Inter go two points clear at top

Inter now have 30 points and a two-point cushion on Napoli and Fiorentina, with Roma a point further behind. I’m satisfied, the team was also solid defensively.

Biabiany had been given his first start in more than a year, having spent most of that time sidelined with a heart problem, and he marked the occasion with a goal on the rebound after Frosinone goalkeeper Nicola Leali did well to parry Adem Ljajic’s curled effort.

Inter knew it could go clear at the top of the league after Fiorentina drew in the afternoon but the San Siro was nearly stunned into silence in the seventh minute as only a fine Samir Handanovic diving save prevented Danilo Soddimo from volleying relegation-threatened Frosinone into a shock lead.

Inter doubled its advantage in the 53rd.

An unmarked Insigne broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, with Higuain’s close-range second following soon after.

Murillo scored his first club goal in almost two years three minutes from time, firing between Leali’s legs after a delightful backheel from Stevan Jovetic.

Goals from Jonathan Biabiany, Mauro Icardi, Jeison Murillo and Marcelo Brozovic against the top-flight newcomers secured Inter’s fourth straight victory and clean sheet – although it was only the second time they’d scored more than once in the same fixture all season. “We are happy to be up there, but there’s a long way to go this season”, the coach was quoted as saying by Football Italia on Sunday after crushing Frosinone 4-0.

But the canny Portuguese handler soon changed tack, Kalinic and Federico Bernardeschi replacing Mario Suarez and Ante Rebic in the second half.

Croatia marksman Kalinic reduced arrears with a finely-taken header from just outside the six-yard box and had his brace inside five minutes when he squeezed between two defenders to slot Khouma Babacar’s low delivery home after the Senegalese striker had been given acres of space on the right.

Kalinic could have secured his second hat-trick of the season, after his triple in a 4-1 win at Inter, 13 minutes from the end but saw his first-timer from eight yards out glance off the top of the crossbar.

“After seeing our performance in the first half, I wouldn’t send out the same starting team again”, he told Mediaset.

Once Napoli got in front there was little hope for Verona and the visitors saw out a fifth successive league match without conceding a goal and a 12th game unbeaten overall.

MILAN (AP) – Napoli took a share of the Serie A lead with Fiorentina ahead of Inter Milan’s home match against Frosinone later Sunday.

“We deserved the victory and are happy with it”.