Did Inter finally silence the doubts that have lingered over their play? The Nerazzurri clawed back to the Serie A summit after a 2‑0 win over bottom‑placed Venezia, capitalising on two own goals. With the Milan derby looming on Saturday, they edged past Lazio, who had thrashed Sassuolo 6‑2 on Tuesday. Both clubs have recorded only one draw in eight matches.
Coach Cristian Chivu, missing star Lautaro Martínez through injury, rotated the squad, giving minutes to Bisseck, Barella and Çalhanoglu ahead of the derby. He also started Aleksandar Stanković, who faced his brother Filip, Venezia’s goalkeeper, while their father Dejan watched from the stands.
Venezia brushes the post
Inter pressed high from the kickoff, yet struggled to find space and produced few clear chances. In the first half, the most threatening moves came from a daring Venezia side displaying sharp off‑the‑ball runs.
Around the 30‑minute mark, Akor Adams tested Ivan Provedel, who had kept the starting spot for a second consecutive game, after replacing Josep Martínez. Adams unleashed a low drive that forced the Italian keeper onto his line.
Soon after, Venezia thought they had scored when Kike Pérez’s miskick led to a goal, but VAR ruled out Lion Lauberbach’s effort for off‑side after Provedel’s rebound. Lauberbach later struck a powerful header from Juan Jesus’s cross, only for Provedel to block it with his thigh onto the post.
Inter presses heavily
Inter’s only serious threat came from Marcus Thuram, whose cut‑back from the byline was mistimed by Ange Bonny, who failed to finish cleanly despite a perfect angle.
VENEZIA
INTER
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Venezia: Filip Stanković; Halhal, Matías Moreno, Juan Jesus; Hainaut, Kike Pérez (Busio, 61′), Sohm, Helgason (Basic, 69′), Mazzocchi (Haps, 76′); Lauberbach (Yeboah, 69′), Akor Adams.
Inter: Provedel; Bisseck (Akanji, 46′), Bastoni, Carlos Augusto; Andy Diouf, Petar Sucic (Barella, 46′), Aleksandar Stanković (Çalhanoglu, 46′), Zielinski, Dimarco; Bonny (Pio Esposito, 65′), Marcus Thuram (Spence, 86′).
Goals: 0‑1, 79′ Matías Moreno own goal. 0‑2, 82′ Halhal own goal.
Referee: Luca Pairetto. Showed yellow cards to Bastoni (28′) and Barella (56′) for Inter.
Incident: Ninth round Serie A match held at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo in Venice.
Chivu swapped in Barella and Çalhanoglu at halftime for Sucic and Stanković, but the balance stayed the same. Inter dominated without cutting chances, while Venezia created clearer looks. The missed strike by Gianluca Busio was unforgivable; his lofted effort after an Adams delivery should have gone in. The former Sevilla forward also saw his second goal erased for off‑side. In my view, the midfield shuffle did little to spark the needed firepower.
Will Inter’s defensive resilience carry them through the Milan derby and secure the title?
Venezia’s mercy vanished as Inter pressed. With fifteen minutes left, Marcus Thuram headed a ball that rattled the post, setting up the first own goal for the strugglers. In the 80th minute, Matías Moreno tried to clear a cross, only to deflect it into his own net after Filip Stanković’s touch.
Immediately, Çalhanoglu delivered a corner, Carlos Augusto headed onto the near post and Redouane Halhal chest‑cleared it into his own goal. Inter walked away with three points and retained the lead despite not scoring. Venezia managed two own goals and two disallowed strikes, remaining at the bottom.