Inter’s 3-4-3 formation isn’t delivering so far against Verona, but there were tricky saves on Federico Dimarco and Lautaro Martinez in the goalless first half.
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The Nerazzurri were seeking a seventh straight Serie A victory to put pressure on leaders Milan, who play later, and potentially overtake them before Christmas. Alexis Sanchez, Matias Vecino and Andrea Pinamonti were still out, with Christian Eriksen in Denmark for the birth of his child, but they switched to 3-4-3 with Ivan Perisic. Hellas continued to miss Nikola Kalinic, Samuel Di Carmine, Andrea Favilli, Ronaldo Vieira and Marco Benassi, with Antonin Barak suspended. Verona’s last Serie A victory over Inter was in 1992, followed by four draws and 14 defeats, home and away.
The hosts kept the initiative early doors, Ashley Young drilling wide from a corner, but the first real chance on 26 minutes saw Mattia Zaccagni’s back-heel flick send Federico Dimarco down the left, stinging Samir Handanovic’s gloves at the near post.
Pawel Dawidowicz went off injured after just half-an-hour and Inter created their big opportunity on the break. Romelu Lukaku ran away on the counter, laid it off for Lautaro Martinez, whose intelligent flick was acrobatically pushed over the bar by Marco Silvestri. On the resulting corner, Alessandro Bastoni couldn’t keep his header down.
Each of Inter's last seven Serie A goals were scored in the second half and once again they have started sluggishly.
Verona 0-0 Inter (Half-Time)
Verona: Silvestri; Dawidowicz (Lovato 31), Magnani, Ceccherini; Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso, Dimarco; Salcedo, Zaccagni; E Colley
Inter: Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, A Bastoni; Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Young; Perisic, R Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez
Ref: Giacomelli