INTER MILAN hammered rivals AC Milan 3-0 at the San Siro to move four points clear at the top of Serie A.
Two goals from Lautaro Martinez and a superb solo strike from Romelu Lukaku gave Antonio Conte’s side the win.
Martinez, 23, scored twice in an excellent performanceCredit: EPA
Lukaku, 27, was unstoppable as he added a thirdCredit: AP:Associated Press
Ibrahimovic, 39, could only stand and applaud Lukaku’s outstanding displayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
With both teams challenging for the title, the 228th Milan derby was arguably the biggest for some time.
It was also the eagerly awaited rematch between heavyweights Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the first time the two had met since they clashed heads in the Coppa Italia semi-final.
And it was Lukaku who struck the first blow.
Running on to a ball down the right flank, he got in behind the defence and tried to find his strike partner Martinez.
Simon Kjaer blocked the Belgian striker’s low cross, but he immediately regained possession and looped a fabulous ball towards his initial target.
Martinez, unmarked, confidently headed home to give Inter a fifth-minute lead.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Milan nearly equalised ten minutes later when Ibrahimovic attempted an audacious back heel in front of goal.
His effort would have deceived many but Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was alert to the danger, making a decent save to his left.
The Nerazzurri enjoyed the best of the action in the first half with Lukaku almost doubling their lead in the 26th minute, coming just inches from finishing Ivan Persic’s low cross.
Chances were few and far between for Milan, but they had a good one in the 33rd minute when Theo Hernandez controlled a loose ball in the opposition area.
His bobbling right-footed shot got the better of a frozen Handanovic but went the wrong side of the post.
Inter almost made Hernandez pay a few minutes later when Gianluigi Donnarumma, making his 200th Serie A appearance, was forced into a good save from Perisic.
And they had another chance just before half-time when Milan Skriniar headed a Christian Eriksen free-kick just wide.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Ibrahimovic had a quiet first half by his high standards, hitting a tame volley at Handanovic in the 38th minute.
But he, and the game, burst into life moments after the break when his header was brilliantly saved by Handanovic.
The ball was crossed back into the middle where Ibrahimovic met it again just yards out, but he failed to beat an inspired Handanovic, who made another top save a minute later from Sandro Tonali.
Milan were now on top, although they were always at risk from the counter – and it proved their undoing.
Achraf Hakimi, bursting forward from defence, skipped beyond two Milan players to find Eriksen waiting in the middle.
The former Tottenham man controlled the ball before laying it off to Perisic in the box, who squared to Martinez.
The Argentina international, playing with supreme confidence, slotted it home to double Inter’s advantage and pick up his 15th goal of the season in all competitions.
Lukaku should have added a third six minutes later when he was put through on goal, but he fired straight at Donnarumma.
It would not be long until he did get his goal, though, delivering a knockout blow in the 66th minute.
Running at a weary Milan defence with pace and desire, Lukaku unleashed a clinical left-footed strike into the bottom corner.
He had delivered the knockout blow and sent a huge message to Ibrahimovic, who could only stand and applaud his rival.
Milan’s Swedish star was substituted shortly after that and the game petered out.
There was still time for another excellent stop from Handanovic as he denied Ante Rebic in the 89th minute.
Inter are now four points clear of Milan at the top of Serie A and must be considered as favourites for a first title since 2010.
Champions Juventus are 11 points behind but do have two games in hand.
Ex-Man Utd stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku clash in fiery Milan derby
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
