Serpents of Madonnina - Inter Milan v. SPAL, Saturday, Sept. 10, 6:30 a.m. (ET)An Inter Milan community.2017-09-11T16:50:01+02:00http://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/rss/stream/160223732017-09-11T16:50:01+02:002017-09-11T16:50:01+02:00Five Takeaways from Inter’s 2-0 Win Against SPAL
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<p>Thoughts from a gritty <em>Nerazzurri </em>performance at the San Siro</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="J7TgGu">What could have easily turned into a trap-game ended in a 2-0 victory for <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/">Inter Milan</a> at the San Siro on Sunday, and there’s certainly no shortage of talking points. From a lengthy VAR review to an absolute cracker of a goal, here are five big takeaways from the win over S.P.A.L. 2013:</p>
<h4 id="n01wvh">VAR Reviews (despite doing their job) are taking very long</h4>
<p id="s1tUhJ"><span>Borja Valero</span> threaded a ball through the middle of the field and into the final third, Ivan Perisic flicked onwards to <span>Mauro Icardi</span> with a deft touch, Icardi played a simple short pass into the path of oncoming Joao Mario, and Joao Mario took two quick touches before being blatantly taken down inside the penalty area. What looked like an obvious penalty, however, was not awarded. Referee Claudio Gavillucci placed the ball just outside of the 18-yard box and deemed the foul an outside-the-area free kick. </p>
<p id="sQd6PJ">Enter: Video Assistant Referee. The <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/04/football/video-assistant-referee-technology-var-chris-foy/index.html">controversial</a> new system was implemented in Italian football just this year, and has already made a handful of appearances (and one big absence) in the <em>Nerazzurri’s </em>first three matches. On Sunday afternoon at the San Siro, VAR did its intended job, and Inter were awarded their rightful penalty kick. </p>
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<p id="kH5mm9">What’s worrying, however, is the time it took to make the correct call. After off-pitch officials failed to make a decision, Gavillucci himself ran over to watch the replay on a sideline TV. All in all, the affair took more than six minutes. At some point during the whole ordeal, I believe fans inside the San Siro actually went from jeering the referee for the call to jeering the referee for taking so long. Oddly enough, added time at the end of the first half was a mere two minutes. <em>Get on with it.</em></p>
<p id="ai9Vtx">VAR is a system that helps football as a whole head in the right direction, but is unfortunately not without its flaws. </p>
<h4 id="0fMfyb">Luciano Spalletti is slowly figuring out his perfect starting XI</h4>
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<p id="4jDIEK">Three games, three different starting midfields. More specifically: three games, three different starting <em>trequartistas</em>. I can confidently say I don’t think I’m alone in believing that this was our best starting XI yet. <span>Roberto Gagliardini</span> looked significantly better than he did against Roma, Borja Valero controlled Inter’s tempo (as always) and even chipped in defensively from time to time, and Joao Mario was increasingly confident in attack.</p>
<p id="kyvczK">Luciano Spalletti looks like he finally has a starting lineup that he can stick with going forward. Considering that the assumed “feeling the team out” phase has produced a 3-0-0 start and an 8-to-1 goals-to-conceded ratio, well.... look out, Serie A. </p>
<h4 id="UP1Whx"><em>Does less dribbling = more winning?</em></h4>
<p id="wC3UTK">So far this season, Inter has proven to be somewhat of an offensive powerhouse. In Serie A, the <em>Nerazzurri </em>rank 4th in shots per game, 3rd in shots on target per game, and 3rd in passing success (all stats <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/108/Tournaments/5/Seasons/6974/Stages/15404/TeamStatistics/Italy-Serie-A-2017-2018">via WhoScored</a>). Not to mention the second-highest goal tally & goal differential in the league behind <a href="https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/">Juventus</a>. </p>
<p id="RAied8">There is one offensive category, however, that Inter are doing significantly worse in as compared with last year’s team: dribbling. </p>
<p id="vxzwIU">Despite the small sample size, Inter has had shockingly few successful dribbles so far this year. Last Serie A term, the <em>Nerazzurri </em>completed 11.4 dribbles per game. That was good enough for <em>1st in Serie A. </em>Through the first three matches of the 2017/18 campaign, Inter are averaging a measly 7. That puts us 11th best in the league, level with less-skilled teams like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/udinese">Udinese</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/bologna">Bologna</a>.</p>
<p id="iHJl78">And so, the question is: what happened? The obvious answer is that we have fewer skilled dribblers (the departures of <span>Geoffrey Kondogbia</span>, Ever Banega, and Stevan Jovetic), and that we’re taking on fewer defenders. But I think it’s much different case.</p>
<p id="4wjdOp">This team is considerably more clinical and direct than last year’s. There’s less dribbling in circles, and more quick downfield passing. As a result, we’re now averaging 1.5 more shots on target per game. </p>
<p id="bUXke5">After all: we <em>are</em> better this year. If that means trading dribbles per game for wins, I’m all for it. </p>
<h4 id="LLiYIl"><em>Goal of the season so far?</em></h4>
<p id="qPANh6">If Ivan Perisic’s 87th minute thunderbolt of a volley didn’t make you get up and run around the room like the giddy 7-year-old all sports fans truly are deep down, check your pulse. Ivan’s second goal in three games all but locked up the three points against SPAL, and <em>damn </em>did it look beautiful. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ivan Perisic what a volley, incredible shot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Perisic?src=hash">#Perisic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Inter?src=hash">#Inter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCIM?src=hash">#FCIM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterSpal?src=hash">#InterSpal</a> <a href="https://t.co/yA1cqGObhL">pic.twitter.com/yA1cqGObhL</a></p>— InterYaSkriniar (@InterYaSkriniar) <a href="https://twitter.com/InterYaSkriniar/status/906855963000524800">September 10, 2017</a>
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<p id="hPBOhk">We’ve sung his praises here at SoM for the past few weeks, but it’s still hard to fully express what Perisic’s power and skill can do for this team.</p>
<p id="ry72xd">If not for one Andrea Belotti <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBOmpb-hzBo"><em>golazo</em></a><em> </em>on Match Day 2, Perisic’s wonder-strike might have even been the goal of the year in Serie A to this point. </p>
<h4 id="ubzIqh"><em>Confidence going forward</em></h4>
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<p id="wF4l2W">As Will said in his <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/10/16283300/inter-2-0-spal-player-ratings">player ratings</a>, “<em>Not great, but good enough”</em>. In short, Inter got the three points to keep pace with Juventus atop the table, but it wasn’t in too convincing a manner. </p>
<p id="h8YKmA">But, a win is a win is a win. Great teams win tough matches just like this. That’s what makes them great. </p>
<p id="2fhZnr">In years past, this is a game I can see us drawing or even losing. Players sulk, the manager tries to come up with answers, social media goes into its habitual “crisis mode”, etc. We’ve been there countless times.</p>
<p id="LmtvcQ">This team seems different. If we can continue to win these tough games consistently, especially over the next four “easy” fixtures, I can’t help but to have loads of confidence in this team going forward. </p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="eJzVyM"><em>Forza Inter.</em> </p>
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https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/11/16284020/five-takeaways-from-inters-2-0-win-against-spalTorin Walters2017-09-10T19:33:08+02:002017-09-10T19:33:08+02:00Inter 2-0 SPAL: Player Ratings
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<figcaption>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Not great, but good enough.</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="Gg4Al1">After impressive wins over <a href="https://www.violanation.com/">Fiorentina</a> and Roma in the opening two weeks of the season, Inter maintained their perfect start to the 2017-18 Serie A season with a 2-0 victory over SPAL at San Siro. Luciano Spalletti’s side made hard work of beating the newly-promoted outfit, in a match that seemed to be affected by fatigue hanging over from last week’s international break, but ultimately they secured the three points thanks to a penalty from <span>Mauro Icardi</span> and a wonder-goal from Ivan Perisic, fresh from <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/9/16276042/ivan-perisic-signs-inter-contract-extension">signing a contract extension</a> with the <em>Nerazzurri </em>on Friday.</p>
<p id="XFPbuQ">Below are our player ratings for Sunday’s win at the Meazza. Matt’s match report, meanwhile, can be found <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/10/16283348/inter-milan-tops-spal-2-0">here</a>.</p>
<p id="nTiTAV"><strong>Samir Handanovic - 6</strong></p>
<p id="KSRh8p">Despite Inter’s underwhelming second-half performance, in which the team’s levels of intensity and concentration appeared to drop, Samir didn’t have any difficult saves to make this afternoon. Ultimately Leonardo Semplici’s men were restricted to ambitious shots from distance and efforts that ended narrowly off target; all the better for us.</p>
<p id="zysA38"><span><strong>Danilo D’Ambrosio</strong></span><strong> - 6.5</strong></p>
<p id="pCxftS">Another solid if unspectacular performance from Danilo ‘you know what you get from him’ D’Ambrosio, which was adorned late on with an assist for Perisic’s spectacular goal. He was booked during the first half and it seemed to inhibit him for a while, but he still offered something on the right wing whenever Candreva tucked inside. SPAL’s best attacking moves came from the other side of the pitch.</p>
<p id="RxliNR"><strong>Milan Skriniar - 7</strong></p>
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<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Milan Skriniar continues to amaze us.</figcaption>
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<p id="3aSCHh">If one match is an incident and two matches are a coincidence, three matches must be a pattern. There’s just no stopping Milan Skriniar at the moment, who impressed yet again at the heart of our defence and submitted a strong candidature to be today’s Man of the Match. When SPAL’s pressing was at its most intense at the start of the second half the Slovakian conjured up two decisive clearances inside his own box, one of which required extreme courage and left him flat on the floor for a couple of minutes. A terrific display from a player that’s fast becoming irreplaceable for us.</p>
<p id="DRni8J">And that’s without taking this rocket into account...</p>
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<p lang="it" dir="ltr">Un missile <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Skriniar?src=hash">#Skriniar</a> <a href="https://t.co/ptjvjnCmT5">pic.twitter.com/ptjvjnCmT5</a></p>— Daniele Mari (@danmari83) <a href="https://twitter.com/danmari83/status/906865338721202176">September 10, 2017</a>
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<p id="cJdSRT">Just imagine if that had gone in. San Siro would no longer have a roof.</p>
<p id="ntUclU"><strong>Miranda - 6.5</strong></p>
<p id="TlnZM3">He doesn’t catch the eye quite like Skriniar does at the moment - perhaps because we’ve already been watching him for two years - but Miranda has been just as effective at the back in our first three games of the season. The disastrous form in which he concluded last season appears, for the moment, to be a thing of the past; <span>Marco Borriello</span> and <span>Alberto Paloschi</span> received little change out of the Brazilian on Sunday afternoon. Have we finally found a central defensive partnership we can rely on for real?</p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Spal - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zpxUT3NQ4la__4_SpsVOXFa2fbs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9213017/845227042.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Inter’s new-look centre-back partnership put in another impressive display against SPAL on Sunday.</figcaption>
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<p id="Jx8itD"><strong>Dalbert - 5.5</strong></p>
<p id="9ozSwj">Nobody was expecting miracles on his full debut in Serie A, and indeed we didn’t get any from Dalbert. The Brazilian’s first match in black and blue colours was not one that will live long in the memory, as he seemed slightly timid when going forward and uncertain when forced to defend. Manuel Lazzari caused him quite a few problems on Inter’s left-hand side and he didn’t seem to be on exactly the same wavelength as the rest of his back four; Spalletti has already said twice that Dalbert will need time to adapt to the particular demands of Italian football, and this match ostensibly proved him right. With time he will develop a very fruitful working relationship with Perisic, although we only saw occasional evidence of that today.</p>
<p id="6i7NyM">But this is by no means a definitive verdict. Dalbert has fantastic offensive qualities and will become a fine left-back for us with time. </p>
<p id="oK21Wv"><span><strong>Borja Valero</strong></span><strong> - 6.5</strong></p>
<p id="FBRESH">By now it’s clear that Spalletti will pick him for every single match in which he is not suspended or injured, and he’s doing little to suggest that that’s a bad policy. Nothing special from Borja today, whose afternoon was rendered difficult by SPAL’s excellent defensive organisation, but he stayed neat and tidy, albeit with the occasional mistake when Inter were out of possession.</p>
<p id="XxZGlV"><span><strong>Roberto Gagliardini</strong></span><strong> - 6.5</strong></p>
<p id="AQMlMM">Luciano Spalletti’s response to Gagliardini’s performance against Roma two weeks ago was perfect. The Italian was a shadow of the player that we had come to love during the second half of last season, and was substituted at half-time before Inter’s rousing comeback ensued. </p>
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<p id="334dHg">Yet Spalletti went in the opposite direction to most mere mortals and gave Roberto a much-needed confidence boost, telling him almost the minute the game had finished that he would again be named in the starting XI against SPAL. And judging on Gagliardini’s performance today, his strategy was the right one.</p>
<p id="4NX2rS">It goes without saying that playing away to Roma is one thing while playing at home to SPAL is another. But Gaglia looked more like his old self in this game, equipped with a very positive attitude and the desire to take on the world (which never, however, led him to overdo things). He was at the heart of the team’s (not exactly mind-blowing) play today and used his physicality to great effect in midfield, as well as going close to scoring on two occasions in the first half. Bentornato, Roby.</p>
<p id="MI8zYt"><span><strong>Antonio Candreva</strong></span><strong> - 6</strong></p>
<p id="cIZRcb">You can never fault him for effort and work-rate, but today wasn’t simple for Tonino. Filippo Costa and Luca Mora did well to starve him of space in wide areas for the majority of the afternoon, so his best contributions came when he moved inside and linked up with team-mates between the lines. His quick feet to set up Perisic’s chance midway through the second half was very impressive, and he could have scored a wonder-goal of his own had Alfred Gomis not denied him.</p>
<p id="LccGAd"><strong>Joao Mario - 6</strong></p>
<p id="qiNnHh">A great player, but only in fits and starts. Spalletti did the right thing in promoting him to the starting XI after excellent performances off the bench against Fiorentina and Roma, but this was perversely the Portuguese midfielders’ least convincing performance of the three. He still doesn’t seem like the perfect man to fill that no. 10 role, often losing his way when crowded out around the box and faring better with space to breathe in. Inconsistent, although he was involved in the lovely move that earned Inter their first-half penalty.</p>
<p id="KaSSTA"><strong>Ivan Perisic - 7</strong></p>
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<p id="HQudJb">Nobody can score a goal like that and receive less than 7/10.</p>
<p id="k2R3nU">If anybody were still in doubt as to why Inter wanted as much as €50m from Manchester United this summer, they probably aren’t after this match. Perisic’s first 87 minutes were marked more by fundamental defensive work than scintillating attacking play, but that too is part of the repertoire that makes him such an important player for this team. One defensive recovery in particular sticks in my mind from the first half, when he denied SPAL the opportunity to run straight at an exposed defence on the break.</p>
<p id="JBc6G6">And then came the goal. Which rather speaks for itself. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Un gol assurdo <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Perisic?src=hash">#Perisic</a> ⚫️ <a href="https://t.co/yceSyoZ3ZI">pic.twitter.com/yceSyoZ3ZI</a></p>— Daniele Mari (@danmari83) <a href="https://twitter.com/danmari83/status/906857382646616067">September 10, 2017</a>
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<p id="W9q13g">Thanks for sticking around, Ivan.</p>
<p id="GW9B4a"><strong>Mauro Icardi - 6.5</strong></p>
<p id="T7hooX">Inter have scored 8 goals in their opening three games of the season and 5 of them are Mauro Icardi’s. That’s what he is to this team: a guarantor of goals. SPAL’s back three afforded him precious little space in their penalty area this afternoon and once again his teammates failed to accompany him into the box, but when the penalty was (finally) awarded he responded present and correct: 1-0. After that, not much. He put a shift in up front and tried to add to his tally, but without success.</p>
<p id="1XdQv3"><strong>Substitutes</strong></p>
<p id="pqY8rr"><strong>Marcelo Brozovic - 5.5</strong></p>
<p id="dPV5r4">The attitude he came on with was the exact opposite of the attitude Joao Mario came on with during the first two games of the season. And the performance it produced was the exact opposite. He’s unlikely to be useful for us this year.</p>
<p id="tIMJXL"><strong>Matias Vecino - N/A</strong></p>
<p id="s8zqIw">Came on too late to be given a grade.</p>
<p id="Fb0nAt"><strong>Eder - N/A</strong></p>
<p id="b3upBH">Came on too late to be given a grade.</p>
<p id="IrWdrB"><strong>Manager</strong></p>
<p id="n0Y3Y2"><strong>Luciano Spalletti - 6.5</strong></p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Spal - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UijmZR7W7_R6dgvsZZTolDC3Hz8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9212923/845221254.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="woXldv">This was never likely to be as straightforward a match as it might have seemed on paper, what with SPAL’s excellent start to the season and the inevitable fatigue that our players felt returning from the first international break of the season. But even without convincing for large periods, Inter look like a team full of players that care for each other and know what they’re doing - and that’s already an improvement on last season. For the first time since 2010 we have a truly top coach, and it makes me moderately optimistic for the following eight months. Hopefully we’ll play better than this next week though.</p>
<p id="mj3Htd"><strong>Man of the Match: Milan Skriniar</strong></p>
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Spal - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rGreqzGm-FMcR1swCqG9MlNMzuw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9213549/845273082.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="Yu4qpF">Our <a href="https://twitter.com/SerpentsOfInter/status/906859167360671744">Twitter poll</a> will be open until tomorrow afternoon, so let’s not exclude extraordinary comebacks, but we already appear to have a very clear winner: <strong>Milan Skriniar</strong> has taken a whopping 71% of your votes (at least, as I’m writing this he has), with Perisic a very distant second. He is therefore today’s undisputed Man of the Match.</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="zFYEuL">Who’d have thought that one day we’d all fall in love with a man called Milan. But we have alright.</p>
https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/10/16283300/inter-2-0-spal-player-ratingsWill Beckman2017-09-10T16:01:01+02:002017-09-10T16:01:01+02:00Inter Milan tops SPAL, 2-0
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<img alt="FC Internazionale v Spal - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZMa0-Uy4WqmLkIxmMaj3SZLBIhw=/185x0:2816x1754/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56604023/845229698.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ivan Perisic of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates his goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Spal at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 10, 2017 in Milan, Italy. | Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>Nerazzurri</em> remain atop Serie A with San Siro win.</p> <p id="GSJ80F">A first-half penalty by <span>Mauro Icardi</span> followed with a stunning blast from Ivan Perisic in the second half kept <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/">Inter Milan</a> atop the Serie A standings with a 2-0 home win over league newcomer SPAL.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">FT Inter 2-0 SPAL <br>A <a href="https://twitter.com/MauroIcardi">@MauroIcardi</a> penalty and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Perisic?src=hash">#Perisic</a>'s stunner make it three from three.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterSPAL?src=hash">#InterSPAL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForzaInter?src=hash">#ForzaInter</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hq4Z1Riw2I">pic.twitter.com/Hq4Z1Riw2I</a></p>— F.C. Internazionale (@Inter_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/Inter_en/status/906858008906551301">September 10, 2017</a>
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<p id="ISy8Jz">The <em>Nerazzurri</em> have notched nine points in their first three games, although this win was not pretty by any stretch of the imagination. The win did come in front of more than 58,000 fans at the San Siro, a club record for a 12:30 p.m. kick-off.</p>
<blockquote><p id="h2BYmD">“It is a true spectacle to play in front of all these people,” <span>Roberto Gagliardini</span> told Premium Mediaset following the game. “It gives you a great lift. Our opponents were very organized and it wasn't easy.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="AlNvmQ">Inter dominated possession in the first half, but it was the video-assisted referee that awarded a penalty in the 23<sup>rd</sup> minute after Joao Mario was brought down inside the penalty area. Initially, the referee gave a free kick on the fringes of the box, but the VAR changed his mind and Icardi picked up his fifth goal of the season.</p>
<div id="zeQnGK"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OYUArfiK3do?rel=0&" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="XpJWEN">In the 35<sup>th</sup> minute, <span>Danilo D’Ambrosio</span> nearly doubled the Inter lead with a header that was poked aside by SPAL goalkeeper Alfred Gomes.</p>
<p id="riWRce">In the second half, SPAL seemed to pick up its offensive pace as <span>Bartosz Salamon</span> was nearly able to head home a set piece delivery from <span>Federico Viviani</span> in the 64<sup>th</sup> minute, but the Inter defense cleared away the danger.</p>
<p id="fd2yJn">In the 73<sup>rd</sup> minute, defender Milan Skriniar fired a shot from distance that nicked the top crossbar, inches from sailing into the upper 90 past Gomes.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="it" dir="ltr">Un missile <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Skriniar?src=hash">#Skriniar</a> <a href="https://t.co/ptjvjnCmT5">pic.twitter.com/ptjvjnCmT5</a></p>— Daniele Mari (@danmari83) <a href="https://twitter.com/danmari83/status/906865338721202176">September 10, 2017</a>
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<p id="hNH5hd">“I always want to help the squad and this is my aim on a daily basis,” Skriniar told Inter Channel following the game. “As for my shot that hit the crossbar, I had space and thought I'd give it a go. It's a shame that it didn't go in.”</p>
<p id="ZPTruA">Finally, in the 87<sup>th</sup> minute, Perisic celebrated his recent contract extension with a with a blast from just inside the area past Gomes to double the Inter lead and give the <em>Nerazzurri</em> the three points.</p>
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<p id="LZAUrR">The win keeps Internazionale on top of the table along with <a href="https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/">Juventus</a>. <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com/">AC Milan</a> and <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a> play later today while <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sampdoria">Sampdoria</a>-Roma was rescheduled due to strong thunderstorms forecast for <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/genoa">Genoa</a> today.</p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="xK6RZJ">Inter Milan hits the road next week for a matchup with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/crotone-serie-a">Crotone</a> at 3 p.m. CEST (9 a.m. ET) Saturday.</p>
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<h4 id="KDUvkQ">Gallery</h4>
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<h4 id="dVm4RL">Highlights</h4>
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<h4 id="poUXPt">Box score</h4>
<p id="amG38X"><strong>Inter 2, SPAL 0</strong></p>
<p id="y6Zq9a"><strong>Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017</strong></p>
<p id="mJ7UZe"><strong>SPAL 0 0 — 0</strong></p>
<p id="x6NIIl"><strong>Inter 1 1 — 2</strong></p>
<p id="H1D1sN">First half: Mauro Icardi (Pen 27’). Second half: Ivan Perisic (88’).</p>
<p id="cPJQhe">Bookings: Danilo D’Ambrosio (INT), Roberto Gagliardini (INT), Vicari (SPAL), Mora (SPAL).</p>
<p id="ONbKWU"><strong>INTER</strong>: Handanovic (GK), Gagliardini, Icardi, Joao Mario (66' Brozovic), <span>Borja Valero</span> (77' Vecino), Miranda, Dalbert, D'Ambrosio, Skriniar, Perisic, Candreva (89' Eder)</p>
<p id="HS5DFC"><strong>Bench</strong>: Padelli, Berni, Vecino, Ranocchia, Karamoh, Eder, Nagatomo, Vanheusden, Brozovic, Pinamonti</p>
<p id="LIqdSk"><strong>Coach</strong>: Luciano Spalletti</p>
<p id="9rIdvd"><strong>SPAL</strong>: Gomis (GK), Vaisanen, Mora (77' Grassi), Salamon, Borriello, Vicari, Schiattarella, Lazzari, Costa, Paloschi (66' Antenucci), Viviani (84' Bonazzoli)</p>
<p id="8vnexM"><strong>Bench</strong>: Poluzzi, Marchegiani, Cremonesi, Antenucci, Bellemo, Bonazzoli, Konate, Mattiello, Schiavon, Vitale, Felipe, Grassi.</p>
<p id="oXaemS"><strong>Coach</strong>: Leonardo Semplici</p>
<p id="wkBcq4"><strong>Referee</strong>: Gavillucci</p>
<p id="YMrXcH"><strong>Assistants</strong>: Schenone, Mondin</p>
<p id="XAJrlQ"><strong>Fourth Official:</strong> Ghersini</p>
<p id="wFOZr1"><strong>VAR Operators: </strong>Mazzoleni, Giua</p>
https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/10/16283348/inter-milan-tops-spal-2-0M.A. Clark2017-09-09T19:20:02+02:002017-09-09T19:20:02+02:00Inter vs. SPAL: Match preview, how to watch and live thread
<figure>
<img alt="FC Internazionale v ACF Fiorentina -Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WrzZwGdQdNm4XX2LbmS3JowhZvY=/14x0:2986x1981/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56592029/835963526.1504919729.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>And we’re back! Thank goodness, international breaks are the worst!</p> <h3 id="vTu25q">Preview</h3>
<p class="p--has-dropcap" id="8fy9U4">Inter’s <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/8/26/16209294/three-in-20-inter-spalletti-turn-back-roma-in-the-second-half">thrilling come-from-behind victory</a> over <a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com/">AS Roma</a> at the Stadio Olimpico may have only been two weeks ago, but it certainly feels like the positivity surrounding the club after their opening two victories to start the season has dampened. A <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/1/16237574/inter-make-deal-in-last-hour-of-window">relatively quiet transfer deadline day</a> and a lengthy international break can do that to a team. </p>
<p id="pXbrxg">While it was great that several <em>Nerazzurri</em> players had the opportunity to represent their countries, and even better to see <span>Mauro Icardi</span> score <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXH0Wvef4ko">his first senior goal</a> for <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/argentina">Argentina</a>, the international break was not all good news for Inter. Most notably, the club lost its newest fullback Joao Cancelo, <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/8/31/16226378/joao-cancelo-sustains-injury-on-international-duty">who sustained an injury while training with Portugal</a>. Injuries are part of football, but as fans, it’s somehow easier to accept an injury if it occurs on Inter’s watch rather than a national team’s. </p>
<p id="HB6LlQ">Inter may be a man down after the break, but there’s nothing they can do about that now. The club must return their attention to picking up where they left off with Sunday’s home match against newly promoted SPAL. </p>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Spal v Udinese Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6wgvGI0vobbbTJUs7nWN68nHd4M=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9206435/839946336.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>They may be Serie A’s newest minnows, but SPAL are off to an impressive start to the season.</figcaption>
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<p id="gdr0tZ">While Serie A’s newsiest minnows may have been a relatively unknown entity entering the season, the Ferrara-based club is off to an impressive start. SPAL held <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/lazio">Lazio</a> to a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Olimpico in their first top-flight match since 1968, and then followed it up with a 3-2 victory over <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/udinese">Udinese</a> at home. Four out of six points to start the year is extremely impressive achievement for a newly promoted team. As a result — and given the potential for some post international break rust — Inter cannot afford to take their opponents lightly this Sunday because this match has “trap” written all over it. </p>
<p id="IR7QKy">With that in mind, Inter manager Luciano Spalletti has <a href="http://www.inter.it/en/news/59495/with-inter-vs-spal-approaching-spalletti-were-all-called-up">called upon the fans</a> to voice their support loudly and proudly for the lunchtime clash on Sunday. If rumors are any indication, nearly 60,000 <em>Interisti</em> could be in attendance at the San Siro for the match. Here’s hoping the players give them a reason to cheer!</p>
<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="FC Internazionale v ACF Fiorentina -Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3y1IKOaonaaJSFew9xH-HIjkIJk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9206449/835993708.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Luciano Spalletti knowns that a victory on Sunday is anything but a forgone conclusion.</figcaption>
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<p id="peCuE7">While it would be foolish for Inter to overlook SPAL and this match, it’s worth noting that the club have a favorable fixture list this month. Inter’s next four league matches will be against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/crotone-serie-a">Crotone</a> (A), <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/bologna">Bologna</a> (A), <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/genoa">Genoa</a> (H), and Benevento (A). While none will be easy, each is a “winnable” match for the <em>Nerazzurri</em>, and frankly vital before the club face a Milan Derby and trip to Naples in back-to-back mid-October weeks. </p>
<p id="AxIvPF">All of this is to say that Inter have an opportunity to resume their league campaign on a high note with a win against SPAL on Sunday. Anything less would be a disappointment. It’s now up to Spalletti and his players to make it happen. </p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="v8gItV">Forza Inter!</p>
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<h3 id="rcXGYs"><strong>Match Info</strong></h3>
<p id="1hG8Ex"><strong>Location:</strong> Stadio Giuseppe Meazza; Milan, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/italy">Italy</a> </p>
<p id="pINWtm"><strong>Time:</strong> 12:30 p.m. CEST (6:30 a.m. on the U.S. East Coast)</p>
<p id="gIEjlm"><strong>TV/Streaming:</strong> In the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a>, the game is available on <strong>fuboTV </strong>and <strong>beinSPORTS Connect</strong>, while in the UK it will be shown on <strong>BT Sport 1 HD</strong>. Click <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/2548688/internazionale-vs-spal/"><strong>here</strong></a> to find out where you can watch the match everywhere else in the world.</p>
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<h3 id="fhL1L9">
<a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/"><strong>Inter Milan</strong></a><strong> Squad </strong>
</h3>
<p id="5JnADo"><strong>Goalkeepers:</strong> Handanovic, Padelli, Berni.</p>
<p id="7Ux2n5"><strong>Defenders:</strong> Miranda, Dalbert, D’Ambrosio, Skriniar, Nagatomo, Ranocchia, Vanheusden.</p>
<p id="GAIWhR"><strong>Midfielders:</strong> Gagliardini, Joao Mario, Vecino, <span>Borja Valero</span>, Brozovic.</p>
<p id="oY9YHA"><strong>Forwards:</strong> Icardi, Eder, Perisic, Candreva, Karamoh Pinamonti. </p>
<p id="6eBgZK"><strong>Likely Starting XI:</strong></p>
<p id="9XU0Xb">(4-2-3-1): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Skriniar, Miranda, Dalbert; Borja Valero, Vecino; Candreva, Joao Mario, Perisic; Icardi.</p>
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<h3 id="0gntI6">
<strong>Match Thread Rules</strong> </h3>
<p id="Of0VeG">There are only three rules: don’t be hateful, don’t disrespect anyone else’s opinion and enjoy the game!</p>
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https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/2017/9/9/16278884/inter-vs-spal-match-preview-how-to-watch-and-live-threadTim Kraus