Inter Milan recovered nicely following a 4-1 loss at Atalanta before the international break. This time Frosinone bore the brunt of the Nerazzurri offense after Keita Balde scored a brace and Lautaro Martinez scored to lead Inter to a 2-0 win at the Giuseppe Meazza Saturday.
It was the third straight clean sheet for Inter at home this season leading into Wednesday’s Champions League trip to London and Tottenham Hotspur.
Martinez and Balde earned starts along with Roberto Gagliardini as Mauro Icardi, Mateo Vecino and Ivan Perisic were all rested for Saturday’s contest. Marcelo Brozovic was out of the match following a red card suspension.
Icardi did come in for his 200th appearance in Serie A. Icardi subbed in for Martinez in the 77th minute.
The win allowed Inter to keep pace in the top three — entering into a short-term tie with Napoli for second. Frosinone, on the other hand, remained just above Chievo at the bottom of the Serie A table.
In the 10th minute, Keita Balde picked up his first goal for Inter after a nice ball to him from Lautaro Martinez. It came just a minute after Martinez nearly scored Inter’s first with a shot just over the net.
Inter 1-0 Frosinone (Keita Balde) pic.twitter.com/HuNBNvEc24
— InterYaSkriniar (@InterYaSkriniar) November 24, 2018
Despite controlling possession during the first half, Frosinone did manage to test Samir Handanovic early in the half.
Daniel Ciofani pushed a shot toward goal, but it went just right in the 25th minute. Six minutes later, Raman Chibsah took a right-footed shot that Handanovic picked up from the bottom corner of the net.
After that, it was all Inter Milan as Martinez, Roberto Gagliardini and Radja Nainggolan each had shots on target, but none were able to find the back of the net.
The Nerazzurri managed 11 shots — five of which were on target — and controlled possession for 68 percent of the first half. Frosinone managed just three shots — only Chibsah’s was actually on target in the half.
To start the second half, Martinez, Gagliardini and Politano peppered Marco Sportiello in the net for Frosinone during the first five minutes of the half.
But, Frosinone had a solid opportunity in the 53rd minute when Daniel Ciofani forced Handanovic to save with his knees off a header to the center of the goal.
Martinez finally connected after a few attempts, this time it was Balde who returned the favor from earlier with a cross from just outside the area. His header in the 57th minute doubled Inter’s lead and was Martinez’s second goal in an Inter shirt.
Inter 2-0 Frosinone (Lautaro "El Toro" Martinez) pic.twitter.com/T2MAOCPCDw
— InterYaSkriniar (@InterYaSkriniar) November 24, 2018
Politano desperately tried to add to the lead in the 64th minute with a screamer that found the palms of Sportiello.
Balde found his brace in the 82nd minute when Politano found him wide open in the area. Balde took the pass and buried it past Sportiello.
Inter 3-0 Frosinone (Keita Balde ⚽️⚽️) pic.twitter.com/M1QQy69PkW
— InterYaSkriniar (@InterYaSkriniar) November 24, 2018
Inter continued to put pressure on Frosinone through the end of the match, but was unable to score more in the win.
Inter will be in action next at Wembley Stadium when they take on Tottenham Hotspur Wednesday. Their next Serie A match will be in Rome where they will take on AS Roma on Dec. 2.
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