Inter Milan secured a hard-fought victory over Genoa with a 1-0 win at San Siro, thanks to Lautaro Martinez's decisive goal late in the second half.
The match, held last night before over 68,000 fans, showcased the resilience of Inter against a well-organized Genoa side. Despite both teams struggling initially, it was Martinez who found the back of the net, breaking the deadlock at the 78-minute mark with a header from Hakan Calhanoglu's corner kick. With this victory, Inter remains strongly positioned within the Serie A title race.
While both teams began the match tentatively, the pressure seemed to intermittently rise during the first half, leading to missed chances and defensive errors. The first half ended goalless, with neither side managing to get a shot on target. This prompted some discontent from the fans, as expectations were set high for such a key confrontation.
One of the evening’s lowlights was the mid-game injury to Inter’s Joaquin Correa, who was replaced at halftime by striker Mehdi Taremi. Correa has been enduring fitness troubles, and this latest injury—a left knee sprain—has left coach Simone Inzaghi concerned. "We need him fit and firing, especially with important matches coming up," shared the coach after the match.
Genoa also faced challenges, with head coach Patrick Vieira forced to make adjustments throughout the match due to injuries and substitutions. Despite this, Genoa contended well, with several attempts at capitalizing on moments when Inter's defense appeared vulnerable.
The first goal of the evening was fittingly dramatic: After poor defensive clearance from Genoa, Martinez, rising above everyone else, deftly redirected Calhanoglu's corner, securing three pivotal points for Inter. Fans erupted with joy as over 68,000 voices cheered, and the atmosphere at San Siro electrified.
Inter had chances to extend their lead afterwards, but Taremi's attempt was thwarted by Genoa's keeper, Marco Leali, who demonstrated remarkable reflexes. Such saves kept the game within reach for Genoa late on, but they struggled to mount any substantial counterattacks. "We came here believing we could take something from the match, but Inter proved too strong," lamented Genoa's Masini post-match.
Midfielder Nicolò Barella showed flashes of brilliance with powerful strikes and incisive passes, nearly scoring several times; one shot struck the crossbar, leaving supporters breathless. Inter made several tactical changes, introducing fresh legs like De Vrij and Zalewski to maintain pressure.
Another highlight from the evening was the debut of 17-year-old Alain Taho, who was called up as the third-choice goalkeeper due to injuries to Yann Sommer and Raffaele Di Gennario. Taho is part of the Inter youth setup and his inclusion on the bench was widely celebrated, marking hopefully the first of many appearances.
The match concluded with Inter managing to withstand late pressure from Genoa, who had their chances but were often left to rue missed opportunities, with both teams sharing the corner stats evenly at 6 each. Overall, the match displayed the grit and determination of the Nerazzurri, who continue to battle for the Serie A title. They remain firmly at the top end of the table.
Looking forward, Inter's next fixtures will be pivotal, and fans will hope for Correa's swift recovery. The excitement continues to build as the squad prepares for upcoming matches, with aspirations for both domestic and European success firmly at the forefront.
Inter Milan continues to showcase the determination needed for their ambitious objectives: competing seriously for both the Serie A title and the Champions League. Coach Simone's philosophy continues to adapt, and they’ll need to remain injury-free as they look to maintain their impressive form.