Champions Inter Milan eased to a 2-0 win over Torino at the San Siro thanks to a brace from star midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, who scored one from open play and one from the spot to continue his good form this season as a goalscorer. Inter moved on to 89 points for the season as they look to finish strong in the final few weeks of the 2023-24 Serie A season. Hakan Calhanoglu scored twice as Inter Milan capped off a memorable week by beating 10-man Torino 2-0 at home to put themselves in a celebratory mood for Sunday’s open top bus parade.
The Nerazzurri, who were given a guard of honour before the game for clinching the Scudetto, were fortunate not to concede early on with Duvan Zapata having a shot saved and also heading wide.
Simone Inzaghi saw his side’s best chance fall to Marcus Thuram who blazed over from a tight angle while Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s long-range lob went narrowly over the bar. The turning point came in the second half when Adrien Tameze was initially booked for a challenge on Mkhitaryan. The referee gave a booking but VAR told her to look at the monitor and the decision was changed to a red card.
Seven minutes later, the hosts broke the deadlock when Calhanoglu finished off a sweeping move with a fierce low strike inside the box from Mkhitaryan’s first-time pass.
And Inter made it 2-0 soon after when Matteo Lovato conceded a penalty for a foul on Thuram, with Turkish midfielder Calhanoglu converting the spot-kick for his second of the game.
The result sees Inter move to 89 points and with four games remaining, they have the chance to break a club record from when they accrued 97 points in the 2006-07 campaign.
Mkhitaryan was clear on goal but seemed to be going wide when he was brought down from behind by Tameze. The referee gave a yellow card but later gave a red after a VAR review, probably because he was the last man when he made the foul.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Inter Milan): The Armenian playmaker was instrumental in his team’s attacks, setting up the opener with a beautiful assist for Calhanoglu and going close to a spectacular goal with a long-range lob. And the ex-Manchester United and Arsenal midfielder was fouled by Tameze as he bore down on goal which led to the red card.
PLAYER RATINGS
INTER MILAN: Sommer 7, Pavard 5, De Vrij 5, Bastoni 6, Darmian 5, Barella 6, Calhanoglu 8, Mkhitaryan 8, Carlos Augusto 6, Thuram 5, Martinez 5. Subs: Sanchez 5, Frattesi n/a, Buchanan n/a, Arnautovic n/a.
TORINO: Milinkovic-Savic 6, Lovato 6, Buongiorno 5, Rodriguez 7, Bellanova 6, Tameze 5, Ilic 5, Lazaro 5, Ricci 5, Vlasic 6, Duvan Zapata 6. Subs: Vojvoda n/a, Sanabria n/a, Masina n/a.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
49′ – VAR REVIEW – ITS A RED CARD! Tameze is off after VAR suggests the challenge on Mkhitaryan was worthy of a red rather than a yellow. Seems a harsh decision.
56′ – GOAL FOR INTER! Calhanoglu scores with a ferocious low effort after a nice passing move involving Martinez and the assister Mkhitaryan.
60′ ‘ GOAL FOR INTER! Calhanoglu scores a penalty after Thuram was brought down by Lovato.