Inter vs Napoli 1 - 0, Dzeko lights up San Siro
Team
— Jan 4th 20237 MIN READING
An excellent performance by the Nerazzurri who win and close the gap on Spalletti's side to eight points, Napoli's first defeat in the league. At the end, Onana saved superbly from Raspadori
INTER-NAPOLI 1-0 |
Scorer: 56' Dzeko (I)
INTER (3-5-2): 24 Onana; 37 Skriniar, 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni; 36 Darmian, 23 Barella, 20 Calhanoglu, 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco; 9 Dzeko, 90 Lukaku. Subs: 1 Handanovic, 21 Cordaz, 2 Dumfries, 5 Gagliardini, 6 De Vrij, 8 Gosens, 10 Lautaro, 11 Correa, 12 Bellanova, 14 Asllani, 33 D'Ambrosio, 45 Carboni, 46 Zanotti. Head Coach: Simone Inzaghi.
NAPOLI (4-3-3): 1 Meret; 22 Di Lorenzo, 13 Rrahmani, 3 Kim, 17 Olivera; 99 Anguissa, 68 Lobotka, 20 Zielinski; 21 Politano, 9 Osimhen, 77 Kvaratskhelia. Subs: 12 Marfella, 30 Sirigu, 4 Demme, 5 Juan Jesus, 6 Mario Rui, 7 Elmas, 11 Lozano, 18 Simeone, 23 Zerbin, 31 Zedadka, 55 Ostigard, 59 Zanoli, 81 Raspadori, 91 Ndombele. Head Coach: Luciano Spalletti.
Referee: Sozza. Assistant Referees: Meli, Peretti. Fourth Official: Piccinini. VAR: Fabbri. Assistant VAR: Aureliano.
The fireworks set off to mark the new year are black and blue: beautiful, spectacular and powerful. One solitary goal was enough to earn three massive points in front of a dream crowd. Inter's 2023 got off to the best of starts with all the right ingredients mixed in perfectly: a fit squad, good football, goalmouth action, and a goal by Dzeko to decide the match and succumb Napoli to their first league defeat of the campaign.
The evening opened up with President Steven Zhang presenting a commemorative plaque to returning World Cup winner Lautaro; there was also a one minute silence in honour of remembering the great, late Pelé. It was the opening to a highly anticipated game, with 94 minutes of high intensity action, sealed by Dzeko's headed finish, an excellent performance from Barella, Acerbi and Calhanoglu, and secured by Onana's fine save late on. Inter now go above Lazio, moving up to fourth spot in the table, and are now eight points behind leaders Napoli.
75.470 were in attendance at a sold-out San Siro, all hungry for football, all hungry to see their beloved Inter after almost two months since the last official fixture. And such an important big match clash to start off 2023 started off in the most blistering of ways with Inter flying out of the traps quickly, but failing to have the bit of fortune in front of goal. The opening five minutes saw the visitors immediately on the back foot: Kim had to fling himself to get back to stop Lukaku, then the same Big Rom put in Dzeko who couldn't get the winning touch, before Dimarco missed from close-range. The game then saw a lull for the next 25 minutes of play as both teams looked to get control.
The pressure from the Nerazzurri and them winning the ball back high up the field put Napoli constantly under pressure, who found it difficult to play the ball around in Inter's half and often found themselves in trouble. After 26 minutes, the clearest chance of the half came, in a half full of chances for Inter, when Lukaku played a ball in from the right, Dzeko expertly laid it off to Darmian, but his right-footed strike flew over the bar. It was a lovely move but no end product, also seen at the end of the half but with the same end result, after Lukaku shot over after Barella's cheeky back-heel.
It was all Inter, with only the goal missing, urged on by a vocal, exemplary home backing. The Nerazzurri are a team, and play as a team, in every situation. When Calhanoglu came back to defend to stop Osimhen's path, it was clear the efforts of Inzaghi's lads needed to be awarded, and they were repaid thanks to a beautiful piece of masterful build-up play: Mkhitaryan's sweetly struck pass out to Dimarco, his cross was inch perfect and found Dzeko's head, beating Meret to send the home crowd wild.
The San Siro roar filled the hearts of everyone. Napoli needed to react and come out and attack, but Kvaratskhelia was unable to free himself from Skriniar all evening. In the middle, Acerbi played a perfect game totally nullifying Osimhen. Onana had almost nothing to do all game, as the last quarter of an hour saw many changes and cards being shown. The game became a scrappy affair, one of winning battles, nerves and praying. Napoli smashed a shot into the chest of Onana in the last minute of normal time, before he reacted well and pushed away a rasping strike from Raspadori with a strong right arm, their only real chance of the match.
After four minutes of stoppage time, with Barella standing out for his energy and determination to being home the three points, San Siro greeted the start of the new year with a huge win, with the joy of a special group of players, but with the realisation that the road is still a long and arduous one. Next stop, Monza.
LIVE COMMENTARY
THE FINAL WHISTLE BLOWS! INTER BEAT THE LEAGUE LEADERS 1-0
4 MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME
90' Onana with a strong arm saves from Raspadori.
83' Last change of the night for Inter: Gagliardini for Mkhitaryan.
76' Another double change for Inzaghi: Dzeko and Darmian off, Correa and Dumfries on. For Napoli Elmas and Ndombele come on for Kvaratskhelia and Anguissa.
69' Great ball from Lautaro to Darmian, but the wideman can't bring it down in the area and the move breaks down.
65' First changes of the game. For Inter Lukaku and Dimarco are replaced by Lautaro and Gosens. For Napoli Raspadori and Lozano for Politano and Zielinski.
61' Napoli try to react through Kvaratskhelia, but his shot goes wide of the mark.
56' GOAL GOAL GOAL! DZEKOOOOOOOO! Inter ahead! Finally! Superb play from Mkhitaryan who finds Dimarco on the left and his cross is met by Dzeko at the front post and heads home past Meret! 1-0!
52' Vital tackle from Calhanoglu on Osimhen in the 6-yard box, as the Turk and Onana work together to stop the goal.
46' Second half is underway with no changes at the break.
LIVE COMMENTARY
FIRST HALF ENDS Lots of good chances for Inter but it remains 0-0 at the break.
41' CHANCE. This time it's Lukaku who shoots over from just inside the box after a cheeky back-heel flick from Barella. Shortly after, Dimarco from close range finds Meret in his way, but the referee's assistant raises his flag for offside.
30' Napoli dangerous through Zielinski from the edge of the area but the Pole's right-footed shot is off-target.
26' CHANCE! Lukaku on the right crosses into the area finding Dzeko, who lays the ball off to Darmian but he puts it over the bar from 12 yards out. 2 great chances this half so far!
15' There's a lull in the game after a blistering start from the home side. Both teams battling for control of the game in midfield.
4' Inter pressing well: a great from Lukaku but Dzeko just can't reach it but it falls to Dimarco at the far post who can't direct it on target. The home side out of the traps fast.
3' Long ball by Bastoni but it's hit too strongly and Lukaku can't reach it. The ball eventually runs through to the keeper.
1' Inter get the game underway at San Siro, in front of a sold-out crowd and a great choreography from the Curva Nord.
16ª GIORNATA
Salernitana-Milan 1-2 Sassuolo-Sampdoria 1-2 Spezia-Atalanta 2-2 Torino-Verona 1-1 Lecce-Lazio 2-1 Roma-Bologna 1-0 Cremonese-Juventus 0-1 Fiorentina-Monza 1-1 Inter-Napoli 1-0 Udinese-Empoli 1-1
LA CLASSIFICA
Napoli 41 Milan 36 Juventus 34 Inter 33 Lazio 30 Roma 30 Atalanta 28 Udinese 25 Torino 22 Fiorentina 20 Bologna 19 Lecce 18 Empoli 18 Salernitana 17 Monza 17 Sassuolo 16 Spezia 14 Sampdoria 9 Cremonese 7 Hellas Verona 6
In the pre-match build up, President Steven Zhang honoured Lautaro Martinez on the pitch at San Siro for winning the World Cup with Argentina.