Rate it!

3 votes

Champions Internazionale affirmed their intentions to claim a fifth consecutive Scudetto with a resounding 5-0 away victory over fellow title hopefuls Genoa.

Esteban Cambiasso opened the scoring at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Mario Balotelli added a second and a stunning Dejan Stankovic volley from the half-way line effectively settled the outcome of the match before half-time.

Substitute Patrick Vieira made it four after the break and Maicon added a gloss to the scoreline with a fifth to send Jose Mourinho's side three points clear at the top of the Serie A table, at least until their nearest rivals Sampdoria play at Lazio on Sunday.

Genoa stay fifth, six points off the pacesetters, but stand to drop down the table should results on Sunday go against them.

Earlier in the day, third placed Juventus had passed up the opportunity to briefly knock Inter off their perch when they were held to a 1-1 draw by fourth-placed Fiorentina in Florence.

It took just six minutes for Inter to take the lead as Cambiasso celebrated his return from a successful international break with Argentina by firing home from close range, via a slight deflection.

Balotelli, who had been subjected to some rough treatment both from the Genoa defence and the home crowd, doubled Inter's lead on 31 minutes, the 19-year-old keeping his cool to finish from Cambiasso's clever through pass.

But the best of the opening period was saved for the end when Stankovic, who had already passed up three decent scoring chances, netted a real contender for goal of the season.

Genoa keeper Marco Amelia's attempted clearance skewed towards the Serb midfielder who, from fully 60 yards, hit a spectacular first-time volley straight back towards goal. With Amelia well off his line, the ball bounced into the open goal and Inter took a 3-0 lead in with them at the break.

Genoa's visible frustration boiled over as the players headed for the tunnels at half-time and a fracas erupted, leading to substitute keeper Alessio Scarpi's expulsion for raising his hands towards Maicon and Lucio.

Given they were in such a commanding position, Inter easily kept their heads and once the teams retook to the field, they were soon knocking on their hosts' door again.

Balotelli, who by this time was sporting a plaster on his forehead, saw a header saved by Amelia on 57 minutes before Vieira, a half-time replacement for Cambiasso, fired home from Wesley Sneijder's pass.

A convincing win then turned into a rout as Maicon added a fifth on 71 minutes, the Brazilian taking advantage of some slack defending to slot past Amelia.

Five-nil may have been harsh on Genoa; certainly the home crowd seemed to think so, and the majority of them stayed behind at the full-time whistle to cheer their players off the pitch.

Inter, meanwhile, continue their march towards a fourth successive title won on the pitch, although the result did not outwardly please all those in the Nerazzurri camp; while the players celebrated victory, Mourinho could not bring himself to crack a smile on his way down the tunnel.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport