UNBELIEVABLE MISS FROM CHIEVO AT THE DEATH! The cross comes to the back post where Tomovic makes his run, but the captain stabs his volley inches wide of the goal despite Handanovic being nowhere near the ball. That really should have been 2-2!
90' +3
Candreva looked to be through on goal but Sorrentino rushes out of his area to hit a booming clearance downfield and keep the score at 2-1, giving Chievo a chance at an equaliser with two minutes left in the match.
90' +1
The referee indicates there will be five additional minutes at the end of the 90.
90'
M. Stępiński has scored a goal for Chievo!
STEPINSKI PULLS ONE BACK! Valter Birsa slips a pass through to Stepinski who makes his run into the penalty area. With Miranda nowhere in sight, the substitute striker easily finishes past a diving Samir Handanovic. Can Chievo find one more?! 2-1 Inter.
89'
A. Candreva enters the game and replaces I. Perišić.
With a minute left in regulation time, Inter make their final switch. Ivan Perisic’s day comes to an early end, with Antonio Candreva replacing him.
88'
Radovanovic wins possession in his own half, stealing the ball away from Perisic who is looking to waste as much time as possible. The defender lumps the ball forward towards Stepinski who collides painfully with Skriniar, with the Inter defender looking worse off.
85'
Perisic takes a corner short before getting a return ball and crossing it in. The initial effort is cleared but Inter regain possession and knock it around in midfield slowly, draining every possible second they can from the clock.
83'
M. Stępiński enters the game and replaces M. Pucciarelli.
Rolando Maran casts his dice from the bench for the final time today, replacing Manuel Pucciarelli with Mariusz Stepinski.
80'
Inter win a free-kick and look to just hold possession, but the Chievo midfield crowds out Brozovic and wins the ball back. With just 10 minutes remaining, the home side need to create something quickly if they want to try and salvage a result.
77'
M. Vecino enters the game and replaces Borja Valero.
Borja Valero is replaced by Matias Vecino in Inter’s second substitution of the match.
Minute
Description
75'
M. Pucciarelli gets yellow.
Pucciarelli receives a yellow card for a dangerous sliding challenge to the ankle of Borja Valero.
74'
That corner is also defended well and Inter burst away on a counter before losing possession to a chasing defender. The ball is played to Sorrentino who just aimlessly knocks it forward for Inter to recollect.
72'
Chievo have a free-kick to the right of the penalty area. Birsa swings in a cross but Skriniar is at the near post to nod it away for a corner. The corner is also met by an Inter head and knocked out of the box. The ball falls to Rigoni who takes a shot which Skriniar once again clears for another corner.
67'
V. Birsa enters the game and replaces E. Giaccherini.
D. Santon enters the game and replaces Y. Karamoh.
Luciano Spalletti finally makes his first substitution, giving Davide Santon some playing time in place of Yann Karamoh.
Emanuele Giaccherini is removed for Valter Birsa with just over 20 minutes left in the match in Chievo’s second substitution.
64'
Pucciarelli has possession with his back to goal but can't turn and fire at Handanovic. The Chievo striker instead chooses to lay it off for Giaccherini who comes charging towards goal, but the midfielder sends his first-time shot well wide of the goal.
61'
I. Perišić has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by Rafinha.
Rafinha played an integral role in the build-up to that goal, playing Perisic through with a beautiful first-time pass. For his part, he is credited with an assist.
2-0 IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SWITCH! Karamoh puts a pass into the box for Rafinha who makes a quick first-time pass for Perisic who comes streaking through the middle. The Croatian attacker lifts the ball neatly past Sorrentino and into the goal, making it look easy. Inter have doubled their advantage!
60'
L. Castro enters the game and replaces P. Jaroszyński.
The first substitution of the match is made by Chievo, who withdraw Pawel Jaroszynski in favour of Lucas Castro. It is unclear whether the earlier injury played a part in the switch, however.
59'
Brozovic forces his way into the area after a nifty one-two pass with Icardi frees the Inter midfielder. A Chievo defender gets a leg out to block his progress, almost scoring an own goal. The corner is swung in but the near-post header goes over for a goal-kick.
57'
Jarosyznski has reprised his role on the left and he appears to be moving much more comfortably, which is a promising sign. He has been involved quite a bit today, forcing Cancelo into a number of defensive challenges.
55'
Jaroszynski is down and in considerable pain after the Polish wide player appears to have stepped on the ball and twisted his ankle in an awkward position. He limps off the pitch to receive treatment and Chievo are temporarily down to 10 men.
50'
M. Icardi has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by D. D'Ambrosio.
Brozovic instead goes for goal and Sorrentino palms the ball unorthodoxly over the crossbar for an Inter corner.
ICARDI OPENS THE SCORING BUT ITS RULED OFFSIDE! D’Ambrosio sends a centring pass to Icardi who taps home past Sorrentino who was woefully out of position due to the precise pass. The referee is consulting VAR and we are awaiting a decision.
THE REFEREE OVERTURNS HIS DECISION! 1-0 Inter! VAR has deemed that Icardi was not in an offside position when the pass was made by D’Ambrosio and the away side have taken the lead through their captain! The Chievo players are furious, but replays suggest that the video review has produced the right decision.
Danilo D'Ambrosio gets credit for the assist after pulling the ball back for Icardi to slot into the open goal.
49'
Free-kick to Inter right on the edge of the penalty area after a D’Ambrosio cross strikes the hand of Cacciatore. This set-piece is in a perfect position to cross.
48'
Jaroszynski gets into a good position to cross but promptly loses possession. Chievo win it back in midfield and Borja Valero commits a foul on Hetemaj, but the long-range free-kick amounts to nothing.
45' +1
João Cancelo gets yellow.
Yellow card João Pedro Cavaco Cancelo
Joao Cancelo is shown the first yellow card of the match just before the whistle for a foul on Jaroszynski. The home side have one final chance of the half from a set-piece on the left. Giaccherini swings the ball to the back post but it isn’t kept in and the first half comes to a close.
45'
Pucciarelli is away and sprinting towards goal, but just as the striker takes his shot, Skriniar gets close enough to cut the angle. Pucciarelli still takes his effort, forcing Handanovic into a fantastic diving save, but it remains 0-0 with half-time rapidly approaching.
The referee indicates there will be one minute of additional time at the end of the first half.
Inter start the second half in possession!
43'
Karamoh has a run towards goal but chooses to send a cross in towards the penalty spot for Icardi, but a Chievo defender gets across well to clear the ball for a corner. The set-piece is taken short and then swung in, but Chievo remove the danger with a booming kick.
41'
Cacciatore sends a cross towards Inglese and the striker knocks the ball down well despite pressure from Miranda, but no other Chievo player can get on the end of the loose ball, and Inter can once again clear their lines.
39'
Icardi receives the ball just outside the penalty area but the Argentine chooses to dummy towards the ball - losing possession in the process. A counter-attack begins and Cacciatore has a shot at Handanovic’s goal from point-blank range, but the Inter keeper gets down extremely well to make a crucial save!
36'
The free-kick is sent in but a foul on Skriniar during the cross brings play to a halt and allows Inter an opportunity to clear their lines.
35'
Cancelo loses possession in a dangerous area on the left after a good bit of pressing by the Chievo front line. Hetemaj is fouled by Skriniar and the home side win a free-kick 10 minutes from the half.
29'
Perisic slips the ball past the Chievo defence for Icardi but Sorrentino is quickly off his line to claim possession.
27'
Perisic cuts the ball back to the centre of the penalty area for Icardi but a sliding clearance by Radovanovic clears the ball for a corner-kick. The set-piece is waved away by a falling Sorrentino and Chievo have possession for a counter-attack.
25'
Karamoh wins a free-kick just inside the Chievo half. The ball is lifted into the penalty area but Brozovic puts too much on the cross and it goes out of bounds for a goal-kick.
22'
KARAMOH ROLLS JUST WIDE! The winger receives the ball just inside the penalty area after a lay-off from Rafinha but the Inter forward drags his effort inches away from the bottom corner of Sorrentino’s goal.
20'
Though the match remains 0-0, it isn’t for a lack of effort. Both sides have had a number of good opportunities to open the scoring, and it looks a certainty that we will see the deadlock broken at some point.
18'
The ensuing corner is also blocked well by Handanovic, but the keeper is down on the floor receiving treatment after it appears he and Skriniar ran into each other during the set-piece. The Inter shot-stopper is holding his chest and looks in considerable discomfort, although there has been no signal from the bench - and it looks like he will be able to continue.
15'
SUPER SAVE BY HANDANOVIC! Giaccherini collects a cross-field pass and sets himself up before firing a shot into the top corner. Unfortunately for Chievo, Inter’s goalkeeper gets a hand to the ball and makes the stop.
13'
Chievo have a free-kick on the left-hand side. The ball comes into the centre of the penalty area and quickly headed out. Tomovic collects on the top of the box and fires at goal - striking his effort off of the post! The home side were painfully close to taking the lead but it remains 0-0!
10'
Perisic wins a corner which is taken short and quickly teased into the back post, however, there was too much bend on the ball which rolls out harmlessly for a goal-kick.
8'
Borja Valero lifts a ball into the penalty area but Icardi does not give chase. A miscommunication leads to a Chievo defender putting the ball out for a corner. The set-piece comes to an end when the recycled ball falls to the foot of Icardi who is in an offside position.
5'
Rafinha goes down under a challenge just outside the penalty area. Cancelo lines up the free-kick and goes directly to goal but misses just wide of the right-hand post.
3'
Chievo have started the match brightly, capitalising on some poor clearances from the Inter back line. The away side have since settled, with Brozovic being called upon to control the tempo.
1'
Chievo get the match underway!
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of the Serie A fixture between Chievo and Inter from the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi in Verona.
Chievo find themselves in the thick of a relegation scrap with only five matches remaining in the domestic season. The Flying Donkeys sit three points above Crotone in 18th, partly thanks to winning only three out of a possible 12 points in their last four matches.
The home side haven’t scored in their last two Serie A fixtures and have 10 goals total in their last 15 matches – compared to Stefano Sorrentino’s 21 conceded. In that span, Chievo have lost nine matches and dropped from comfortably mid-table to sucked into a six-way fight to avoid the drop.
Rolando Maran’s troubles in attack have cost the Veronese side on multiple occasions this campaign. Roberto Inglese leads the team in goals with eight in 29 appearances, which is in stark contrast to Luciano Spalletti’s Capocannoniere-chasing striker Mauro Icardi.
Nine points ahead of their city-rivals Milan, Inter occupy fifth position - but are a single point behind both Lazio and Roma; with the two capital teams currently winning in the chase for the final two Champions League spots.
With 25 goals in the 2017-2018 season, Icardi sits only two back of Ciro Immobile’s pace-setting tally of 27. The Nerazzuri are coming off of a midweek thumping of Cagliari, with one of Inter’s four goals coming from the captain himself.
Despite their fantastic goal-scoring record, Inter can attribute much of their success this season to a stingy defence. The pairing of Milan Skriniar and Miranda in front of Samir Handanovic has been fantastic, as they currently own Italy’s second-best record at the back - 22 conceded in 33 matches. That integral unit has played in Inter’s last five matches, only allowing a single goal.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been announced! Let’s begin with the home side!
Chievo substitutes: Andrea Seculin, Alessandro Confente, Dario Dainelli, Alessandro Gamberini, Bostjan Cesar, Lucas Nahuel Castro, Valter Birsa, Fabio Depaoli, Samuel Bastien, Mariusz Stepinski, Sergio Pellissier, Riccardo Meggiorini.
Inter substitutes: Daniele Padelli, Tommaso Berni, Lisandro Lopez, Andrea Ranocchia, Davide Santon, Dalbert, Matias Vecino, Antonio Candreva, Eder, Andrea Pinamonti.
Inter Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Samir Handanovic; Danilo D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Milan Skriniar, Joao Cancelo; Marcelo Brozovic, Borja Valero; Ivan Perisic, Rafinha, Yann Karamoh; Mauro Icardi.
Luciano Spalletti makes a single change from the side that cruised to a 4-0 victory over Cagliari on Tuesday. In midfield, an injury to Roberto Gagliardini means that the experienced Borja Valero will get a chance to start alongside Marcelo Brozovic in the centre of the park.
The teams are making their way onto the pitch now, with kick-off to follow shortly!
Rolando Maran opts for a 3-5-2, the same formation that was used in Chievo’s 0-0 draw with SPAL in midweek. The alteration in tactical setup brings with it two changes: Alessandro Gamberini dropped for Mattia Bani in defence, and Fabio Depaoli replaced by Fabrizio Cacciatore.
Chievo Starting XI (3-5-2): Stefano Sorrentino; Fabrizio Cacciatore, Mattia Bani, Nenad Tomovic, Pawel Jaroszynski; Perparim Hetemaj, Nicola Rigoni, Ivan Radovanovic, Emanuele Giaccherini; Roberto Inglese, Manuel Pucciarelli.
It has been a thoroughly entertaining first half despite the lack of goals. Inter and Chievo have come close on a number of occasions, with both goalkeepers making some fantastic saves to keep their sides level. Chievo have been ready to capitalise on second balls and poor clearances, while Inter have played well in midfield, using their creativity to find Icardi and Perisic in space.
HALF-TIME: Chievo 0-0 Inter.
Both managers should be relatively happy with their sides’ performance in the first 45 minutes, however, Spalletti should bemoan his team’s inability to finish their chances. If both sides are able to maintain their attacking intent in the second half, the clean sheets will certainly be broken.
FULL-TIME: Chievo 1-2 Inter.
In the end, Inter emerge with all three points despite a late Chievo push. Second-half goals from Mauro Icardi after a VAR decision and Ivan Perisic put the away side in a commanding position with twenty-five minutes left in the match. A late goal from substitute Stepinski gave Inter some worrying moments in injury time, but Chievo could not capitalise, despite a late effort from Nenad Tomovic. Rolando Maran will be disappointed that his side could not keep up their intensity, as they started the match with intent and positivity.
The three points send Inter a full 12 points ahead of Milan, and it allows the Nerazzuri to keep pace with Roma and Lazio in the race for Champions League. Next up for Spalletti’s side is a pivotal home fixture against Juventus.
Despite failing to pick up any points, Chievo remain just outside the relegation zone. Maran’s team will need to start accumulating points relatively soon if they want to guarantee their top-flight status though it will be tough - as their next fixture is a trip to the Olimpico to face Roma.
That concludes our coverage of the Serie A fixture between Chievo and Inter from the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and we look forward to seeing you all again soon!
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