Inter 6-1 Bologna: Nerazzurri run riot to move top of Serie A

 

Inter and Bologna started the day on the same points in Serie A but Simone Inzaghi's side cruised to victory.

Edin Dzeko scored twice as impressive Inter crushed Bologna 6-1 to move top of Serie A on Saturday. 

Lautaro Martinez's fourth goal in four top-flight games put Simone Inzaghi's side ahead, making it 23 consecutive league games that Inter have scored in, only managing a longer run way back in 1950. 

Milan Skriniar and Nicolo Barella inflicted further damage in the first half, with Matias Vecino and Dzeko's double completing the rout after the interval. 

Arthur Theate headed a late consolation goal for the visitors but Inter made it four league games unbeaten to sit at the summit, albeit their nearest rivals in the table are still to play. 

Martinez had gone five Serie A games without a goal against Bologna but ended that barren run when he ghosted in to poke home Denzel Dumfries' low delivery. 

Samir Handanovic kept his side's slender lead intact with a magnificent save to deny Roberto Soriano's drive, after which Nicola Sansone volleyed wide. 

Instead it was Inter who fired in a second, Skriniar towering above goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski to nod in from inside the six-yard area following Federico Dimarco's inviting corner. 

Just four minutes later and Lorenzo De Silvestri's failed clearance fortuitously fell to Barella, who finished emphatically from close range. 

Martinez almost scored his second early in the second half but was denied by the crossbar, while he also wildly lashed over moments later. 

Vecino did manage to grab a fourth goal for his team with a simple tap-in at the back post after Dimarco's deflected cross had evaded the incoming Dumfries. 

Substitute Dzeko joined in on the act just after the hour-mark, prodding into the corner after Martinez's intelligent dummy before smashing his second into the roof of the net from a tight angle. 

Bologna did finally beat Handanovic when Theate nodded in at a corner, but that did not spoil what was a memorable victory for the hosts at San Siro. 

What does it mean? Inter's home dominance continues 

Inter have recorded three consecutive Serie A wins over Bologna for the first time since 2010, back when Jose Mourinho was in charge. 

The current crop have now won their last 18 league home games in a row, with only three teams in Italian top-flight history enjoying longer unbeaten streaks in front of their own fans. 

Brilliant Barella 

Dzeko and Martinez may take the plaudits but Barella's dominant performance was the key to success for Inter. 

The midfielder completed a game-high 63 passes, with 46 of those coming in the opposition half – another game-leading figure – while also gaining possession seven times during the contest. 

Miserable Marko 

Marko Arnautovic struggled on returning to face one of his former clubs, touching the ball just 45 times – the lowest of any Bologna outfield player who completed 90 minutes – as he was contained by the hosts' three-man defence. 

The forward also won just 20 per cent of his 10 duels and did not have an attempt at goal, even with Bologna enjoying 54.9 per cent of the possession. 

Key Opta facts

- Inter have managed at least two goals in nine successive Serie A games, their best run since a 10-match stretch in 2007. - Barella has been involved in a goal in his last four Serie A appearances, his best streak in the competition. -Bologna have conceded three goals in the first half of a Serie A fixture for the first time since May 2021 against Juventus. - Musa Barrow made his 100th appearance in Serie A, during which he delivered his first assist since April.

What's next? 

Inter travel to Fiorentina on Tuesday as Bologna look to bounce back from a first league defeat of the season when they host Genoa on the same day.