Inter Milan seized the Serie A summit on Saturday with a commanding 4-0 victory over Como at the San Siro, positioning themselves perfectly for Tuesday’s crucial Champions League encounter with Liverpool.
The reigning champions demonstrated their title credentials through goals from Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram in each half, before late strikes from Hakan Calhanoglu and Carlos Augusto sealed an emphatic triumph. The win propelled Inter two points clear of AC Milan and Napoli, both yet to play their weekend fixtures.
Martinez opened the scoring in the 11th minute, capitalizing on brilliant work from Luis Henrique. The Brazilian wing-back surged forward from his own half, cut inside, and delivered a precise pass to his captain, who converted for his league-leading seventh goal of the Serie A campaign. Henrique’s performance provided encouragement for Inter manager Cristian Chivu, who has struggled to fill the right wing-back position since Denzel Dumfries sustained an ankle injury last month.
Como, managed by former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, started the second half strongly and created excellent opportunities through Tasos Douvikas and Alex Valle that should have yielded an equalizer. However, Thuram extinguished their hopes in the 59th minute, poking home from close range after Federico Dimarco’s corner created confusion in the Como defense. The goal marked Thuram’s return to form in Serie A after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in September, adding to his midweek brace against Venezia in cup competition.
Calhanoglu extended Inter’s advantage in the 81st minute with his seventh goal of the season, before Carlos Augusto capped the performance with a well-executed volley shortly afterward. The comprehensive victory moved Como down to sixth place, six points behind Inter, and handed them their first defeat since August.
Fabregas refused to be discouraged by the scoreline, insisting his team remained competitive despite the margin of defeat. He emphasized that heavy losses provide the greatest opportunities for growth and learning, suggesting Como’s strong start to the season remains intact despite the setback.
For Martinez, the performance demonstrated Inter’s quality and hunger for points in what promises to be a tightly contested title race. The victory serves as ideal preparation for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Liverpool, a match that could determine whether Inter secure direct qualification to the last 16 of Europe’s premier competition.
The Serie A title picture remains fluid, with Napoli hosting fierce rivals Juventus on Sunday night in a fixture that could reshape the standings. Milan, meanwhile, are expected to challenge for top spot when they visit Torino on Monday, setting up a fascinating battle at the summit.
Elsewhere in Serie A action, Fiorentina’s dismal campaign continued with a 3-1 defeat at promoted Sassuolo, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table without a single victory this season. The Florence club, who finished sixth last season and once boasted legends like Gabriel Batistuta and Rui Costa, have managed just six points from 14 matches.
Despite backing from approximately 4,000 traveling supporters, Fiorentina collapsed in Reggio Emilia, suffering their eighth league defeat after initially taking the lead through Rolando Mandragora’s ninth-minute penalty. Cristian Volpato equalized five minutes later with a deflected strike, before Tarik Muharemovic gave Sassuolo a deserved halftime lead with his first Serie A goal, heading home unmarked in the Fiorentina penalty area.
Ismael Kone sealed the points for eighth-placed Sassuolo in the 65th minute, shortly after Volpato had another goal disallowed for a contentious foul on Fabiano Parisi. The decision infuriated Sassuolo coach Fabio Grosso, who was sent off for dissent.
Fiorentina manager Paolo Vanoli, who assumed control just a month ago, watched helplessly from the sidelines as his team remained six points from safety with over a third of the season completed. His predecessor, Raffaele Palladino, who departed Fiorentina in the summer to join Atalanta, was scheduled to continue his promising start as Atalanta coach in the day’s late fixture at Verona.
The contrasting fortunes of Inter and Fiorentina highlight the unpredictable nature of Italian football this season, with established powers fighting for continental glory while former contenders battle relegation. As the campaign approaches its midpoint, Inter’s dominant display suggests they possess the quality and depth to mount a serious title defense, while Fiorentina face an urgent battle to salvage their season and preserve their top-flight status.
