"Sleepy" Inter wake up late, but in time

Harder than expected (especially after the 30th-minute red for Empoli's Saba Goglichidze) and than the result shows, Inter Milan managed to "break" the tough and brave team from Tuscany and note the essential three points, reducing the gap to the leaders Napoli to four points. The Nerazzurri's hero was Davide Frattesi, who netted a brace after the break when none of his teammates seemed to have had an idea of how to unlock the door to Devis Vasquez's net. The skipper, Lautaro Martinez, set the final score in the 79th minute, using Empoli's custodian's colossal mistake - 3-0.

After Sunday's eight-goal thriller draw against Juventus (4-4), Inter had a vast imperative to beat Empoli, especially since Napoli brushed AC Milan aside last night (2-0) and increased the advantage over Nerazzurri to seven points.

Thus, Simone Inzaghi opted for the strongest possible XI, although his main tasks ahead of the match in Tuscany were boosting the team's confidence and improving defence, given that Inter gambled away a 4-2 lead in Derby d'Italia.

Calhanoglu in trouble over conncection with hooligan groups

The team from the "fashion capital" opened the game authoritatively, keen to show its full power. Alessandro Bastoni threatened with a header after a free-kick cross, but the custodian Devis Vasquez saved Empoli. The Colombian couldn't come to the rescue seven minutes later when Matteo Darmian netted, but VAR "appeared" and disallowed the goal due to handball.

Yet, the video technology was not Empoli's ally in the 30th minute, when their Saba Goglichidze recklessly tackled Marcus Thuram, and the referee Matteo Marchetti had no choice but to send the Georgian off. Still, the ten-men home team managed to hold out until the break, while Inter created only one so-so chance in the dying minutes of the first period when Lautaro Martinez's header went wide.

We can't tell what Inzaghi said to his players during the break, but his boys ran to the pitch with new energy, and it paid off after only five minutes! Darmian ideally headed the ball for Davide Frattesi, and the former Sassuolo midfielder sent an effort home from inside the box, making it 1-0 with the slight help of Empoli's defenders, of whom the ball ricocheted into the net - 1-0!

Seventeen minutes later, it was 2-0! Again Frattesi! This time, the Nerazzurri outsmarted Empoli's defence in three moves. Nicolo Barella found Lautaro in the box, and the Argentinian left the ball for Frattesi, who completed a brace! At that point it was already clear that the three points will travel to Milan.

Inter's captain, Martinez, sealed the home team's fate in the 79th minute after Empoli's custodian made a costly mistake, passing the ball straight to Barella who assisted - 3-0! This victory served Inter well as a "shock recovery" after the dropped advantage and a draw with Juventus. The Nerazzurri will continue the race for the Scudetto with a duel at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza against Venezia on Sunday, while Empoli host Como the day after.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 10

Tuesday

Cagliari - Bologna 0-2 (0-1)

/Orsolini 35, Odgaard 51/

Lecce - Verona 1-0 (0-0)

/Dorgu 1/

Milan - Napoli 0-2 (0-2)

/Lukaku 5, Kvaratskhelia 43/

Wednesday

Empoli - Inter 0-3 (0-0)

/Frattesi 50, 67, Martinez 79/

Venezia - Udinese 3-2 (1-2)

/Pohjanpalo 41 pen, 86 pen, Nicolussi 56 - Lovric 19, Bravo 25/

22.45: (1.32) Atalanta (5.30) Monza (9.50)

22.45: (1.43) Juventus (4.50) Parma (7.50)

Thursday

20.30: (4.80) Genoa (3.50) Fiorentina (1.78)

22.45: (2.85) Como (3.30) Lazio (2.50)

22.45: (1.80) Roma (3.70) Torino (5.00)

***odds are subject to change***