Inter swept Dejan Stankovic’s Sampdoria aside with Stefan de Vrij’s header, a fantastic Nicolò Barella strike and Joaquin Correa solo effort for their fourth straight Serie A victory.
The Nerazzurri were brimming with confidence after securing Champions League qualification for the Round of 16 and putting together three consecutive Serie A victories, missing only Marcelo Brozovic as Romelu Lukaku made his comeback after two months out injured to score against Viktoria Plzen midweek. It was a special night for Samp coach and former Treble winner Dejan Stankovic, who had to do without Fabio Quagliarella and Harry Winks.
Inter broke the deadlock with the first real chance of the game, as Stefan de Vrij rose for a bullet header on Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner from the right. Curiously, his last Serie A goal was also against Samp in January 2021.
Lautaro Martinez sent Henrikh Mkhitaryan clear on goal to fire wide, while Federico Dimarco hit the side-netting from a tight angle and Alessandro Bastoni glanced a Calhanoglu free kick past the post.
Nicolò Barella doubled their tally in sensational fashion on the stroke of half-time. Bastoni floated a long ball over the top and Barella controlled it with a fantastic right-foot first touch, letting it bounce so he was ready to smash in again with his right boot from just inside the box.
Inter started the second half in great form too, Lautaro Martinez prodding a Federico Dimarco cross just wide, then a desperate Emil Audero save from point-blank range on Edin Dzeko after good work from Mkhitaryan.
Andre Onana got away with fumbling a Bartosz Bereszynski cross, while Milan Skriniar shouldn’t scored with his free header wide from Dimarco’s set play.
Lautaro Martinez forced a save from Audero and Romelu Lukaku made his Serie A comeback after two months out, for what was also his 100th official match in the Inter jersey.
Joaquin Correa also came off the bench and made an immediate impact, running from inside his own half to curl into the near top corner from outside the box.
Audero made a triple save in a chaotic move from Raoul Bellanova, Mkhitaryan and Correa, but Onana had to be at full stretch to parry Ignacio Pussetto’s ferocious effort with a foot and prevented Francesco Acerbi’s own goal at the near post in stoppages.
Inter 3-0 Sampdoria
De Vrij 21 (I), Barella 44 (I), Correa 73 (I)
Dear Lord I will be praying for PhD Max. With Inter in fine form, no amount of Rainbow Six, Zombienaccio, Coma Calcio, ritiro bunker tactics will save the 7/9. Full horse whipping coming to the village and home of Europe’s bush leaguers.
Get back on your meds.