While the financial situation at Giuseppe Meazza is far from good, the situation on the pitch is much better. It could have been even perfect but Nerazzurri failed to keep a perfect score after drawing with Sampdoria at Luigi Ferraris in Genoa. Final score 2-2 after great 70 minutes of football.Simone Inzaghi’s men were favourites and Sampdoria took the epithet of an underdog gladly. The lead for La Beneamata came in the 18th minute after a free kick – Federico Dimarco sent an perfectly accurate missile which two goalkeepers couldn’t save.Prior to Dimarco, the last Inter Italian player able to score with a direct free kick in Serie A was Mario Balotelli in February 2009 against Bologna.In the 32nd minute, Inter’s advantage almost doubled – a defence-splitting pass found Lautaro Martinez in the box and without even looking up he drilled a shot towards the right side of the goal, but Emil Audero pulled off a brilliant save.Two minutes later, instead of being more in front – Inter saw Sampdoria level the score. And luck was on the home team’s side. After a confusion from a corner kick, Japanese defender and former Southampton player Maya Yoshida found some space and took a shot. The ball hit Edin Dzeko on it’s way behind Samir Handanovic’s back and in to the net.Sampdoria imposed themselves as a serious opponent, they did not back down and were eager to hold the ball. But it was not enough to hold Inter who took the lead again after 10 minutes.Lautaro met a perfect cross from Nicolo Barella deep inside the box and controlled it with a nice first touch. An accurate strike sent the ball inside the left post. What technique from both Barella and Lautaro!Barella is the first Inter’s player able to provide assist in each of his first three Serie A games in a single season since 2004/05.Second half start with more excitement as the hosts equalised in the 48th minute. Bartosz Bereszynski put a cross into the box and found Tommaso Augello who latches on to it and sent the ball into the top left corner.Augello levels it for Sampdoria with the beautiful volley.#SampdoriaInter pic.twitter.com/AIESFMUq1B— B/R Goal (@br_goal) September 12, 2021 Inter were infuriated by Doria’s second goal. In a matter of minutes, three great chances for Nerazzurri – Ivan Perisic sent something between a shot towards goal and a cross towards Dzeko in the 52nd minute. A minute later Lautaro almost scored his second but his effort sent the ball too wide. It was all followed by Calhanoglu’s cannonball of a shot from the edge of the area, but it zipped narrowly wide of the left post.Sampdoria managed to defend from Inter’s attack-wave and the game again saw a bit more balance. Few half-chances for the home team held Nerazzurri back with little less than half-an-hour left.Fatigue was evident and substitutions were necessary. For Inter, in came Joaquin Correa. Two chances for the Argentine, one in the 69th minute and the other in the 74th – but none of them ended up where Correa wanted.Juve on life support: Szczesny’s mistakes and another defeat for the Old LadyClosing minutes of the match showed obvious lack of energy on both sides and the substitutions did not keep the energy levels as high as they were in the first hour of the match. The point for Nerazzurri means Napoli will stand alone at the top of the table, at least until Milan plays their derby match against Lazio later during the day.If Inter wish to start their Champions League campaign successfully, they will have to play much better on Wednesday against Real Madrid.SERIE A – ROUND 3SaturdayEmpoli – Venezia 1-2 (0-1)/Bajrami 89 – Henry 13, Okereke 68/Napoli – Juventus 2-1 (0-1)/Politano 57, Koulibali 85 – Morata 11/21:45: Atalanta – FiorentinaSundaySampdoria – Inter 2-2 (1-2)/Yoshida 33′, Augello 47′ – Dimarco 18′, Martinez 44’/16:00: Torino – Salernitana16:00: Cagliari – Genoa16:00: Spezia – Udinese19:00: Milan – Lazio21:45: Roma – SassuoloMonday21:45: Bologna – Verona
