Inter and Sassuolo fought out a goalless draw in their respective first Serie A fixture of the new year.
2018/2019 Serie A
0-0
Match Events
14' CHANCE! Locatelli's shot wide out
CHANCE! The first opportunity of the match falls to Locatelli, who skims the upright when played through one-on-one by Boateng's smart flick-on. The midfielder was on his weaker right foot, perhaps explaining the miss.
17' CLOSE! Vecino's header over the bar
CLOSE! Perisic and Brozovic work the corner short and the latter picks out Vecino, who guides his header narrowly over the crossbar after swooping down to meet the cross. Good play from the home side, that!
24' MISS! Berardi's shot over the bar
GREAT PLAY FROM SASSUOLO! The visitors are playing some superb stuff. It is one-touch football to work this latest shooting chance, which Berardi cannot make the most of, blasting the ball over the bar from a fair way out. Inter cannot get close to their opponents.
40' Consigli keeps out Vecino!
CONSIGLI KEEPS OUT VECINO! After managing to stay onside for a change, Vecino turns the ball on goal from 10 yards. Consigli, who is becoming progressively busier in this first half, does well to get down low and capture the ball at the second attempt.
56' Excellent save from Handanovic!
HANDANOVIC KEEPS INTER LEVEL! Boateng times his run perfectly to meet the cross of Locatelli from the left. Despite having time to pick his spot, though, Boateng meets his match in Handanovic from five yards out. Not the worst header, but he perhaps could have placed it closer to the corner.
60' Nainggolan is subbed in
Nainggolan is brought on in place of Joao Mario with around half an hour to play. Sassuolo boss Roberto De Zerbi has yet to turn to his bench.
Player Ratings
Match Report
Inter rode their luck on the way to an underwhelming 0-0 home draw against Sassuolo in their first Serie A outing of 2019.
Roberto De Zerbi's men created the best of the opportunities and will count themselves unfortunate not to have snapped what is now a five-match winless streak in all competitions.
San Siro was closed to all but 11,000 local children as Inter began a two-match stadium closure following the alleged racial abuse of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly last month, although there was no lack of intensity in an entertaining contest.
Matteo Politano and Kevin Prince-Boateng both went close to a winner either side of half-time but, unable to find a way past a team that conceded nine times in their final two league fixtures of last year, the Nerazzurri can have few complaints over a result that leaves them four points behind second-placed Napoli, who host Lazio on Sunday.
Line-ups
Inter XI: I. Perišić, S. Handanovič, Asamoah, De Vrij, D'Ambrosio, M. Vecino, M. Brozović, Skriniar, João Mário, Icardi, Politano
Subs: João Miranda, Candreva, Nainggolan, D. Padelli, Valero, Ranocchia, Š. Vrsaljko, Gagliardini, Dalbert, Lautaro Martínez
Sassuolo XI: Prince, Peluso, A. Consigli, Djuricic, A.Duncan, Berardi, S.Sensi, G. Magnani, Locatelli, P.Lirola, Rogerio
Subs: Gianluca Pegolo, Matri, Magnanelli, M. Bourabia, Babacar, Ferrari, Jeremie Boga, C. Dell'Orco, M.Lemos, Adjapong, G. Satalino, Brignola