Lukaku’s 18, his partnership with Lautaro and Eriksen’s creativity: all you need to know about Inter vs. Sampdoria

MILAN – Inter’s return to the league brought a 2-1 win against Sampdoria in the match valid for matchday 25 of Serie A. It was a game that the Nerazzurri dominated in the first half and managed to hold on to in a not so excellent second half. Lukaku and Lautaro’s goals decided the match, before which there was a heartfelt tribute to Mario Corso, and brought Inter up to 57 points in the table. It was back in 2009/10 that the Nerazzurri managed to collect at least 57 points after 26 matchdays in Serie A (they managed 58 points after 26 games back then).

LUKAKU ON 18 GOALS IN SERIE A: HIS PREDECCESORS

Romelu Lukaku’s 18th Serie A goal (his 24th overall this season) puts the Belgian into an esteemed Nerazzurri group statistically: Lukaku is the fourth Inter player to score at least 18 goals in his first season with the Nerazzurri in Serie A over the last 30 years. He follows Milito in 2009/10, Ronaldo in 1997/98 and Ruben Sosa in 1992/93 in having achieved this feat.

Lukaku became the seventh player to have scored at least 18 goals in a Serie A season with Inter in the last 25 years. Before him were Icardi, Eto’o, Milito, Ibrahimovic, Vieri and Ronaldo.

LAUTARO, GOALS COUPLED WITH LUKAKU AS WELL AS QUICK STARTS

The Lukaku-Lautaro duo has managed 30 goals in Serie A. Among the players with at least twelve goals in the league this season, Lautaro (1997) and Lukaku (1993) are the two youngest. Before Lautaro and Lukaku this year, the last time Inter had two players who had scored at least twelve goals in a Serie A campaign was back in 2009/10 with Milito and Eto’o.

Against Sampdoria, Lautaro played his 50th match in Serie A (18 goals overall): ten of his twelve goals in the league have come in the first half of matches. Only Immobile (15) has scored more than the Argentine in the first half of Serie A games this season.

No team in the league has scored more goals than Inter in the first 15 minutes of games (six goals for the Nerazzurri, equal with Lazio).

ERIKSEN’S FIRST ASSIST IN SERIE A

A brilliant all-round performance from Eriksen, who lit up the Nerazzurri’s game with shots, chances created and his first assist in Serie A. Eriksen is the player who took the most shots (five) and created the most opportunities for his teammates (four) in the match.