Serie A | Verona 0-6 Inter: Joy of Six at the Bentegodi

Inter tore Verona to shreds at the Bentegodi with an Edin Dzeko brace and spectacular long-range Hakan Calhanoglu effort the highlights.

There was so much at stake for both sides, battling for the top four and to avoid relegation. Robin Gosens joined Milan Skriniar on the treatment table after the comeback win over Lazio, but there had to be some squad rotation with Roma coming up on Saturday. Hellas had Marco Davide Faraoni back from suspension, though Thomas Henry, Ardian Hrustic, Miguel Veloso and Kevin Lasagna were out.

The first genuine shot on target was from Verona, as Simone Verdi ran onto a Darko Lazovic slide-rule pass and stung Samir Handanovic’s gloves at the near post.

Edin Dzeko’s header from a Hakan Calhanoglu set play was fingertipped over the bar and Lorenzo Montipò did even better on Danilo D’Ambrosio at the back post on the resulting corner. The goalkeeper was tested again moments later, using his legs to deny Stefan de Vrij.

Montipò was eventually beaten by friendly fire, because Adolfo Gaich accidentally turned Federico Dimarco’s cross into his own net at the near post with a diving header.

Suddenly, the floodgates opened, as Calhanoglu picked his spot from a long way out, hitting a magnificent curler into the far top corner that looped viciously to leave Di Gregorio no chance.

The goalkeeper could do little moments later either, as Adrien Tameze was caught in possession by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Lautaro Martinez sent Dzeko through to make it 3-0.

Marcelo Brozovic intercepted a dreadful back-pass and set up Lautaro Martinez for the delightful, delicate lob over Montipò, then Dzeko bent a relaxed left-foot finish into the far bottom corner on Francesco Acerbi’s assist.

Lautaro Martinez got the sixth in stoppages, battling his way through a sea of legs from close range.

Verona 0-6 Inter

Gaich og 31 (I), Calhanoglu 36 (I), Dzeko 37, 61 (I), Lautaro Martinez 55, 92 (I)