SASSUOLO, ITALY — League leaders Internazionale delivered a ruthless statement of intent, dismantling ninth-placed Sassuolo 5-0 to extend their advantage at the Serie A summit. The Nerazzurri, sitting comfortably atop the table with 36 points from 16 matches, demonstrated the gulf in class between title contenders and mid-table hopefuls with a clinical performance at the Mapei Stadium.
For a nation that lives and breathes calcio, this was a masterclass in efficiency. Inter's attacking carousel spun relentlessly, with five different scorers underlining the depth of quality at their disposal. Sassuolo, despite their respectable ninth-place position with 22 points, were simply overwhelmed by the champions' precision and power.
The breakthrough arrived in the 11th minute when Yann Bisseck rose highest to meet Federico Dimarco's pinpoint cross following a corner, heading home from very close range to the centre of the goal. It was a sign of things to come, with Dimarco's delivery proving a constant menace throughout the evening. The Italian wing-back would go on to register three assists, orchestrating Inter's attacking symphony from the left flank.
Marcus Thuram doubled the advantage in the 28th minute, finishing clinically from the centre of the box after latching onto another perfectly weighted Dimarco cross. The French striker's movement had tormented Sassuolo's backline all evening, and his right-footed finish into the bottom left corner left goalkeeper Arijanet Muric with no chance. At 2-0 down, the home side's task was already mountainous.
The second half brought no respite for Sassuolo. Within five minutes of the restart, Lautaro Martínez made it three, slotting a left-footed effort from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner in the 50th minute. The Argentine captain's predatory instincts were on full display, and he nearly added another moments earlier when his assist set up Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose right-footed shot from outside the box was saved by Muric in the 49th minute.
Manuel Akanji extended the lead to 4-0 in the 53rd minute, powering a header from very close range to the top left corner. Once again, Dimarco was the architect, whipping in a dangerous cross following a corner that the Swiss defender met with authority. The goal effectively ended any lingering hopes of a Sassuolo comeback.
Sassuolo's afternoon descended into complete chaos in the 55th minute when Nemanja Matic saw red, reducing the hosts to ten men. The Serbian midfielder's dismissal came after receiving a yellow card moments earlier, and his departure left Sassuolo utterly exposed against Inter's relentless attacking waves.
Luis Henrique completed the rout in the 88th minute, rifling a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the top left corner. It was a fitting conclusion to a dominant display, with the Brazilian adding the final flourish to Inter's comprehensive victory.
The statistics painted a picture of total dominance. Internazionale controlled 62.1% of possession, pinning Sassuolo back for long stretches and dictating the tempo throughout. The visitors launched 23 shots at goal compared to Sassuolo's meagre seven, with 11 of Inter's efforts testing Muric. The Sassuolo goalkeeper made four saves but could do nothing to prevent the avalanche of goals. Inter's clinical edge was evident in their conversion rate, turning their territorial superiority into a devastating scoreline.
Dimarco's performance deserves special mention. The Italian international was the creative heartbeat of Inter's attack, delivering crosses with surgical precision and creating chance after chance for his teammates. His three assists showcased his technical quality and tactical intelligence, exploiting space down the left flank with devastating effect. Petar Sucic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan controlled the midfield battle, while Alessandro Bastoni and Akanji were rarely troubled defensively despite Sassuolo's occasional forays forward.
For Sassuolo, this was a humbling experience. Andrea Pinamonti, facing his former club, was isolated up front and starved of service. Domenico Berardi and Armand Laurienté struggled to impose themselves before being substituted, while the defensive unit led by Jay Idzes and Tarik Muharemovic was repeatedly breached. The red card to Matic summed up their frustrating afternoon, turning a difficult situation into an impossible one.
This emphatic victory consolidates Inter's position at the Serie A summit, their 12 wins from 16 matches underlining their championship credentials. With a goal difference of +21, the Nerazzurri are firing on all cylinders at precisely the right moment in the season. Their attacking fluidity, defensive solidity, and squad depth make them formidable opponents for anyone in Italian football.
The result leaves both clubs with contrasting emotions as they prepare for crucial fixtures. Internazionale will look to maintain this momentum when they host Juventus on February 15, a clash that could define the title race. For Sassuolo, the challenge now is recovering before facing Udinese at home on the same date, where they must rediscover their form and confidence after this chastening defeat.