Inter Milan sent shockwaves through Serie A with a commanding 5-0 triumph over a struggling Sassuolo at the MAPEI Stadium, sending them eight points clear at the summit. With ruthless efficiency, Simone Inzaghi’s men combined attacking flair, defensive solidity, and a dose of history-making performances to etch a statement win in the 2025/26 campaign.
Sassuolo provided an early twist with Ismael Kone’s close-range flick, only for Federico Dimarco to rescue his team by clearing off the line in dramatic fashion. In just the eleventh minute, Dimarco turned provider, bending in a precise corner met emphatically by Yann Bisseck. This opener shifted momentum definitively in Inter’s favor, setting the stage for what was to come.
Dimarco’s magic: crafting chances and breaking records
The action didn’t stop there. Fresh from his goal-line heroics, Bisseck almost doubled Inter's lead only to be denied on the line himself, while Dimarco rattled the crossbar moments later. Sassuolo’s defence found little respite as Dimarco, quickly emerging as the night’s playmaker, whipped in a teasing cross on 28 minutes; Marcus Thuram met it to guide home Inter’s second with poise.
Dimarco’s creativity was historic, he notched three assists away from home, becoming only the second wing-back to do so in Serie A since 2004-05—joining Lazio legend Massimo Oddo in this rare feat. The Inter man now has 11 assists this season, and only Oddo (13 in 2005-06) has more in a single term among Serie A defenders since records began.
VAR drama and a flurry of goals
Just before halftime, Sassuolo believed they were back in it as Kristian Thorstvedt pounced in the six-yard box. Heartbreak followed after a tense VAR review—his goal was chalked off for offside, extinguishing hopes of a fightback.
After the interval, Inter shifted into top gear. Lautaro Martinez struck with a clinical, drilled finish, followed by Manuel Akanji powering home a header from—who else?—Dimarco’s corner. The hosts’ misery deepened as veteran Nemanja Matic was sent off for violent conduct amid the onslaught. Lautaro Martinez’s goal was more than just another on a scoresheet. With his rocket into the bottom corner, Martinez equaled Roberto Boninsegna as Inter’s joint-third highest scorer—an elite group boasting legends like Giuseppe Meazza and Alessandro Altobelli. His 171-goal tally cements his status among Nerazzurri royalty.
Inter’s relentless approach was cemented in the closing moments as Luis Henrique lashed in a fierce half-volley, sealing a night to forget for the 10-man hosts and a night to savor for the Nerazzurri faithful.
Key numbers from the night
The victory marked Inter’s eighth consecutive Serie A away win—only the third time in history the club has torn through Italy with such consistency on opposition turf. This achievement mirrors their results last season and the storied 2006-07 campaign (when they managed 11 straight), highlighting Inzaghi’s squad as one of the most formidable travelers in Italian football.
- 3: Number of assists by Federico Dimarco—a record for a wing-back in a Serie A away match since 2006.
- 11: Dimarco’s assist haul this season, the best by a defender in the first 24 matchdays in modern league history.
- 171: Goals scored by Lautaro Martinez, now joint-third on Inter’s all-time scoring list.
- 8: Consecutive away wins for Inter, matching club history.