MX23RW : Tuesday, January 14 23:00:06| >> :120:21292:21292:
[monks data]
Inter logo
Serie A
May 12, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Sassuolo logo

1-2

Rafinha (80')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Politano (25'), Berardi (72')

Inter Milan suffer costly defeat in race for top four

Inter suffer costly defeat in top-four race
© SilverHub
Inter Milan lose 2-1 to Sassuolo at San Siro to remain two points behind fourth-placed Lazio, who have a game in hand to play.

Inter Milan have fallen to a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Sassuolo to lose ground in the race for a top-four finish in Serie A.

The Nerazzurri trailed 2-0 with a quarter of the game left to play and, despite Rafinha converting with 10 minutes to go, there was to be no coming back.

Inter remain fifth in the standings, two points adrift of Lazio who play their game in hand on Sunday afternoon, meaning that their Champions League qualification hopes may be over by the end of the weekend.

With Lazio to come on the final weekend, the hosts knew that victory would be enough to keep their fate in their own hands, but they could not overcome a Sassuolo side with little to play for.

After Alfred Duncan had sent out a warning message by shooting wide at the end of a counter, Matteo Politano rolled the ball under Inter's jumping wall to give the Neroverdi the lead with 25 minutes on the clock.

Andrea Consigli was called into action to keep out Marcelo Brozovic's powerful drive, and Domenico Beradi would have found a way through if not for an impressive Samir Handanovic save at the opposite end of the pitch.

Rafinha and Antonio Candreva were next to come close for Inter, both testing Consigli, while Mauro Icardi found the back of the net but was flagged for offside.

Looking for a fourth win in five matches, Inter should have been level when Ivan Perisic somehow failed to convert when picked out unmarked from eight yards.

Then, after Berardi had an effort helped around the post and Duncan a snapshot from a similar position, Sassuolo had themselves a second.

Berardi cut inside and blasted the ball past Handanovic from the edge of the area, with that proving to be the winner as Inter could muster just one goal in response - Rafinha tucking away with a left-footed finish from 20 yards out.

Icardi did have a couple of chances, though, as did Eder, with Man of the Match Consigli denying the latter to get his side over the line for a fourth win in five matches.

INTER MILAN (4-2-3-1): Handanovic; Cancelo, Skriniar, Ranocchia (Borja Valero 76'), D'Ambrosio; Vecino (Eder 71'), Brozovic; Candreva (Karamoh 58'), Rafinha, Perisic; Icardi

SASSUOLO (3-5-2): Consigli; Lemos (Letschert 84'), Acerbi, Dell'Orco; Adjapong, Missiroli, Magnanelli, Duncan, Rogerio; Berardi (Ragusa 78'), Politano (Babacar 71')

ID:325760: cacheID:325760:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4510:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Marcelo Brozovic in action for Inter Milan on October 1, 2017
Read Next:
Yann Karamoh secures first Inter win in nine
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Vikings
9-27
Rams
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli20152332122047
2Inter Milan18134146153143
3Atalanta BCAtalanta20134344212343
4Lazio2011363428636
5Juventus20713032171534
6Fiorentina1995532201232
7AC Milan1987429191031
8Bologna187832723429
9Udinese207582328-526
10Roma206682826224
11Genoa205871727-1023
12Torino205782025-522
13Empoli204881925-620
14Lecce2055101432-1820
15Parma204792535-1019
16Como204792233-1119
17Hellas VeronaHellas Verona2061132444-2019
18CagliariCagliari2046101933-1418
19VeneziaVenezia2035121833-1514
20Monza2027111928-913


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!