Alexis Sanchez scored a penalty and set up two goals as Inter Milan thrashed relegation candidates Brescia 6-0 in Serie A on Wednesday night, while city rivals AC Milan snatched a last-gasp draw away to lowly SPAL.
Sanchez teed up Ashley Young to volley Inter ahead at San Siro after just five minutes and the Chile forward dispatched a spot-kick to double the lead following a foul on Victor Moses. Danilo D’Ambrosio powered in a third just before half-time from a looping cross by Young, with Roberto Gagliardini rising to head home a Sanchez free-kick as Inter grabbed a fourth on 53 minutes.
Christian Eriksen bagged his first Serie A goal since his January move from Tottenham, forcing in from point-blank range after an excellent Jesse Joronen save denied Romelu Lukaku. Antonio Candreva completed the romp two minutes from time with a crisp low drive into the corner as Inter clawed back to within eight points of leaders Juventus with nine games still to play.
Brescia, who were again without Mario Balotelli due to an ongoing contract dispute, dropped to the foot of the table. They remain eight points from safety and are winless in 14 games.
SPAL surrendered a two-goal lead and squandered two precious points in their fight against relegation as a 94th-minute own goal by Francesco Vicari gifted Milan a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw. First-half goals from Mattia Valoti and Sergio Floccari, the second a magnificent dipping 30-yard strike, put SPAL on top but the home side lost Marco D’Alessandro to a red card before half-time for a poor challenge on Theo Hernandez.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to action for the first time since Italian football’s restart following a calf injury, replacing the in-form Ante Rebic on the hour, but it was another substitute Rafael Leao who gave Milan hope with a calm finish on 79 minutes.
Milan stayed seventh despite the late fightback and are two points behind Napoli, who were visiting fourth-placed Atalanta late last night, in the battle for the final Europa League berth.
Two Gaston Ramirez penalties earned Sampdoria a crucial 2-1 win at Lecce, who had equalised through a Marco Mancosu spot-kick, to push Claudio Ranieri’s side four points clear of the relegation zone.
Hellas Verona beat Parma 3-2 courtesy of a late Matteo Pessina goal, while Frenchman Gregoire Defrel netted twice as Sassuolo won 3-1 at Fiorentina.
Cagliari drew 1-1 away to Bologna as Giovanni Simeone struck early in the second half for the visitors following Musa Barrow’s goal in first-half stoppage time.
Inter Milan’s Alexis Sanchez (second right) is brought down by Brescia’s Alessandro Semprini (right) during the Italian Serie A match in Milan on Wednesday. (AFP)
