Inter close in on Lazio after comfortable Como victory

Inter moved to within one point of Serie A leaders Lazio with a convincing 2-0 win over Como at San Siro, preserving the champions’ perfect home record and sending them into the international break in second place.

Como arrived in Milan with confidence high after recording the biggest away victory in UEFA Champions League history, a 9-1 win against French side Lens. But Cesc Fabregas’ team were quickly brought back to earth as Inter scored twice in the opening 20 minutes.

Marcus Thuram was central to the opening goal. Cutting in from the right, he drove into the penalty area before sending the ball back towards Djed Spence. The defender then squared it for Francesco Pio Esposito, who finished from close range.

It was Esposito’s first Serie A goal in almost two months, but Inter’s lead was doubled soon afterwards. Alex Valle failed to deal with Piotr Zielinski’s fast, dangerous cross, allowing Thuram to fire a shot through Robert Sanchez at the near post.

The goal was the French forward’s sixth of the season and gave Inter a two-goal advantage at half-time. It was only the second occasion this season on which Cristian Chivu’s side had led at the interval in a Serie A home match.

Inter continued to dominate after the break and repeatedly exposed a Como defence that struggled to reproduce the form which had carried the visitors to six successive victories.

Federico Dimarco went close twice in quick succession, first forcing a strong save from Sanchez before sending a second effort narrowly beyond the near post.

Sanchez was then relieved to see another Inter attempt go just wide of his right-hand post, with Thuram seeking his first two-goal Serie A performance since scoring twice against Como in April.

Como almost pulled one back late on when Nico Paz sent an effort skimming over the crossbar. That chance was as close as the visitors came to changing the outcome of a disappointing evening.

The defeat was Como’s first in the league since September and saw them drop out of the top four. Inter, meanwhile, maintained their perfect home record and kept the pressure on Lazio at the top of the table.

Thuram was named Flashscore’s Man of the Match.