Markus Thuram’s goal against Torino was his first since August (Piero Cruciatti)
Markus Thuram’s hat-trick in the 10-a-side game against Turin on Saturday lifted Inter Milan to second place in Serie A, moving the champions within two points of league leaders Napoli.
France forward Thuram headed in crosses from Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi in the first half to score his third goal just after the hour mark, giving Inter a deserved victory at the San Siro despite a narrow lead.
In the final game of the weekend before the international break, Inter could be overtaken by both Juventus, who host Cagliari on Sunday, and AC Milan, who host local rivals Fiorentina.
Thuram leads Italy’s top-flight goalscoring table with seven goals, alongside Matteo Retegui, who scored his third in Atalanta’s game against Genoa on Saturday.
“It’s been a few games since I last scored, but it was more important for the team to win tonight,” Thuram told Sky.
“I’m not interested in being the top scorer. All that matters is that Inter win games.”
Almost back to full strength after their side defeated Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Tuesday, Simone Inzaghi’s Inter have now won their third consecutive match in all competitions since losing in the Milan derby last month.
Thuram had everything to do with Inter’s upcoming good run, but in the 20th minute a bad tackle from Guillermo Maripan left Torino alone, struggling on the ground.
The 27-year-old could have easily been seriously injured, but he converted the first of two nearly identical headers five minutes later, the second in the 35th minute.
Duvan Zapata, who was then stretchered off with a potentially serious knee injury, fired back for sixth-placed Torino seconds later after a defensive lapse by Jan Bisek.
However, Thuram restored Inter’s two-goal lead when goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic failed to stop Lautaro Martinez’s header.
Inter weren’t as solid as they were when they stormed to the Scudetto last season, but they gave Torino hope when Hakan Calhanoglu brought down Adam Masina with five minutes remaining and Nikola Vlasic’s penalty goal reduced the gap. .
However, Inter will cling on to victory and will be hot on the heels of Napoli as players head to their respective national teams.
“Let’s focus on the fact that the team won three games in a week after losing the derby,” Inzaghi told Sky.
“I can’t say anything to the players because we deserved to win against everyone.”
~Letegi in flames~
Retegui blamed his former club Genoa for the heavy defeat after scoring a hat-trick at the Jewys Stadium to ensure Atalanta move into ninth place with 10 points.
Ederson and Marten de Roon also scored great goals as Atalanta defeated a disappointing Genoa side. Despite Heftall’s late goal, goal difference meant they fell into the relegation zone next to Lecce.
Argentinian-born Retegui quickly established himself at Bergamo after signing in the summer after Gianluca Scamacca suffered a serious knee injury, forming an almost immediate link up front with Ademola Lookman and Charles de Quetelaere. Established.
The 25-year-old also provided the pass for Ederson to fire Atalanta’s third goal in the same period.
“I’m really happy, but not for myself, not for the team who played really well,” Retegui told DAZN.
“I have nothing but gratitude to everyone for the way I was treated during the first few months. I’m really happy.”
Retegui took the lead in the 24th minute when he slid in Lookman’s low cross, and five minutes after half-time he was quickest to react to the rebound after Ederson’s shot was saved by Pierluigi Gollini and found the back of the net. The lead increased to 2 points.
He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 74th minute after Alessandro Voriacco was penalized for handball, somewhat making up for the missed spot-kick that cost Atalanta their first Champions League win against Arsenal last month.
Saturday’s convincing victory came after another strong showing on Wednesday as Atalanta defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen in a competition between Europe’s top clubs.
TD/DJ
