Inter extended their winning streak to four consecutive matches with a late 2–0 victory over hosts Venezia, thanks to two own goals. Meanwhile, their fierce rivals Milan suffered their first defeat of the season ahead of their eagerly anticipated derby, losing 4–2 at home to Bologna on Wednesday in the ninth round of the Italian football league.
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At the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium in Venice, the defending champions had to wait until the 80th minute to open the scoring, with the help of an own goal by Argentine Matias Moreno, who inadvertently put the ball into his own net. The same scenario was repeated two minutes later when Moroccan defender Ridwan Halhal also scored an own goal.
This was the fourth consecutive league victory for Romanian coach Cristian Chivu’s men, following wins over Parma (3–0), Bologna (3–1) and Fiorentina (2–1). It was also their fourth successive win across all competitions since their shock 4–3 home defeat to Belgian side Club Brugge in the second round of the UEFA Champions League’s league phase.
Inter raised their tally to 25 points and reclaimed first place on goal difference ahead of Lazio, who secured a convincing 6–2 away victory over Sassuolo on Tuesday. The Nerazzurri also maintained a four-point lead over Roma, who defeated Cagliari 4–2, and a five-point lead over Como, who beat Torino 3–1.
Meanwhile, Milan remained on 18 points in fifth place, just three days before their highly anticipated derby against city rivals Inter.
Inter were once again without their injured captain and Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez. Venezia, who were recently promoted and remain at the bottom of the table with three points, struck the crossbar twice and also had two goals disallowed for offside.
At the San Siro, a brace from Alwafjo Cisse and Milan’s comeback effort were not enough to preserve the Rossoneri’s unbeaten record. Milan had fallen behind just eight minutes after kickoff when Belgian Samuel Mbangula scored, before emerging as the match’s standout player by completing a hat-trick.
Cisse, 20, the son of Guinean parents, sparked a comeback by scoring in the 14th and 27th minutes. However, the visitors equalized in the 60th minute through an own goal by Davide Bartesaghi.
Mbangula, 22, then returned to the spotlight to restore Bologna’s lead in the 62nd minute before delivering the decisive blow to Milan with his third goal of the match and Bologna’s fourth in the 86th minute.
The Rossoneri suffered their first defeat of the Serie A season after recording five wins and three draws, including identical 1–1 results against Juventus and Sassuolo.
All three first-half goals came from defensive errors. Bologna took the lead after catching the home side’s defense off guard when Nadir Zortea sent a pass into the heart of the penalty area for Mbangula, who struck the ball directly into the net in the eighth minute.
Cisse equalized after a costly clearance error by Belgian defender Arthur Theate, who sent the ball into the path of the 20-year-old, allowing him to face Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski one-on-one and easily slot the ball home in the 14th minute. He added his second 13 minutes later after another defensive lapse by the visitors, once again finding himself alone in front of goal.
Milan conceded two goals within two minutes in the second half, in the 61st and 62nd minutes, before Mbangula completed the scoring for the visitors with his goal in the 86th minute.
Parma drew 0–0 with Udinese at home.
The ninth round concludes on Thursday with Frosinone facing Lecce and Fiorentina taking on Atalanta.
