INTER STATS | D’Ambrosio 12th Nerazzurri scorer in Serie A, headed goals, Barella’s centenary

MILAN – Inter are back to winning ways, taking three points home from the Castellani. The stars of the show for the Nerazzurri were two of its defenders: Danilo D’Ambrosio stopped a certain goal before finding the net himself to open the scoreline, while Federico Dimarco exhibited his finishing prowess with a neat left-footed strike from Lautaro Martinez’s cross to seal Inter’s win.  

D’AMBROSIO: COOL-HEADED, WHOLEHEARTED AND PURE CONSISTENCY 

In finding the net on Wednesday evening D’Ambrosio became Inter’s 12th scorer so far this campaign. The 33-year-old’s strike is also the 8th time the Nerazzurri have found the net through a headed goal in Serie A 2021/22, more times than any other team. Prior to opening the scoring in the 34th minute the veteran defender made a vital intervention, blocking Sebastiano Luperto’s goalbound effort to keep the scoreline 0-0. His strike was a formidable individual effort: surging forward into the attacking third, playing it out to Alexis Sanchez, before breaking into the box to meet the Chilean’s cross with a thundering header. 

While proving to be pivotal on the night, D’Ambrosio’s strike means that he’s also scored in seven consecutive Serie A seasons, and only one other defender has achieved such a feat: Leonardo Bonucci. In addition, D’Ambrosio has scored 12 headers, which is more than any other defender since the 2012/13 season, alongside Stefan de Vrij and Gonzalo Rodriguez. Alexis Sanchez’s assist means that he has now been involved in 21 goals in his 23 starts for Inter in Serie A, contributing nine goals as well as supplying 12.

CLEAN SHEETS AWAY AT EMPOLI

By coming away from the Castellani with a clean sheet, Inter have now equalled their longest run of games without conceding away from home against a particular opponent; a streak of seven. The Nerazzurri have also claimed their first clean sheet away from home this time out, and their first shutout in Serie A since defeating Genoa 4-0 at San Siro back in August.  

BARELLA’S CENTENARY OF APPEARANCES

Last night Nicolo Barella made his 100th appearance for the Nerazzurri; 73 coming in Serie A, 8 in the Coppa Italia, 13 in the Champions League and 6 in the Europa League, since making his Inter debut back on 26 August 2019 in a 4-0 win over Lecce. Click here to read more about his centenary of appearances. Fellow Nerazzurri Stefan de Vrij also broke a personal record, playing game number 100 as a starter for Inter in Serie A.