Edin Dzeko came to the rescue for Inter with a brace, including his 100th Serie A goal, to secure a precious 2-1 victory away to Sassuolo.
The Nerazzurri beat Barcelona midweek in the Champions League, but had lost four of their last six Serie A games, including two on the bounce, and were level on points with Sassuolo going into the Mapei Stadium. Joaquin Correa joined Romelu Lukaku and Marcelo Brozovic on the absentee list, but Andre Onana got his Serie A debut. Domenico Berardi, Gregoire Defrel, Hamed Junior Traore and Mert Muldur were still out of action.
The Cameroon international was immediately called into action, sticking out a foot to deny Davide Frattesi’s angled drive, with Armand Laurienté’s volley smacking Nicolò Barella in the face from point-blank range.
Inter focused on the counter-attack, Lautaro Martinez prodding a Denzel Dumfries low cross inches wide as he came sliding in.
Sassuolo should’ve taken the lead just before half-time when Laurienté rolled across the face of goal only for Ceide to trip on the ball at the back post.
It proved costly, as Inter went in front moments later when Dumfries flicked on a corner and Edin Dzeko was left unmarked to stroke in from a couple of yards for his 100th Serie A goal.
There was almost an equaliser in stoppages, first the Thorstvedt shot charged down, then Onana using his legs to parry the Laurienté rebound.
Thorstvedt saw another attempt blocked by Inter defending in numbers and Ceide nodded over from Andrea Pinamonti’s cross, but Sassuolo equalised when Rogerio whipped an excellent cross from the left and Frattesi was left unmarked for a cushioned volley from six yards, as defenders were drawn away by Pinamonti.
Laurienté saw his strike deflected wide for a corner, but Inter got back into it with first a miraculous Andrea Consigli save on Lautaro Martinez, then as the move continued Dzeko nodded in a Henrikh Mkhitaryan cross from the left.
Lautaro Martinez blasted into the sky from 12 yards on a Dumfries pull-back and Dzeko threatened a hat-trick in stoppages, his shot palmed over the bar.
Sassuolo 1-2 Inter
Dzeko 45, 75 (I), Frattesi 60 (S)