Inter grabbed their first win of the season in superb style as Mauro Icardi’s hat trick helped them to a majestic 7-0 win over Sassuolo.
Icardi struck a hat trick, his second and third both wonderfully accurate finishes, while Pablo Osvaldo struck twice on his debut, with Mateo Kovacic and substitute Fredy Guarin completing the scoreline.
The Nerazzurri took the lead after just four minutes through 21 year-old striker Mauro Icardi. After a powerful solo run by Mateo Kovacic, his dinked through ball found Icardi, who scrambled in the rebound after his initial shot was saved by Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.
Sassuolo did have a huge chance to equalise just nine minutes later, when Domenico Berardi’s deflected cross was poked wide by Nicola Sansone.
Inter then doubled their advantage through midfielder Mateo Kovacic; Mauro Icardi’s back heeled volley found Pablo Osvaldo, who slipped in Mateo Kovacic, who beat a defender and finished excellently past Consigli.
From then on Inter dominated the first half, and before long they were 3-0 up thanks to Mauro Icardi’s perfectly placed finish from outside the area.
Inter’s dominance continued, and in the 43rd minute Dodo capped off a highly impressive first half for him and for Inter with a sensational solo run past three Sassuolo defenders, and after his angled shot was saved he squared for debutant Pablo Osvaldo, who couldn’t miss.
Icardi then completed his hat trick shortly after half time with a truly sumptuous goal. A glorious through ball from the impressive Mateo Kovacic was met by Icardi, at an impossible angle, who fired a first time strike into the far side netting with his weaker peg.
Saphir Taider, he himself on loan from Inter, came on at half time, and almost scored a consolation when his low shot was spilled by Samir Handanovic. However the Slovakian goalkeeper was able the stop the ball going over the line.
And, just as it seemed Sassuolo’s performance couldn’t get any worse, they were down to ten men after 60 minutes when Domenico Berardi, on loan from Juventus, was shown a straight red card for a blatant elbow in the face on Juan Jesus, a defender who’d excelled all match for Inter. The winger departed without argument.
Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza, who scored against Norway after being called up to the Italy National team, was very quiet and brought off in the 65th minute for Leonardo Pavoletti.
Osvaldo then scored his second in the 72nd minute, casually finishing into an open goal after Fredy Guarin’s cross.
And, just two minutes later, the substitute Guarin made it seven. Another example of poor defending, as Pablo Osvaldo found Fredy Guarin, who drilled an excellent finish in off the post from the edge of the area under very little pressure. It capped off a truly sensational performance for Inter, who face Palermo next weekend.
