven minutes.

It was only a matter of time before they took the lead, which they duly did when Thuram stroked home from inside the area, two minutes before Lautaro Martinez made it 2-0 with a thumping effort from distance.

Denzel Dumfries added a third before the break, benefiting from Guillermo Ochoa spilling the ball at his feet, while Salernitana did not register a shot at the other end until the 58th minute.

With such a dominant advantage, Inter took their foot off the gas a little after the break, although Hakan Calhanoglu still forced a magnificent save out of the goalkeeper with a thunderbolt from range that was fumbled round the post.

The fourth eventually came in the final minute when Marko Arnautovic, who had earlier had a goal ruled out for offside, converted from Dumfries’ cross.

Granted, Salernitana are bottom of Serie A and look like they are sinking without a trace, but this was as one-sided a match as you could wish to see.

Inter were simply brilliant, dominating from start to finish, creating chance after chance and, but for some excellent goalkeeping, would have won by a cricket score.

They now sit 10 points clear at the top of the table, have scored more goals than any other team and have the division’s best defence. Simone Inzaghi’s side are surely waltzing towards the title.

Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan). The midfielder may not be as high profile as some of his team-mates, but he really is a Rolls Royce of a player.

His delivery from set pieces caused numerous problems all evening, with many of them met by Inter players who subsequently forced saves out of Guillermo Ochoa.

On top of that, he rarely misplaced a pass in open play and was at the heart of many an attacking move, pulling the strings in the middle of the park as his side strolled to victory.

INTER MILAN: Sommer 6; Pavard 6, de Vrij 6, Bastoni 7; Dumfries 7, Barella 8, Calhanoglu 9, Mkhitaryan 7, Augusto 7; Thuram 8, Martinez 7. Subs: Sanchez 6, Arnoutovic 6, Klaassen 6, Asllani 6, Buchanan 6

SALERNITANA: Ochoa 8; Pasalidis 6, Boateng 5, Pellegrino 5; Sambia 5, Coulibaly 5, Basic 5, Zanoli 6; Tchaouna 6, Dia 4, Candreva 4. Subs: Maggiore 6, Legowski 5, Weissman 5, Kastanos n/a, Simy n/a

4’ THURAM HITS THE POST! How are Inter not ahead? Bastoni flicks on a corner at the near post, only for the ‘keeper to make a wonderful diving save. The ball then falls to Marcus Thuram at the back post, and he hits the woodwork when there was an open goal at his mercy!

7’ BARELLA RATTLES THE BAR! Inter hit the woodwork for a second time! Barella is set through on goal and he smashes goalwards, only for the ‘keeper to tip onto the bar!

17’ GOAL! INTER MILAN 1-0 SALERNITANA (Marcus Thuram). You cannot say it had not been coming! Inter finally take the lead through Thuram. He has Augusto to thank for some excellent work down the left, sliding the ball into the penalty area, from where the striker converted in a composed fashion, finding the far corner.

19’ GOAL! INTER MILAN 2-0 SALERNITANA (Lautaro Martinez) The floodgates have opened as Martinez scores against Salernitana for the fifth time this season. The striker is allowed to shift the ball onto his right foot on the edge of the area, from where he curls emphatically past Ochoa and into the far corner.

40’ GOAL! INTER MILAN 3-0 SALERNITANA (Denzel Dumfries). There’s the third, although there’s a large chunk of fortune for Inter. A cross hits Pasalidis and is heading goalwards. Ochoa spills it at the feet of Dumfries, who bundles home from close range.

90’ GOAL! INTER MILAN 4-0 SALERNITANA (Marko Arnautovic). And there is the fourth, at long, long last! Dumfries gets down the right and fires a dangerous low ball in towards the six yard box, from where Arnautovic converts.

• Inter Milan have now won each of their eight games in 2024
• Salernitana conceded 2+ goals for the seventh time in their last eight outings