Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Empoli – Inter – 0:1
Inter Milan picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win against Empoli, extending their lead at the top of Serie A to three points. The crucial away win, courtesy of Federico Dimarco’s incredible second-half goal, took Inter to 15 points from five games, maintaining their perfect league record. In contrast, Empoli remain at the bottom of the table, still searching for their first points and goals this season.
Inter dominated the first half, but struggled to open the scoring until the 51st minute, when Dimarco hit a spectacular volley into the top corner from a corner kick. Empoli put the pressure on towards the end of the game, especially after Inter’s Marko Arnautovic left the field due to injury, but the league leaders came away with the victory.
Coach Simone Inzaghi, although he played down his personal achievements, expressed satisfaction with the result, noting that Inter could have won earlier. Inter face Sassuolo next, while Empoli take on Salernitana in their next games.
Bologna – Napoli – 0:0
Napoli’s early-season struggles continued with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Bologna, with Victor Osimhen missing a crucial penalty. Serie A champions Napoli are seventh in the league standings, seven points behind leaders Inter Milan, after two wins, one loss and two draws in their opening games.
In the 72nd minute, Osimhen had the chance to open the scoring, but his penalty attempt went wide after a deflected cross from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit the arm of Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori.
Despite the underwhelming result, Napoli coach Rudi Garcia tried to accentuate the positives, especially the performance in the first half, saying: “The negative element is the result, but the performance was good, especially in the first half.”
Osimhen had already hit the post in the fifth minute, and Kvaratskhelia failed to convert the rebound. Napoli’s Brazilian defender Nathan spent the entire match on the pitch.