Inter Milan secured a crucial 2-1 victory over a determined Sassuolo side at the San Siro, halting a two-game losing streak in Serie A and easing the growing pressure on head coach Cristian Chivu. The hard-fought win, which came courtesy of goals from Federico Dimarco and Carlos Augusto, was far from convincing but delivered the much-needed three points for the Nerazzurri.
With his side having suffered back-to-back league defeats, Chivu would have felt a degree of trepidation against a Sassuolo team that had historically troubled Inter. However, any initial concerns were quickly allayed as the hosts took the lead in the 14th minute. A beautifully constructed move saw Nicolo Barella’s driving run find Petar Sucic, who expertly laid the ball off for Dimarco to slot home with a clinical, side-footed finish past Arijanet Muric. Inter continued to dominate the first half, with Hakan Calhanoglu and Marcus Thuram both coming close to extending the lead, though Sassuolo’s counter-attacking threat, led by Armand Lauriente and Domenico Berardi, was evident.
The second half proved to be a more balanced affair. Despite Inter’s continued pressure—highlighted by Josh Doig’s crucial block to deny Denzel Dumfries—Sassuolo remained a constant threat on the break. Goalkeeper Josep Martinez was called into action, making a stunning one-handed save to parry away Andrea Pinamonti’s header and keep his side ahead.
The match entered a frantic final ten minutes when Inter looked to have sealed the win. Carlos Augusto’s shot took a significant deflection before finding the back of the net in the 81st minute. However, Sassuolo had other ideas, immediately pulling a goal back just moments later as Walid Cheddira slotted home from close range to halve the deficit. The home crowd’s nerves were tested again when a late Davide Frattesi strike was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.
Ultimately, Inter held on for the win, but the performance did little to silence the critics. The Nerazzurri were unconvincing and relied on individual moments and a bit of luck to secure the result. For Sassuolo, on the other hand, there are plenty of positives to take away despite the loss, as their resilient display will provide encouragement for their upcoming matches.
