Milan, April 24 (BNA): Defending champion Inter Milan gave a signal of intent as they crushed Roma 3-1 to advance to the top of the Italian League in a miserable return to the San Siro for former coach Jose Mourinho.
Denzel Dumfries, Marcelo Brozovic and Lautaro Martinez scored for Inter and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a late consolation, the Associated Press reported.
Inter moved by a point over Milan, who face a tricky trip to Lazio on Sunday.
It was the third consecutive game in which Inter have scored three goals, having done so in Spezia last weekend in the league and on Tuesday in the Italian Cup semi-final against AC Milan.
“I was very worried about this match because we gave a lot in the derby and we were facing another great team today,” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi. “We needed a top-class performance and the boys were fantastic. This is a decisive win.”
Roma’s first loss in 12 league matches left them five points behind fourth-placed Juventus.
It was Mourinho’s first Serie A match with Inter as a rival coach since he left the club in 2010 after leading them to the Serie A, Cup and Champions League treble. Inter beat Roma 3-0 in the Italian capital in December.
The Nerazzurri also beat Mourinho’s side 2-0 in the Italian Cup quarter-finals in February.
Mourinho said: “I love Inter and Inter love me, but I want to win every game.” “Now that we don’t have to play against Inter, Milan, Juventus or Napoli again this season, I can say that obviously I would be happy if Inter win the Scudetto.
“But before the match I want to win and forget where I was before. I love Inter but I love Roma and I love my job now. We get paid to win.”
Inter scored his first goal when Dumfries ran a superb through ball from Hakan Çalanoglu and shot it between the legs of Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
They doubled their lead five minutes into the first half with a superb goal from Brozovic, who cut inside the goal and beat Chris Smalling before curling into the top right corner.
The match had gone over seven minutes to the end of the first half when Martinez was left unchecked to header from a corner kick from close range.
Despite the score, Mourinho was still able to give a small smile and a wave when the Inter fans sang his name in the 72nd minute.
Roma reduced the difference when Eldor Shumorodov cut the ball back with a fierce Mkhitaryan shot into the upper right corner.
recovery
Luis Morell scored a goal and assisted two more goals to eliminate Atalanta to avenge three consecutive defeats to beat relegation-threatened Venice 3-1.
Mario Pasalic scored the first goal after the end of the first half and Duvan Zapata doubled Atalanta’s lead three minutes into the second half. Morell scored in the 63rd minute.
Domin Arnigog scored for Venice late. The owners of the land were also hit in the tree and an offside goal was disallowed.
Sampdoria advanced above the relegation zone by eight points after a late goal that made them snatch a 1-1 draw with Hellas Verona. Torino beat Spezia 2-1.