Serie A | Inter 4-0 Como: Chivu demolishes Fabregas in strong statement

Inter sent out a strong statement about their Scudetto credentials, tearing high-flying Como apart 4-0 with Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Hakan Calhanoglu and Carlos Augusto.

There were only three points separating these sides going into San Siro, as the Lagunari were unbeaten in 11 rounds and had Ivan Smolcic back from suspension, though Sergi Roberto and Edoardo Goldaniga were still out of action. The Nerazzurri rotated in their midweek 5-1 Coppa Italia win over Venezia, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan still only fit for the bench, Denzel Dumfries, Matteo Darmian and Raffaele Di Gennaro injured. Inter had famously tried to poach both Cesc Fabregas and Nico Paz over the summer.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Diego Carlos had to make a decisive deflection to push the Lautaro Martinez lob over after 20 seconds, then Jean Butez rushed off his line and stuck out a boot to deny Nicolò Barella sent clear by Lautaro Martinez’s through ball.

The pressure paid off as they took the lead, Luis Henrique sprinting down the right from his own half, sending Jacobo Ramon to ground with a cutback and rolling across for Lautaro Martinez to finish it off from 12 yards.

To make matters worse, Alvaro Morata pulled up clutching the top of his thigh and was forced off with a potentially serious injury.

Tasos Douvikas had a chance to equalise for Como just inside the area, but was denied by a brave and crucial Barella block.

Inter continued to push after the restart, but Federico Dimarco overhit the pass for Marcus Thuram, then he did get the right assist only for Lautaro Martinez to scuff past the near post.

Como should’ve been on 1-1 when Jesus Rodriguez bent an assist around defenders from the right only for Douvikas to fire over at the back post.

Alex Valle also nodded the Nico Paz cross over after Yann Sommer mistimed the rush off his line, but just as Como were pushing hard, Inter doubled their lead.

Dimarco’s corner grazed the head of Francesco Acerbi and Thuram was ready to toe-poke it in from a yard at the near post, anticipating Butez. It was the first time all season Como had conceded more than one goal.

Jesus Rodriguez slalomed past four Inter players to blast over the bar, while Dimarco’s deflected strike was into the net, but flagged offside for Barella in the build-up.

A Nico Paz header was charged down by Acerbi and Assane Diao fired over from the resulting corner routine, but Butez also scrambled back to prevent the Lautaro Martinez finish from 12 yards rolling into the empty net after squirming through his legs on another Luis Henrique assist.

The third goal was a real team effort, as Barella battled to win back the ball and then nutmegged Mergim Vojvoda with a back-heel flick, Lautaro Martinez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan worked to find Calhanoglu for a rocket from outside the area.

Inter were running riot, as Dimarco burst down the left and Petar Sucic intelligently ducked to let the cross through for Carlos Augusto to volley in at the far stick.

Lautaro Martinez 11 (I), Thuram 59 (I), Calhanoglu 81 (I), Carlos Augusto 86 (I)