And Sassuolo have done it! After being thoroughly outplayed in the first half, Inter laid siege to the visitors' goal in the second, and were only denied by excellent goalkeeping from Consigli and his watertight defence! Sassuolo still had a plethora of their own chances to move further in front, in what was a very, very entertaining, end-to-end game, as Sassuolo's two first-half goals proved crucial in ensuring they head home with three points!
He didn't add to his excellent scoring tally against Inter, but Domenico Berardi still had one hell of a game for the Neroverdi tonight. Three shots and key passes apiece, including an assist for the opener, were just reward for the Sassuolo player with more passes and touches than any other, and despite being fouled twice, the winger won all four of his aerial duels in a performance worthy of his status as a legend in Sassuolo.
That loss sees Inter miss their chance to re-take their place at the top of the table, and although their second half performance was much-improved, their first half showing will bring into question their credentials, and attributes, to retain their Serie A title. A momentous performance and victory only sees Sassuolo move up one place in the table, but also suggests that if they keep playing in this way, a first European campaign since 2016-17 could be firmly within their sights.
Cronaca
Formazioni
Statistiche
That's all from us, we hope you enjoyed the game. Until the next one, goodbye!20:17
90'+7'
FULL-TIME: INTER 0-2 SASSUOLO.20:03
90'+6'
NO GOAL!! A brush of the hand from Skriniar is evidence enough for the referee to rule out the goal, and Inter are back where they started! On one hand, it's a shame to rule out an absolute rocket of a header, but at the same time it ensures the excellent Consigli remains unbeaten - for now.20:24
90'+5'
We're off to VAR!! They're checking for a possible handball in the build-up to the goal, and the referee wants to have a second look!20:01
90'+4'
BALL IN THE NET!! After recovering a loose ball, Barella finds Vidal, whose floated cross is met by a bullet header from De Vrij! He smashes it home, finally beating Consigli, and it's game on here!20:24
90'+3'
BLOCKED!! Sanchez's free-kick is headed away to Barella, who tries another long-distance volley that Ruan blocks! 19:58
90'+3'
As Sanchez stands over a free-kick, there's an altercation between nearly every other player on the pitch, and the referee. We're unsure of how it started, but all it's doing is delaying Inter's chances of a late goal here.19:57
90'+1'
We're into four minutes of added time, and this game just will not let up so don't go anywhere!19:56
90'
Martinez can't quite control a knock-down from Dzeko and gets into a tangle with Ruan. He goes down in the box, but the referee waves away his protests and plays on.19:56
89'
Berardi did get to his feet eventually, but is replaced by Federico Peluso, presumably to avoid any further confrontations with a very angry Slovakian centre-back.19:55
88'
Berardi attempts to dispossess Skriniar, but soon learn the hard way that it's a bad idea, being knocked to the ground by the strength of the Inter defender. The referee blows for the free-kick against Skriniar, who is far from happy and sprints over to Berardi to frighten him just a tad more.20:24
86'
A bouncing ball in the box tempts D'Ambrosio to try the spectacular, but his mistimed overhead kick sees him strike Ruan, not the ball, and the Inter substitute is rightly booked by the referee.20:24
84'
BLOCKED!!! Dzeko outmuscles Chiriches to cut the ball back to Sanchez from the byline, but the Chilean's first-time shot is deflected behind by Ruan with Consigli all-but beaten!19:51
83'
Henrique races down the left untouched and looks to beat Handanovic, with a deflection off the goalkeeper fortunately finding Skriniar who clears the danger for Inter.19:50
81'
SAVED!!! Sassuolo counter at speed, and a deflected throughball finds the feet of an unmarked Harroui. He shoots low, but Handanovic gets down to it, turning the shot away with his left hand!19:48
79'
WIDE!! The clearance is only as far as Berardi, who again sets himself to shoot and curls an effort just around the wrong side of the post!19:46
79'
OFF THE LINE!!! After a Berardi shot is blocked, Raspadori flicks the ball on and chips Handanovic, only being kept out by Skriniar who clears the ball off the line! Panic stations at the back for Inter at the moment!19:46
78'
Traore comes off having produced a simply exceptional performance, and on comes Abdou Harroui.19:44
78'
Perisic's hard work down the left hasn't yielded the results it's deserved, and he's replaced by Danilo D'Ambrosio.19:44
78'
Inter throw the dice again, bringing off Calhanoglu for Vidal to add more bite in midfield.19:43
77'
Sassuolo look to have carved out another shooting chance as Traore tees up Berardi inside him, but the winger takes far too long to make his mind up and is dispossessed!20:23
76'
Muldur crosses from the right and Berardi leaves it, expecting Defrel to be in the vicinity. He's nowhere near unfortunately, and Skriniar sets off on the counter.20:22
74'
Since coming on Dzeko has had more shots, shots on target, and blocked efforts (six, three and two respectively), than any other Inter player, and is still yet to breach Consigli's goal! What a performance it's been by the Sassuolo rearguard so far, superb.19:41
72'
WIDE!!! Dimarco dinks a lovely ball to Perisic, who cuts the ball back to Dzeko. Consigli stretches to divert the ball away, but it's straight to Martinez, who fires wide from just yards out! The clock is ticking away Inter's chances of scoring, and with misses like that, they're not exactly helping themselves.20:22
70'
Frattesi has given licence to Lopez and Traore to run the midfield, and now gives his place in the team up to substitute Matheus Henrique.02:26
70'
Goalscorer Scamacca's superb performance ends as he's brought off for Gregoire Defrel.19:36
69'
CHANCE!!! Barella feigns to shoot and finds Dzeko, who shoots from point-blank range but is again denied by the stretching right arm of Consigli! The rebound comes straight to Dzeko, but too quickly and blazes it wide, and another Inter chance to get back into this match goes begging!19:35
69'
WHAT A MISS! Dumfries races down the right again, steadying himself before crossing low. Sanchez leaves it for Dzeko, but the Bosnian fluffs his lines completely and drags his shot wide, closer to the corner flag than the goal!19:34
68'
OVER!!! After just managing to win a corner off Muldur, Dimarco swings in the kick, that De Vrij meets with a towering header that clears the crossbar and goes behind!19:32
66'
CHANCE!! Traore does so, so well in the middle, driving forward and evading challenges like nobody's business. However, his touch to take him past Skriniar is too heavy and Handanovic gets to the ball before he can! If he had scored there, we'd have seen a goal-of-the-season contender, no doubt.19:31
64'
WHAT A SAVE!! Dumfries does well to create space by cutting inside and finding Perisic on the opposite flank. He crosses from the byline, and Dzeko's resultant header is somehow kept out by Consigli! It was into the opposite corner, but the Sassuolo captain got across and parried the ball behind to keep the hosts at bay once again!19:29
62'
WIDE!!! Sassuolo again turn defence into attack quickly, and a long diagonal ball finds Berardi. He takes on Dimarco, who shifts the winger onto his weaker right foot, and Berardi snatches at a shot which he blazes wide of the target!19:27
60'
BLOCKED!!! Dimarco's corner is headed away, but only as far as Calhanoglu who lets fly. His effort is blocked Barella's way, who hits a half-volley towards goal that is also blocked before Sassuolo clear their lines!19:25
58'
Muldur takes a heavy touch and loses control, sliding wildly into Sanchez and bringing him down. It's a stonewall yellow card offence, and the referee agrees, brandishing the yellow as tempers fray.02:26
58'
SAVED!!! A long ball forward puts Dzeko through on goal. He's soon caught up with by Chiriches, but shoots on the angle, drawing a great close-range save from a backpedalling Consigli!19:23
57'
Scamacca drops deep to help Sassuolo keep possession, and upon getting the ball is shunted over by De Vrij, winning the free-kick and getting his side out of a tricky area of the field.19:21
55'
Perisic cuts inside Frattesi and has time to shoot in acres of space. Instead of trusting his very reliable right foot, he looks to pass to Calhanoglu in the box, but Chiriches intercepts and clears for the visitors!19:19
54'
Kyriakopoulos nicks the ball off Dumfries and strides forward, trying his luck from the edge of the box that takes a wicked deflection off Skriniar before going behind for a corner!19:17
52'
Dzeko is the oldest player with at least 10 goals across the ‘Big Five’ European Leagues this season. The 35-year-old Inter striker has scored six Serie A goals against Sassuolo, only against Atalanta and Bologna has he scored more.19:15
50'
BLOCKED!!! Dumfries cuts inside before squaring to Dzeko, who attempts and off-balance shot inside the box that is quickly blocked and cleared by Chiriches! Inter have started this half like a team possessed!19:14
49'
Barella attempts to bypass the pressing of Raspadori, but the Sassuolo goalscorer takes out the Inter midfielder from behind and concedes the free-kick, being booked by the referee in the process.19:13
48'
Barella brilliantly steps in to dispossess Berardi, and looks for Martinez in the box, but again the ball is just out fo reach for the Argentinian and the chance goes begging!19:14
47'
CHANCE!!! Perisic is put into space down the left and crosses from the byline. He aims for Martinez, who jumps a fraction too early to connect, and Ruan clears for Sassuolo! 19:11
46'
We're back underway for the second half as Scamacca kicks off!20:21
46'
Gagliardini, also comes off, and is replaced by Edin Dzeko in a bid to add more firepower to Inter's so far fruitless attack.20:21
46'
Simone Inzaghi brings on Denzel Dumfries to take the place of Darmian at half-time.19:09
46'
Both sides make half-time changes, with Sassuolo bringing on Ruan for Ayhan at the back.19:08
The teams head back out onto the pitch, and the home fans will be expecting more of an uncharacteristically passive Inter in the second half.19:02
Traore's first half performance yielded a fantastic assist for his side's second goal, and also contributed three key passes, a shot, and three turnovers of the ball. He's been enigmatic so far, as has Lopez alongside him in midfield for the Neroverdi.19:01
Well, what a first half that was! Sassuolo came straight at Inter right from the off, and were rewarded by Raspadori's well-taken opener just eight minutes in! Inter did produce some chances of their own, drawing saves from Consigli either side of an even better second goal from Scamacca! Inter have been firmly second-best so far, particularly with the energy present in Sassuolo's midfield, and the away side won't lie down as they look to win at the San Siro.18:58
45'+2'
HALF-TIME: INTER 0-2 SASSUOLO.18:51
45'+1'
From a corner of their own, Inter have several blocked shots at goal, however the last from Skriniar sees him follow through on Chiriches and kick his opposite centre-back to the floor!18:51
45'+1'
We're into one additional minute of added time to close out the first half.18:50
45'
Traore is buzzing around the San Siro pitch like an angry bee, breaking up Inter's attacks and steaming forward with the ball time and time again to feed his attackers. He looks to find Scamacca with a pass inside the box, but it's deflected behind for a Sassuolo corner.18:50
43'
WIDE!!! Perisic isn't done yet, recovering possession for Inter after a Sanchez slips. He cuts inside and beats Muldur, before shooting and just glancing the ball wide of the far post!18:48
41'
OVER!!! Calhanoglu crosses to the back post where Perisic is waiting, but the Croatian's volleyed effort flies well over the bar and puts an end to the chance!18:47
40'
Scamacca comes back on defence to scythe down Barella, and awards Inter with a free-kick very much in range for Calhanoglu.18:48
38'
OFF THE BAR!!! Traore surges forward once again for Sassuolo, and finds Berardi on the opposite side of the box. He cuts inside before curling an effort goalwards that dips wildly before smashing the crossbar and re-entering play! What a chance that was for a third goal!18:44
36'
After Gagliardini's parried effort comes back into the possession of Inter, Calhanoglu tries a shot from a similar position, but his effort is immediately blocked by the backside of Chiriches.18:45
35'
SAVED!!! More good build-up from Inter as Sanchez tees up Gagliardini on the edge of the box. The Italy midfielder runs onto it and drills a low shot towards the corner, but Consigli gets down low to his right to make the save and keep the ball out!18:40
33'
Perisic constantly looks to cross or cut inside from the left, but time and time again he's being thwarted by Sassuolo defenders! They seem happy to give him space, but in the right areas they intervene, and are yet to put a foot wrong so far.18:39
31'
SAVED!!! An Inter corner is whipped in to the far post, and is met by a bullet header from Skriniar that Consigli has to really stretch for to keep out! 18:36
30'
Sassuolo have won only one of their last eight league games, whilst never repeating the same result in two successive matches in the process, drawing the last one against AS Roma. Two in nine still isn't the best form, but what a statement they're making so far!18:35
28'
Scamacca's in the mood to set them up now, after spotting a run from Raspadori and attempting to put him through on goal. The two Sassuolo goalscorers are brought back and penalised though, after Raspadori is flagged for offside.18:34
26'
The cross from Traore was good, but Inter's defending was pedestrian at best, allowing Scamacca to sneak in unnoticed at the back post and leave Handanovic with no chance!18:33
26'
GOOOAALLLLL!!! The visitors have two!!! Traore gets the ball in space after another quick transition from defence to attack, and crosses into the box. Scamacca ghosts in at the far post to nod the ball past Handanovic, off the post, and in! 2-0 with barely half an hour gone, and the San Siro has fallen silent!
Martínez made his Serie A debut against Sassuolo in August 2018, scoring four goals against them in the competition - only against Cagliari (six) has he scored more. However, the Argentinian has gone goalless in his last six league appearances, only in August 2019 has he gone seven such games without a single goal.18:31
25'
WIDE!!! Really good link-up play from Inter allows Barella to thread a delightful throughball forward for Martinez. Unfortunately, the striker snatches at the shot, which rolls well wide from close range! He's pinged for offside soon after, but will still be fuming when he sees a replay of that chance!18:30
23'
Martinez looks to turn and shoot after controlling a high ball in the box, but kicks Muldur as he winds up the shot and is penalised! The Argentinian isn't happy as Muldur receives treatment, and Inter's forwards are beginning to get frustrated already!18:28
22'
Perisic cuts inside looking to create a shooting chance, but Sassuolo's defenders brilliantly recover the ball and play their way out of trouble with some tiki taka-esque passing in their own box!20:19
20'
CHANCE!!! Inter are really getting into this game now. A lofted diagonal ball for Gagliardini is smashed back across the face of goal by the midfielder, and Sanchez is just too far away to get a clean connection on the ball! It's been a good few minutes for Inter as they look to equalise, and could've been so close there.18:26
18'
Sanchez chests down a ball forward from De Vrij, and turns towards goal looking to carve out a chance. He shoots from 25 yards out, but his looping effort is held by Consigli, who probably could've let that ball go behind.18:23
16'
WIDE!!! Calhanoglu picks the ball up in midfield and drives towards the box. He lets fly from the left edge of the area, and his strike across goal just skims the far post and goes behind! Consigli didn't look like he had it covered either!18:22
16'
Perisic beats Muldur out wide, and looks for the inside run of Sanchez. The hosts look to have a good chance, before Ayhan nips in to steal possession and clean up the danger for Sassuolo.18:21
14'
After defeat against AC Milan and a draw against Napoli, Inter could fail to win three consecutive Serie A matches for the first time since January 2020, if the scoreline stays as it is for the next 75 minutes.18:19
12'
CHANCE!!! A good flick from Sanchez allows Darmian to cross from the byline. It's an awkward, low effort that Consigli comes for but cannot hold, and requires Ayhan to step in and hoof the ball clear!18:17
10'
Inter have gained the most points from trailing situations in Serie A this season with 17, whilst Sassuolo have recovered the second-most (14). However, Sassuolo have lost 17 points from leading positions - only Verona (20) have lost more.18:16
8'
The assist from Berardi was perfectly teed up for Raspadori to fire home, but the work of Lopez in midfield was just exceptional. Calhanoglu and Inter stopped expecting the free-kick, but Lopez didn't care and played a massive part in that early goal.18:16
8'
GOOOOAAALLLL!!!! Sassuolo fire themselves ahead!!! They've been very, very lively right from the off, and after Lopez dispossesses Calhanoglu in midfield, he finds Berardi who in turn feeds Raspadori, who cuts inside to fire a low shot underneath Handanovic to put the Neroverdi into a 1-0 lead! What a start!
Berardi cuts inside and plays a lovely one-two before looking to feed Scamacca, but his centre-forward mis-controls the ball horribly and sends it bouncing into the arms of Handanovic.20:18
5'
Traore surges into the box once more, taking on Skriniar and looking to have forced a corner, but the referee rules that the last touch came off the Sassuolo midfielder and gives a goal kick,18:09
4'
Gagliardini nips in to dispossess Scamacca for Inter, and the Sassuolo forward follows in on the beneficiary, Barella, taking him out from behind and conceding a free-kick.18:09
3'
Sassuolo have won seven of their 17 Serie A meetings against Inter; only against Genoa and Sampdoria (eight each) have they won more top-flight matches.18:07
1'
WIDE!!! Traore starts and ends a thrilling Sassuolo move that splits Inter wide open. He wins the ball and drives forward, playing a one-two with Raspadori before firing just inches wide of the post!18:06
1'
Sanchez and Martinez stand on the centre spot, kicking off the game for Inter!18:05
The teams make their way out onto the pitch, and we're just moments away from kick-off!17:59
Domenico Berardi has scored seven league goals against Inter in Serie A since 2013-14; no player has scored as many goals against the Nerazzurri in the competition, and the winger starts once more from the right wing for Sassuolo, hoping to add to his record.17:59
Marcelo Brozovic’s suspension rules him out of this game, but that news might not be as bad as it suggests for Inter, as although the Nerazzurri have won a respectable 68 per cent of their games with him in the side in the past two seasons, their five games without him have all been victories.17:58
SASSUOLO SUBS: Giacomo Satalino, Gianluca Pegolo, Francesco Magnanelli, Rogerio, Brian Oddei, Riccardo Ciervo, Federico Peluso, Emil Konradsen Ceide, Abdou Harroui, Ruan, Gregoire Defrel, Matheus Henrique.17:50
SASSUOLO (4-3-3): Andrea Consigli; Mert Muldur, Vlad Chiriches, Kaan Ayhan, Georgios Kyriakopoulos; Davide Frattesi, Maxime Lopez, Hamed Junior Traore; Domenico Berardi, Gianluca Scamacca, Giacomo Raspadori.17:50
INTER SUBS: Alex Cordaz, Ionut Radu, Denzel Dumfries, Edin Dzeko, Aleksandar Kolarov, Andrea Ranocchia, Arturo Vidal, Danilo D’Ambrosio, Mattia Ronald Sangalli, Cesare Casadei, Franco Ezequiel Carboni, Felipe Caicedo.17:50
INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Federico Dimarco; Matteo Darmian, Roberto Gagliardini, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ivan Perisic; Alexis Sanchez, Lautaro Martinez.17:50
It’s been a mixed bag of a season for Sassuolo so far, who are 12th with seven wins, and nine draws and losses apiece. An unlikely away win over the champions, however, would move the Neroverdi up a place, and 12 points clear of the bottom three.17:37
After a loss to Milan and draw with Napoli, the two teams either side of them in the table, in their last two fixtures, Inter have fallen to second in Serie A. However, this is one of two games they have in hand over their city rivals, and a win tonight will send the Nerazzurri back to the summit.17:31
Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this Serie A fixture, between Inter Milan and Sassuolo from the San Siro.17:30
Dove si gioca la partita:
Stadio: Giuseppe Meazza Città: Milano Capienza: 80074 spettatori17:30
Inter - Sassuolo is a match of 26 day of the season Serie A 2021/2022. The match will be 20 february at 15:00 in the stadium Giuseppe Meazza in Milano. Referee of Inter - Sassuolo will be Francesco Fourneau with the help of Luca Mondin e Pasquale De Meo. At VAR there will be Paolo Valeri.
Currently Inter is 2° in the standings with 54 points (thanks of 16 wins, 6 draws and 3 defeats); while Sassuolo is 11° in the standings with 33 points (thanks of 8 wins, 9 pareggi and 9 sconfitte). Inter scored 55 goals and conceded 22; Sassuolo scored 43 goals and conceded 44. The first leg Sassuolo - Inter was played on 2 october 2021 and it ended on a 1-2 score.
At home Inter scored 29 points (9 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses). Away Sassuolo scored 16 points (4 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses). Inter in the last three matches of the season challenged Milan, Napoli and Sassuolo obtaining 1 point thanks to 0 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. Sassuolo in the last three matches of the season challenged Torino, Sampdoria and Rom obtaining 2 points thanks to 0 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. In the last match Inter was against Sassuolo losing 0-2 while Sassuolo was against Roma evening 2-2.
Inter and Sassuolo competed 17 times in the league. In the previous matches Inter won 8 times, Sassuolo won 7 times while the number of draw was 2.
These are the statistics of the two teams in the matches played in the season:
Where to see Inter-Sassuolo You can see the live match Inter-Sassuolo here on Virgilio Sport starting 15:00 CET of 20 february. Discover who will broadcast live Inter - Sassuolo between Sky and Dazn.
