Inter Milan Extend Serie A Lead with 2-1 Win over Genoa
Serie A leaders Inter Milan extended their commanding lead at the top of the table with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Genoa on Monday. The win moved Inter 15 points clear of second-placed Juventus, who suffered a setback in their title chase with a defeat at Napoli on Sunday.
Inter’s triumph was built on a solid first-half performance, with youngster Kristjan Asllani and veteran Alexis Sanchez finding the net within six minutes of each other. Asllani broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with a stunning strike into the top corner, while Sanchez doubled the advantage from the penalty spot six minutes later.
Genoa showed resilience in the second half and pulled a goal back through Johan Vasquez’s volley, but Inter held on for a crucial three points. The victory marked Inter’s 12th consecutive win in all competitions and kept them on course for a 20th Serie A title.
“15 points is a significant advantage,” said Asllani. “But we can’t get carried away, there are still a lot of games to play and we have to stay focused.”
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi praised his team’s performance, particularly in the first half. “We played with great intensity and created several chances,” he said. “We were a bit less sharp in the second half, but we managed to control the game and get the three points.”
Genoa manager Alberto Gilardino was disappointed with the result but acknowledged Inter’s quality. “We played well in the second half and created some good chances,” he said. “But Inter are a strong team and they deserved to win.”
Inter will now turn their attention to Saturday’s trip to Bologna before hosting Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on March 13.