Another resolute performance at the back helps Inter to a sixth straight Serie A win without their defence being breached - and a seventh in all. That is surely champion form heading into the brief winter break, and they may regret the pause in action disrupting their momentum. It was far from plain sailing for the Nerazzurri today, though, as they lacked a little fluency in the final third, and allowed Torino's aggressive style to unsettle them in the second half. The visitors can be pleased with their efforts after the interval, but had no real cutting edge.
Inter resume in early January with a visit to Emilia-Romagna, to take on Bologna, shortly before the Supercoppa Italiana contest against old rivals Juventus. Comfortably in mid-table at the halfway break, Torino can reflect on improved fortunes under their new coach, and look forward to an attractive clash with Atalanta to kick off the new year.
That's all from San Siro today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Cronaca
Formazioni
Statistiche
90'+4'
FULL-TIME: INTER 1-0 TORINO20:25
90'+3'
It looks as if Inter have done it again - yet another league win without conceding a goal. There are only seconds to go now, and Torino's race is run.20:25
90'+1'
In the first of four minutes of added time, Torino's attack is swiftly ended by an offside flag. That will allow their hosts to run down the clock.20:22
89'
Perisic has put in another industrious showing today, but now makes way for Dimarco for the closing moments.20:22
87'
Recently arrived as a substitute, Ansaldi drives a left-footed shot from the left side of the box wide of the Inter goal, with Handanovic well placed to cover the near post in any case.20:20
86'
OFF THE POST! Sensi picks the ball up just inside the Torino half, then drifts forward until he sees fit to release Sanchez, who then cracks a 20-yard effort from the right side of the box just wide of the goal, glancing off the post on its way!20:24
84'
With a decisive punch well clear of his area, Milinkovic-Savic repels an inswinging Sanchez corner from the left. 20:16
82'
D'Ambrosio replaces the goalscorer, Dumfries, who receives some warm applause from the Inter faithful.03:27
81'
Vidal is given a rest for the final few minutes; Sensi is on in midfield for the Nerazzurri.20:14
78'
De Vrij is called upon to intervene in the area, heading away a dropping ball into the six-yard box as Torino continue their pursuit of an equaliser.20:38
76'
Having just failed to find the final ball today, Brekalo is now substituted and Leicester City loanee Praet comes on. Juric is clearly not afraid to mix things up here!20:39
75'
Singo comes off for Torino, with his fellow wing-back Ansaldi being brought on in his place.20:13
75'
Torino have enjoyed 55 per cent of the ball in the second half, compared to just 40 in the first - a sure sign that Inter want to shut up shop, while the visitors press for a goal of their own.20:07
73'
Pressing high on the Inter defence, Mandragora takes his efforts to regain the ball too far, taking down Bastoni and relieving the building pressure on Inter's defensive third.20:05
71'
There is no doubt, Torino are the growing force in this second half, seeming further enlivened by their personnel changes. With only one goal in it, perhaps they can spring a surprise by finding a late equaliser? 20:03
69'
There will be no more goals in 2021 for Martinez, who is brought off, as Sanchez comes on to add experience and fresh legs to the Inter attack.20:02
69'
Inzaghi responds by making changes of his own, as the recently booked Calhanoglu comes off to be replaced by Vecino.20:00
66'
Pobega is substituted with 25 minutes to go, allowing Mandragora the opportunity to impose himself on the midfield battle.00:11
66'
SAVE! Handanovic gets down to his right to tip away Lukic's free-kick, conceding a corner to the improving Torino. 19:58
65'
Buongiorno is the second player to be hooked by Juric, as he comes off for Rodriguez in a like-for-like replacement at the back.19:59
64'
For using his arm to stop Lukic's strike at the Inter goal, Calhanoglu picks up a yellow card.19:56
62'
After De Vrij blocks a low drive by Pjaca, the ball is recycled, and Lukic then has his 20-yard effort blocked by a diving Calhanoglu. Did that hit his hand, though?19:55
60'
Eager to make an impact from the bench, Warming makes a charging run through the centre, which is only ended by the back-tracking Perisic just inside the box.19:53
58'
After a fruitless hour up front, Sanabria comes off for Torino, who opt to bring Warming on in his place.19:50
56'
Vidal goes down clutching his knee, following a foul by Singo deep inside the Inter half, but is soon back on his feet and at Inter's service.19:49
54'
Brekalo swings a testing ball into the Inter box, but Bastoni is equal to it and heads the ball clear. At least Torino look to be trying to get more men forward in this second half - but to little effect.19:47
52'
With a disappointing attempt, given his prowess from 20 yards and further out, Calhanoglu drives his free-kick straight into the Torino wall, and the Granata get the rebound away to safety.19:45
51'
Djidji brings down Martinez, and Inter have a free-kick in a dangerous area - just outside the right side of the box.19:43
49'
Despite having his hands full with his opponent going the other way, Aina has offered Dumfries a good contest on Torino's left flank, and the pair clash by the corner flag, earning Inter a free-kick.19:41
47'
With an almost absurd degree of optimism, Aina attempts a 25-yard shot from the left flank, which inevitably flies high and wide of Handanovic's goal.19:38
46'
We are back under way at San Siro!19:35
Following their first-half strike, Inter have now scored 49 times in the first half of the Serie A season - the best such performance by any side since Milan back in 1950. They will certainly fancy their chances of reaching their half-century during the second period, before the curtain comes down on a year in which they finally regained the Scudetto and then started their attempt to retain it in style. 19:33
Without being at their high octane best, Inter have asserted control over the game from early on in proceedings, and a one-goal lead is the least they deserve for their efforts so far. Once again, Dzeko and Calhanoglu have been to the fore for Serie A's top side, and Dumfries earns a tangible reward for his recent efforts in covering Darmian's absence by netting the goal. Meanwhile, Torino will have to rethink their strategy, as any attacking threat has been limited - perhaps inevitable with Belotti still out of action. 19:27
45'+1'
HALF-TIME: INTER 1-0 TORINO19:20
44'
After a couple of stepovers, Aina clips in a dangerous cross from the left, but there are at least six Inter bodies in the box, and Torino simply cannot find a way through.19:19
42'
With their growing ambition quelled by the goal, Torino have been reduced to rare attempts to break forward, but they tend to break down before the forwards can get involved.19:17
40'
From a tight angle, Calhanoglu sends Milinkovic-Savic scrambling to his near post, but his effort only ends up striking the side-netting and going behind for a goal kick.19:16
39'
Djidji concedes another corner, as the home side press for a second goal before the interval.19:13
38'
JUST WIDE! A delightful pass from Calhanoglu picks out Martinez on the edge of the area, but after taking a couple of touches to steady himself, the striker's shot bounces narrowly wide of the Torino goal.19:13
36'
Pjaca is frustrated to concede a free-kick, as his heavy touch midway through the Inter half receives the blitz defence treatment from three Nerazzurri shirts.19:11
34'
Having seen his side go a goal down when they had apparently taken a foothold in the game, Juric is increasingly animated on the sidelines, and will not want Torino to fall further behind before the break.19:10
32'
Bastoni is awarded a free-kick in his own half, following a foul from the over eager Brekalo. 19:07
30'
Making the most of some light touch defending, Dzeko waltzed clear on the left and cut the ball back for Dumfries to strike.19:06
30'
INTER LEAD! In a break from the edge of their own box, the champions spring forward with menace, and Dzeko carries the ball past several rather static Torino defenders to roll the ball across the box, Brozovic lets it trickle by, allowing Dumfries to step forward and steer it home for the opening goal! Inter 1-0 Torino!
Brozovic wins a free-kick just inside the Torino half, having been brought down by Lukic. 19:22
26'
Torino have certainly grown in confidence over the past few minutes, as their clean sheet has remained intact. But can it last?19:02
24'
Remarkably, before today's game kicked off, Inter had lost only one of their last 19 Serie A games played on a Wednesday - winning on 14 occasions during that spell.19:01
22'
Martinez pulls the ball down out of the cold winter air, and feeds Brozovic, whose left-footed shot from the centre of the box is comfortably saved in the centre of the goal by Milinkovic-Savic.18:59
20'
Following an Inter corner, Torino make another foray upfield, and Lukic sees his shot from outside the box blocked by the amassed Inter bodies.18:56
17'
SHARP SAVE! After the ball is cleared to the edge of the box from a corner, Bastoni strikes a classic volley from the edge of the Torino box, forcing Milinkovic-Savic into a low reaction save with his feet at the near post. Good work all round!18:55
15'
CLOSE! Pjaca gets off a strike from outside the box, which just misses to the right of Handanovic's goal. Torino have certainly offered a threat on the break, which they will have to rely on today.18:53
13'
Simone Inzaghi will be pleased to see his side dictating events so far, with over two-thirds of the possession and nearly twice as many passes made as the visitors.18:52
11'
Following a fleet-footed Martinez dribble, Vidal takes over and fires a left-footed shot from outside the box high over the crossbar and into the stands. Inter are starting to take charge here.18:47
9'
From the hosts' second corner, a flick-on finds Brozovic, but the Inter midfielder thunders his effort over the bar.18:44
7'
Dzeko leads Inter's calls for a penalty, after Singo deflects the ball up onto his hand when attempting to clear a cross, but the referee is uninterested and the VAR opts against intervening.18:50
6'
Torino mount their first attacking move, as Singo slots a tantalising ball into Brekalo's path from the right wing, but Handanovic is quickly down at his feet to stop the danger.18:40
4'
League leaders Inter have won each of their last four Serie A matches against Torino, scoring at least two goals on each occasion, so have both form and precedent on their side today.18:38
2'
Having driven to the left byline, Perisic's cutback is intercepted by a stretching Djidji, and Inter have the game's first corner.18:36
1'
Dzeko takes the kick-off and we are under way in Milan!18:33
The players have left the tunnel at San Siro - which, it has been confirmed, is set to be replaced by a spectacular new stadium in 2027 - and kick-off is now just moments away!18:30
Meanwhile, Torino's star striker Andrea Belotti remains out of action until next month, so Antonio Sanabria continues to start up front for the visitors, despite failing to find the net in any of his last 14 Serie A matches away from home. In support of the Paraguayan up front, Josip Brekalo replaces Dennis Praet, while Ivan Juric has also opted to bring Ola Aina in for Mergim Vojvoda at wing-back.18:26
Inter once again have forward Joaquin Correa out through injury, and midfield maestro Nicolo Barella serves a suspension for accumulated bookings, allowing Arturo Vidal to step in to the hosts' first XI. Hakan Calhanoglu also starts in midfield, having being involved in 10 Serie A strikes - five goals and as many assists - during the past month. After being rested against Salernitana, Lautaro Martinez returns up front, with Alexis Sanchez therefore dropping to the bench.18:21
TORINO SUBS: Luca Gemello, Karol Linetty, David Zima, Ben Kone, Cristian Ansaldi, Magnus Warming, Ricardo Rodriguez, Dennis Praet, Rolando Mandragora, Armando Izzo, Simone Zaza, Tomas Rincon.18:16
TORINO (3-4-2-1): Vanja Milinkovic-Savic; Alessandro Buongiorno, Koffi Djidji, Bremer; Wilfried Singo, Tommaso Pobega, Sasa Lukic, Ola Aina; Josip Brekalo, Marko Pjaca; Antonio Sanabria.18:13
INTER SUBS: Ionut Radu, Alex Cordaz, Alexis Sanchez, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Stefano Sensi, Roberto Gagliardini, Aleksandar Kolarov, Andrea Ranocchia, Matias Vecino, Matteo Darmian, Martin Satriano, Federico Dimarco.18:11
INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Marcelo Brozovic, Arturo Vidal, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ivan Perisic; Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez.18:09
Following their Coppa Italia exit last week, Torino returned to winning ways on Sunday, in a closely contested affair with fellow mid-table side Verona. Their 2-1 victory against the Gialloblu brought Ivan Juric's team their second league win on the spin, after previously beating Bologna, and advances them into the top half of the standings approaching the season's halfway point. However, they have posted just one victory from eight road trips so far in Serie A, and were also knocked out of the cup by Sampdoria in their last away game. 18:06
The Scudetto holders have ended the year back on top of the Serie A standings, following a streak of six successive wins to take them four points clear of Napoli and Milan. After Inter were crowned 'Winter Champions' last weekend, they now look to conclude a special year for the club with a 19th league win on home soil - just one short of the division's all-time record. Before taking to the field today, the Nerazzurri have won their last five league matches without even conceding a goal - racking up a total of 16 Serie A strikes without reply - so will provide an imposing opponent for their visitors from Turin. 18:04
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Inter v Torino at San Siro, in Serie A's final round of 2021!18:01
Dove si gioca la partita:
Stadio: Giuseppe Meazza Città: Milano Capienza: 80074 spettatori18:01
Inter - Torino is a match of 19 day of the season Serie A 2021/2022. The match will be 22 december at 18:30 in the stadium Giuseppe Meazza in Milano. Referee of Inter - Torino will be Marco Guida with the help of Giovanni Baccini e Alessio Saccenti. At VAR there will be Luca Banti.
Currently Inter is 1° in the standings with 46 points (thanks of 14 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat); while Torino is 11° in the standings with 25 points (thanks of 7 wins, 4 pareggi and 8 sconfitte). Inter scored 49 goals and conceded 15; Torino scored 23 goals and conceded 19.
At home Inter scored 23 points (7 wins, 2 draws and 0 losses). Away Torino scored 5 points (1 win, 2 draws and 5 losses). Inter in the last three matches of the season challenged Cagliari, Salernitana and Torino obtaining 9 points thanks to 3 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses. Torino in the last three matches of the season challenged Cagliari, Bologna and Vero obtaining 7 points thanks to 2 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses. In the last match Inter was against Torino winning 1-0 while Torino was against Verona winning 1-0.
Inter and Torino competed 154 times in the league. In the previous matches Inter won 69 times, Torino won 36 times while the number of draw was 49.
These are the statistics of the two teams in the matches played in the season:
Where to see Inter-Torino You can see the live match Inter-Torino here on Virgilio Sport starting 18:30 CET of 22 december. Discover who will broadcast live Inter - Torino between Sky and Dazn.
