Icardi at the double during SPAL 1 - 2 Inter

FERRARA - Inter continued to march on at the Stadio Mazza in Ferrara, claiming a sixth straight win (four in the league, two in the Champions League). At the end of an extremely tough match, the Nerazzurri won 2-1 at SPAL thanks to a Mauro Icardi brace while Alberto Paloschi netted for the home side. The result sends Inter up to third on 16 points.

The match started at a hectic pace with Inter pushing forward, SPAL defending intensely before wasting no time to go on the break. In the seventh minute, Nainggolan stood out with a strike from distance that went off-target. In the 14th minute, Inter broke the deadlock. Cionek used his body to block a goal-bound effort from Keita but in the follow-up, the ball fell to Vrsaljko. The Croatian crossed it to Icardi who got his head on it with the ball deflecting off Djourou on its way past Gomis. The home side took no time to respond. In the 16th minute, Handanovic was forced into action with a brilliant save from Petagna’s header. A penalty was awarded soon after for a foul by Miranda on Felipe inside the box. Antenucci stepped up but dragged the shot wide of the post. After surviving that scare, Inter had a golden chance to add a second. On 30 minutes, Keita did well to win the ball off Cionek and bear down on goal alone against Gomis but the goalkeeper position himself well to get a hand on the square pass for Icardi. There was another chance for the Nerazzurri in the 39th minute. From a corner on the right in the 39th minute, Vecino knocked the ball on at the near post with Cionek getting there on the line at the last moment before Icardi could bundle the ball home. At the end of the half, SPAL posed a threat once again with Handanovic making two saves. First from Felipe who got a shot away in a crowd, before then keeping out Valoti’s effort from the edge of the area. The sides went into the break with Inter 1-0 up,

The second half started with no changes for either side, yet with the high intensity remaining. The 47th minute saw Vrsaljko concede a corner to the hosts, with the Nerazzurri defender heading out a dangerous cross from Lazzari. Spalletti’s side struggled to create during this spell, with Antenucci then forcing a save from Handanovic in the 56th minute.

SPAL continued to press and in the 62nd minute Petagna shot over from a wonderful position. Just moments later Lazzari skipped past Asamoah and struck just over. The Nerazzurri responded in the 71st minute through Nainggolan, however, the Belgian’s shot just whistled wide of the post. The hosts then found their equaliser just moments later, with a cross from Fares eventually falling to substitute Paloschi to score at the back post. In response, Spalletti brough on Politano for Keita and Lautaro Martinez for Borja Valero. These tactical changes soon bore fruit, with Perisic finding Icardi in the 78th minute and the Nerazzurri skipper comfortably finding the back of the net with an ice-cool finish. Emotions were still high until the final whistle, with Perisic and Politano both going close to getting a Nerazzurri third. The final whistle soon arrived after four minutes of injury time, with SPAL vs. Inter finishing 2-1 to the visitors.

There will now be the international break, before a succession of tough matches for all to enjoy: the #DerbyMilano on 21st October will then be followed by away matches against both Barcelona on the 24th and Lazio on the 29th.

For now and forever: #ForzaInter

SPAL 1-2 INTERGoalscorers: 14' Icardi (I), 72' Paloschi (S), 78' Icardi (I)

SPAL: 1 Gomis; 4 Cionek, 3 Djourou, 27 Felipe; 29 Lazzari, 8 Valoti (79' 25 Everton Luiz), 28 Schiattarella, 6 Missiroli (83' 11 Moncini), 93 Fares; 7 Antenucci (66' 43 Paloschi), 37 PetagnaSubstitutes: 22 Thiam, 32 Milinkovic, 10 Floccari, 14 Bonifazi, 16 Valdifiori, 23 Vicari, 24 Dickmann, 33 Costa, 97 VitaleCoach: Leonardo Semplici

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 2 Vrsaljko, 37 Skriniar, 23 Miranda, 18 Asamoah; 8 Vecino, 20 Borja Valero (77' 10 Lautaro); 11 Keita (67' 16 Politano), 14 Nainggolan, 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi (81' 5 Gagliardini)Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 6 De Vrij, 13 Ranocchia, 15 Joao Mario, 29 Dalbert, 33 D'Ambrosio, 87 CandrevaCoach: Luciano Spalletti

Bookings: Lazzari (S), Valoti (S), Vrsaljko (I), Missiroli (S), Miranda (I), Schiattarella (S), Everton Luiz (S), Felipe (S)

Added time: 1' + 4'

Referee: MarescaAssistants: Vivenzi, ValerianiFourth official: IlluzziVAR operators: Banti, Liberti