Inter secured an away 1-0 win at Empoli thanks to an amazing Federico Dimarco goal: here are three takeaways from the Nerazzurri’s fifth consecutive victory in Serie A.
Simone Inzaghi’s men are the only team with a perfect record in Italy’s top flight with five wins in five games, 14 goals scored and just one conceded. The result at the Stadio Castellani – Computer Gross Arena may suggest they did the bare minimum to take all three points from Tuscany, but this is not exactly true. Here’s what we learned from their win in Empoli.
Dominant
Inzaghi’s men had 23 shots, including six on target. Empoli, on the other hand, managed just one goal towards Yan Sommer’s goal. The Nerazzurri dominated ball possession (61% to 39%) and had 20 goal-scoring opportunities against Empoli’s five. It’s fair to say they did enough to win the game and move three points clear of city rivals Milan at the top of the Serie A table. Empoli, on the other hand, are the only Serie A side with 0 points and have failed to score in the opening five league games for the first time ever.
Dimarco
His winner will be one of the contenders for the goal of the season, but Dimarco’s stats are probably more impressive than the goal itself. The 25-year-old was responsible for three of Inter’s six shots on target, leaving one each to Matteo Darmian, Davide Frattesi and Marcus Thuram. The Italian also provided three key passes and his passing accuracy was 93%. He did pretty much everything and was much more than a mere left-wing-back. “Federico has proved so much over the last two years with me,” Inzaghi said at a post-match press conference attended by Football Italia. “He has deserved to play for Inter and for the national team and be named in the Top Champions League XI last season. He has earned everything on the pitch.”
Arnautovic’s injury
The Austria international was introduced halfway in the second half but remained on the pitch only for a few minutes as he soon suffered a severe muscle injury which will keep him out of action for several weeks, surely more than a month. His latest setback means Inzaghi will not be able to rotate his strikers in the next games before and after the break with only Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram and Alexis Sanchez available. The Nerazzurri will play four games in the next two weeks, three in Serie A and one in Champions League but it’s unlikely to see Arnautovic return to action before the start of November.