Inter Milan’s unbeaten run in Serie A now stands at 14 matches after the Nerazzurri hit five against Monza at the Stadio Brianteo to go five points clear at the Italian summit.Inter began to show the dominance that had won them the “winter title” as early as the third minute, when Lautaro Martínez came within inches of turning home Federico Dimarco’s volley. Eight minutes later, they were gifted the opportunity to take the lead, when VAR spotted that former Nerazzurri midfielder Roberto Gagliardini had deflected Martínez’s header with his hand inside the box – allowing Hakan Çalhanoğlu to step up and duly dispatch the penalty.##EDITORS_CHOICE##The irrepressible visitors then added a second inside the quarter-hour mark with a move which began with goalkeeper Yann Sommer, and ended with Henrikh Mkhitaryan feeding Dimarco, who rifled the ball across goal for Martínez to bundle home. Marcus Thuram went the closest as Inter continued to lay siege to the Monza goal before, completely against the run of play, Monza thought they had got a goal back through Matteo Pessina, but a VAR check ruled him offside from Luca Caldirola’s flick-on.The beginning of the second half was in complete contrast to that of the first, with Inter mustering half chances which fell to Mkhitaryan and Çalhanoğlu. However, on the hour mark, they were both involved in a swift counterattack which resulted in Inter’s third. Mkhitaryan found Thuram in the box, and the Frenchman selflessly laid it off to Çalhanoğlu who buried his second of the game and ninth of the campaign. Raffaele Palladino’s men kept battling, and were rewarded soon after when Matteo Darmian clipped Dany Mota and referee Antonio Rapuano pointed to the spot for the second time. Pessina coolly rolled the ball past Sommer to give the Biancorossi a glimmer of hope with over 20 minutes still to play.The third penalty of the match arrived with seven minutes remaining after Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro pulled Davide Frattesi back. With Çalhanoğlu substituted, Martínez had the chance to notch his 18th of the season, which he took by slamming the ball down the middle. There was still time for Thuram to get on the scoresheet; he kept his composure cut inside and beat Alessandro Sorrentino at his near post. Simone Inzaghi’s men have now surpassed 50 points in Serie A, with more than half of that tally coming from their unbeaten away record (eight wins, two draws). The defeat leaves Monza with one win from their last five, though they remain comfortable in mid-table.
SERIE A – MATCHDAY 20Saturday Genoa – Torino 0-0Napoli – Salernitana 2-1 (1-1)/Politano 45+4 pen, Rrahmani 90+6 – Candreva 29/Verona – Empoli 2-1 (1-0)/Djuric 3, Ngonge 56 – Zurkowski 64/Monza – Inter 1-5 (0-2)/Pessina 68 pen – Calhanoglu 12 pen, 60, Lautaro 14, 84 pen, Thuram 88/Sunday14.30: (1.67) Lazio (3.50) Lecce (5.80)17.00: (3.05) Cagliari (3.10) Bologna (2.50)20.00: (1.70) Fiorentina (3.80) Udinese (5.80)22.45: (2.15) Milan (3.30) Roma (3.50)Monday 22.45: (1.40) Atalanta (4.70) Frosinone (8.00)Tuesday22.45: (1.45) Juventus (4.70) Sassuolo (8.00)***odds are subject to change***