Inter put newly promoted Benevento to the sword, securing an easy win. The visitors may have thrown up a few surprises this season but there was never a hint of an upset here once Inter took the lead through Improta's own goal. Lukaku scored twice after a Martinez strike to complete the rout.
Inter cement their position in second in the table, hauling Milan's lead at the top back to two points. This is exactly the sort of performance you'd have expected from title challengers against inferior opposition. Benevento stay 12th, albeit with a dented goal difference.
Inter keep up the fight at the top end of Serie A then while Benevento will have to go lick their wounds. Inzaghi's team are still having a great season. They'll just have to bounce back next time. That's all for now. Goodbye!
Cronaca
Formazioni
Statistiche
90'
FULL-TIME: INTER 4-0 BENEVENTO22:36
89'
Perisic hangs the ball up towards the far post but Barba is in the right place to stop Pinamonti reaching it. The offside flag goes up against Hakimi shortly after.22:35
88'
Sensi misjudges Pinamonti's run, sending the 21-year-old in the wrong direction. Inter can afford to play a few stray passes now.22:35
86'
Bastoni gallops into space from the back to feed Perisic wide left. Perisic obliges by firing in a cross but the centre-back can't get on the end of it in time.22:33
84'
Lapadula chases after a vertical pass and pressures Ranocchia into knocking it out of play. The striker has had a thankless task in this game.22:31
82'
Eriksen skips past a few challenges to slash towards goal inside the D. Thankfully for Benevento it's straight at Montipo.22:29
81'
Montipo is called into action again straight away, diving to his left to keep Pinamonti's bouncing header out from Bastoni's cross.22:30
81'
Lukaku will have to settle for just the two goals. Pinamonti gets a runout.22:27
80'
Inter decide to rest a few more players with the game well won. Gagliardini makes way for Sensi first.22:27
78'
Sanchez will be glad to have gotten in on the act with that pass. Benevento really do look limited.22:25
78'
GOAL! INTER 4-0 BENEVENTO! Lukaku grabs his second goal of the game, swivelling a shot into the bottom left corner after receiving a pass from Sanchez. He didn't have a Benevento defender near him.
It's another Inter corner. Eriksen goes straight for goal this time with an inswinger, and Montipo punches it clear at the far post. Lapadula briefly looks like running through on goal but Handanovic is out to nod the ball to safety.22:23
76'
Benevento make another change. Insigne is on for the anonymous Caprari.22:22
75'
Inter win a corner down their left. Hakimi gets his head on the end of it but it loops up and is no threat to Montipo.22:21
74'
Skriniar gets the last 15 minutes off too as de Vrij replaces him at centre-back.22:21
74'
Martinez heads off with a goal and an assist. It's not been a bad outing for him. Sanchez is on for him.22:20
73'
After some faffing around down their left Benevento hand Inter a free-kick. Inter will make another few substitutions.22:20
72'
We're well into the final quarter of the game and Benevento have yet to have a shot yet. Inter have got this game locked.22:18
70'
Next on for Benevento is Foulon. Improta makes way for him.22:17
70'
Benevento make a few changes. Ionita, who gave Inter the lead with that unfortunate own goal, is replaced by Tello.22:17
69'
Benevento remind us they do actually have forwards on the pitch as Lapadula is caught offside from Schiattarella's pass.22:16
68'
Martinez spotted the opportunity and was selfless enough to pass to his strike partner Lukaku, who was always going to finish from there. This is turning into a very comfortable win for Inter.22:22
67'
GOAL! INTER 3-0 BENEVENTO! Lukaku gets his name on the scoresheet with a clinical finish after Montipo passes the ball straight to Martinez. Martinez lays it off for Lukaku on the edge of the box and Lukaku makes no mistake. That's a really poor goal to concede.
Martinez chests the ball down and sends Lukaku away to the right of the box. The Belgian twists and turns and manages to slip in a cross to Hakimi. Hakimi finishes from close range but the offside flag is up.22:13
64'
Inter substitution. Vidal is on for Barella who's worked hard here.22:11
63'
Caprari gives away a free-kick by challenging Ranocchia too keenly in the air. Inter have kept Benevento's forwards extremely quiet.22:10
61'
Inter keep coming. Perisic's low cross from the left is blocked and cleared by Barba.22:08
60'
Viola also makes way. Schiattarella is on for Benevento.22:08
60'
Benevento decide to make some changes now. Caldirola, who's wisely calmed down this half, is replaced by Pastina.22:07
59'
Martinez has now scored eight goals in 14 appearances against newly promoted teams in Serie A. He eats minnows for breakfast.22:07
57'
GOAL! INTER 2-0 BENEVENTO! Martinez breaks his scoring duck, slotting low into the bottom right corner after the ball rebounds to his feet on the edge of the box. The three points should be Inter's now.
Perisic beats Depaoli and crosses low from the byline. Montipo is alert and drops to claim it.22:02
54'
Hakimi fizzes a high ball towards the box. It might even be a shot as Montipo is off his line. It ends up flying just over the crossbar.22:00
53'
Montipo easily claims Barella's cross from the right. The pace of the game has slowed slightly in this half as Inter sense Benevento aren't up to much.21:59
51'
Inter circulate the ball for a while but Benevento are doing a better job of stopping them from getting near goal. It might not last for long, mind.21:58
49'
Benevento were far too deep there, almost inviting Eriksen to shoot. Ionita races after a pass down the right but is unable to keep it in play.21:56
47'
Eriksen hits the crossbar! The Dane has acres of space to run into and smacks a left-footed effort against the woodwork from 25 yards out. Martinez lashes it home on the rebound but he's offside.21:55
46'
Inter immediately continue their quest for that vital second goal. The ball comes to Martinez on the edge of the box but he's unable to control it and Benevento survive.21:53
45'
Inter get this second half going after a false start. No changes at the break.21:51
Since the restart of the top five European Leagues post-lockdown, only Bayern Munich (80) have scored more goals than Inter (77). It's easy to see why. Inter have been full of ideas with Eriksen pulling the strings in midfield here. Benevento have kept the hosts to just the one goal so far. Let's see how they fare after the break.21:39
Inter look like they're having fun out there. Conte's men have a slender lead at half-time thanks to Improta's own goal and have threatened to score more. Benevento have yet to have a shot and are mainly trying to keep their heads above water. The game's still alive for them though.21:37
45'+1'
HALF-TIME: INTER 1-0 BENEVENTO21:34
45'+1'
Benevento are ending the half strongly as they get a corner down their left. Viola swings it towards the far post and Ionita nods well wide. That's all for now!21:34
45'
Barella blazes over from range but the flag is already up for a foul by Ranocchia on Glik anyway. Benevento free-kick.21:33
44'
Eriksen takes the corner short to Hakimi who returns the favour. Eriksen looks to move the ball on to Martinez who forces another corner.21:32
43'
Hakimi has time to pick out a cross into the box. It's headed out for an Inter corner. The hosts are looking good as we approach half-time.21:32
41'
Hakimi backheels the free-kick for Eriksen but it doesn't improve the Dane's delivery at all. Benevento get it away.21:30
40'
Improta catches Hakimi as the Moroccan looks to skip inside. Inter have another free-kick. Again, Eriksen will take it.21:30
38'
Viola chests the ball down in midfield all wrong and it allows Martinez to dart into the box. Martinez can't get a clean shot away though and ends up fouling Glik.21:27
37'
Martinez hasn't scored in his last four Serie A games before this one. The Argentine must be dying to break his little scoring duck.21:26
35'
Inter miss the chance to make it 2-0! The hosts burst upfield and Eriksen cuts back for Martinez who blazes over from 10 yards out.21:24
34'
Eriksen is running the show as things stand. The Dane picks out Hakimi's run into the box, giving the wing-back a header to the right of the six yard box. It's a tight angle and Hakimi can't find the net.21:23
33'
This time Eriksen goes for goal, curling a fantastic effort towards the top left corner. Montipo leaps across to push it aside!21:23
32'
Depaoli's the second Benevento player to find his name in the book for that challenge on Gagliardini. Benevento are struggling to keep the pace with Inter.21:22
31'
Depaoli pulls down Gagliardini to prevent him darting down the inside-left channel. This will be a card.21:21
29'
Eriksen cleverly cuts the free-kick back with Benevento expecting a high ball in. The visitors quickly figure out what's happening and manage to charge it down.21:19
28'
Caldirola gets booked for that unfair tug on Barella. Benevento's centre-back has been full-blooded in his defending at least.21:17
27'
Viola's penalised for barging into Martinez. Eriksen sends the ball wide right where Caldirola holds back Barella. It's an obvious foul.21:16
26'
Now Inter have a corner. Eriksen's delivery is cleared by Caldirola at the near post.21:15
24'
Perisic beats Ionita to a cross and Benevento have a corner. It's lofted back in and suddenly Benevento are back under pressure with Inter racing into their half. The visitors aren't finding things easy, that's for sure.21:15
23'
Martinez heads towards goal from outside the box and bounces an effort wide of the right-hand post. It's not far off from the Argentine.21:12
21'
Perisic is seeing plenty of the ball down the left for Inter. The Croatian takes on Depaoli but can't avoid running out for a goal-kick.21:11
20'
Inter keep looking for a second goal that would make their lead more comfortable. Eriksen's ambitious effort from range bounces wide.21:09
19'
Perisic has the time and space to cut inside on his right foot and aim low at Montipo's near post. The Benevento goalkeeper has it covered.21:08
18'
Beneveno are struggling to find much time on the ball at the moment. Inter have had 64 per cent possession of it so far.21:06
16'
Eriksen's free-kick is not as effective as his last one. It comes out to Barella who fires wide from outside the box.21:05
15'
Barella goes down in the box after getting crowded out. Caldirola slides in late on the arriving Martinez and is lucky not to concede a penalty. Inter get the free-kick just to the right of the box.21:04
13'
Caldirola knocks the ball behind for an Inter corner. Eriksen swings it in and it's punted out for a throw-in. 21:02
11'
Lapadula tumbles over in the penalty area under a challenge from Ranocchia but the referee wags his finger dismissively. Lapudula can't believe it's not a penalty kick.21:01
9'
Depaoli sends in a cross from the right that's caught by Handanovic. Inter break quickly but Barella can't get his pass for Martinez right.20:59
8'
Benevento go straight upfield from kick-off and win a corner down their left. Inter see it off.20:57
7'
GOAL! INTER 1-0 BENEVENTO! Eriksen swings a dangerous ball towards the far post and Improta can't help but flick it high into his own net. That isnt the start Benevento wanted.
Hakimi is pushed over by Hetemaj. Play initially goes on until Barella concedes possession. Inter have a free-kick down their right.20:54
4'
Caldirola tracks Lukaku deep into Inter's half and fouls the Belgian. Benevento look keen to get the ball forward quickly when they win possession.20:53
3'
Inter are just settling in at the moment with Benevento understandably sitting deep. Depaoli steals the ball off Perisic and looks to set Lapadula through down the middle. Benevento end up winning a throw-in.20:52
2'
Inter enjoy the first attack of the game with Perisic reaching the byline and crossing from the left. Caldirola heads it clear.20:50
1'
Benevento get this game underway!20:47
The two sides are coming out onto the San Siro pitch. Inter are in their traditional black and blue colours. Benevento are wearing their all-white away kit.20:45
Benevento have lost all three of their Serie A games against Inter so far, with Inter also defeating the visitors 6-2 in the Coppa Italia in 2019. Only Milan (16) have scored more goals from set-pieces than Benevento and Inter's 12 this season. This could be a stop-start battle.20:42
Inter make four changes from their last league outing, that 0-0 away draw to Udinese. Ranocchia comes in, as does Perisic, Eriksen and Gagliardini. Benevento make two changes as they mimic Inter's 3-5-2. Caldirola and Depaoli start.20:38
SUBS: Bryan Dabo, Pasquale Schiattarella, Nicolo Manfredini, Igor Lucatelli, Andres Tello, Roberto Insigne, Daam Foulon, Iago Falque, Davide Masella, Abdallah Basit, Christian Pastina, Giuseppe Di Serio.20:32
BENEVENTO (3-5-2): Lorenzo Montipo; Luca Caldirola, Kamil Glik, Federico Barba; Fabio Depaoli, Artur Ionita, Nicolas Viola (c), Perparim Hetemaj, Riccardo Improta; Gianluca Lapadula, Gianluca Caprari.20:31
SUBS: Ashley Young, Andrea Pinamonti, Daniele Padelli, Stefan de Vrij, Arturo Vidal, Ionut Radu, Aleksandar Kolarov, Matteo Darmian. Alexis Sanchez, Marcelo Brozovic, Stefano Sensi.20:29
INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Andrea Ranocchia (c), Alessandro Bastoni; Achraf Hakimi, Nicolo Barella, Roberto Gagliardini, Christian Eriksen, Ivan Perisic; Lautaro Martinez, Romelu Lukaku.20:28
Benevento have been the surprise package this season, picking up 18 points more at this stage of the season than they did in their last top-flight outing in 2017/18. Filippo Inzaghi's team sit safely in midtable at the moment but can't rest on their laurels yet. Facing Inter here will be another test of their progress.20:26
After a tempestuous win over rivals AC Milan in the Coppa Italia, Inter can get back to focusing on their title challenge. Antonio Conte's Nerazzurri have been rocky on the road lately but have won their last six Serie A home games. A seventh victory here would help them keep up the pressure on league leaders Milan.20:22
Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this Serie A match between Inter and Benevento at San Siro.20:16
Dove si gioca la partita:
Stadio: Giuseppe Meazza Città: Milano Capienza: 80074 spettatori20:16
Inter - Benevento is a match of 20 day of the season Serie A 2020/2021. The match will be 30 january at 18:00 in the stadium Giuseppe Meazza in Milano. Referee of Inter - Benevento will be Fabrizio Pasqua with the help of Salvatore Longo e Edoardo Raspollini. At VAR there will be Gianpaolo Calvarese.
Currently Inter is 2° in the standings with 44 points (thanks of 13 wins, 5 draws and 2 defeats); while Benevento is 12° in the standings with 22 points (thanks of 6 wins, 4 pareggi and 10 sconfitte). Inter scored 49 goals and conceded 23; Benevento scored 23 goals and conceded 40. The first leg Benevento - Inter was played on 30 semptember 2020 and it ended on a 2-5 score.
At home Inter scored 25 points (8 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss). Away Benevento scored 13 points (4 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses). Inter in the last three matches of the season challenged Juventus, Udinese and Benevento obtaining 7 points thanks to 2 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses. Benevento in the last three matches of the season challenged Atalanta, Crotone and Torino obtaining 1 point thanks to 0 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. In the last match Inter was against Benevento winning 4-0 while Benevento was against Torino evening 2-2.
Inter and Benevento competed 3 times in the league. In the previous matches Inter won 3 times, Benevento never won while there have never been draws.
These are the statistics of the two teams in the matches played in the season:
Where to see Inter-Benevento You can see the live match Inter-Benevento here on Virgilio Sport starting 18:00 CET of 30 january. Discover who will broadcast live Inter - Benevento between Sky and Dazn.
