Inter Milan secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Genoa during their Serie A clash at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 23, 2025. The match, tight and fiercely contested, was pivotal for Inter as they aimed to maintain their hold on the Serie A summit.
The only goal of the match came at the 78th minute, scored by Inter’s captain Lautaro Martinez. The play developed from the corner, with Martinez getting his head to the ball, which deflected off another Genoa player before ending up behind the struggling goalkeeper Leali. This moment was the breakthrough Inter had been desperately seeking, as they had struggled to penetrate the resolute defense of their opposition throughout the match.
The game began at a slow pace, with both teams cautious and measuring each other's strengths. Inter dominated possession for most of the first half, boasting 65 percent of the ball but only managing six attempts at goal, none troubling Genoa’s defense significantly. Lautaro Martinez's long-range effort was the only shot on target for Inter, easily gathered by Leali.
Genoa’s defense held firm for much of the encounter, demonstrating their capability by thwarting Inter’s advances and maintaining their shape. Described as solid defensively, Genoa was poised to spring surprises on the counterattack. They had only lost three of their last fifteen matches and were aiming to extend their unbeaten run against top teams.
"Genoa was solid defensively, making it difficult for Inter to penetrate their defense," noted UA-Football. The visitors created some opportunities of their own, but none forced the Inter goalkeeper, Jose Martinez, to work too hard. Jose, standing in for the injured Yann Sommer, had little to do until the match progressed.
After the hour mark, the pace picked up slightly, but it seemed as though neither team could find the key to break the deadlock. Genoa’s Messias came close with a shot at goal, but it was blocked by Martinez. Moments later, Nicolo Barella almost struck gold for Inter as his stunning shot rattled the crossbar.
Finally, the breakthrough came from Lautaro Martinez, who had not scored all month until this game. Following a corner taken by Hakan Calhanoglu, Martinez rose above the defenders, and though the ball might have taken a slight deflection from a defender to deceive Leali, the goal marked his return to scoring form.
"This victory puts Inter temporarily atop the Serie A table, awaiting Napoli's match results," reported Sports24.kz. With this result, Inter now has 57 points, just one above their closest rivals Napoli, who had yet to play their match against Como.
The closing minutes saw Inter push for another goal to secure the win, but stellar saves from Leali kept Genoa within touching distance. Inter’s Taremi had another close call, getting thwarted from point-blank range, and Lautaro had one final chance, saved just before the whistle.
Despite the pressure throughout the match, Inter managed to grind out the win, emphasizing the importance of three points at this stage of the season. Coach Simone inzaghi acknowledged after the match his players had faced more difficulty than expected against resilient opponents. "Inter struggled more than expected to find the goal, but managed to take home three fundamental points," noted Sportarena.com.
With this victory, Inter Milan temporarily climbs to first place, closely followed by Napoli, adding intrigue to the upcoming matches. They will next face Lazio for the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia, and their title defense will soon be tested again when they host Napoli, destined to be another significant clash.
Meanwhile, Genoa remains positioned 12th on the table. They’ll be hoping to capitalize on any weaknesses shown by their rivals as they prepare for their next fixture against Empoli. Playing without key first-team players, including the recently fit Ruslan Malinowski, they faced the challenge without their primary playmakers.
This match showcased not just the struggle for supremacy at the top of the league but also highlighted the tactical battle between two teams with contrasting styles. With the Serie A title race heating up, every point will matter as the season progresses.