Established 1961 15 Sports Monday, August 23, 2021 Inter Milan open Serie A title defense with Genoa thumping Lazio’s Correa could be answer as Inter looks to add forward MILAN: Inter Milan kicked off their Hakimi, but they played as though their Dzeko on target Italian league title defense by cruising troubles were behind them under new Vidal made sure of the points in the past Genoa 4-0 on Saturday in an boss Inzaghi. 74th minute when he swept home the encouraging display from the champions Skriniar opened the scoring five min- third following smart work from Nicolo following a turbulent close season. utes into the new season with a thump- Barella to set up the Chilean after Simone Inzaghi’s side were two goals ing header from a corner by Calhanoglu, Dzeko’s curling shot was well saved by ahead after 13 minutes thanks to Milan who doubled Inter’s lead eight minutes Genoa stopper Salvatore Sirigu. Skriniar and Hakan Calhanoglu, before later by drilling home a long-range strike A gloriously warm evening in Milan second-half strikes from Arturo Vidal after exchanging passes with fellow new was made even better for the home fans and Edin Dzeko completed the rout in signing Dzeko. when Lukaku’s replacement Dzeko front of just over 27,000 spectators at Bosnia forward Dzeko was excellent rounded off the scoring by meeting the San Siro as crowds return to sta- Vidal’s deep cross with a thumping diums in Italy. header to score his first goal in Inter “We worked hard towards today, colors. CEO Giuseppe Marotta told we got off to a great start and we broadcaster DAZN before the match won,” said the impressive Lazio, Sassuolo, that Inter would nonetheless bring in Calhanoglu, who also provided the Atalanta another forward, but both he and cross for Skriniar’s goal. “It’s easy to Inzaghi remained coy over who the play with teammates who have such victorious new signing would be. quality, you know how they’re going However while DAZN’s reporters to move and today we played really in Milan tried to get a name out of well all together. We want to contin- Inzaghi after his first win as Inter ue that way.” coach, Lazio director Igli Tare MILAN: Inter Milan’s Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko celebrates after he scored a goal Grounds have been permitted to revealed to Sky Sport Italia that during the Italian Serie A football match against Genoa at San Siro stadium in open to 50 percent capacity by the up front and was denied a debut goal Argentine Joaquin Correa wanted to Milan, on Saturday. — AFP Italian government and although when his deflected shot clipped off the head to Inter. “We know Correa wants to Saturday’s crowd was some way down bar in the 24th minute as Inter dominat- leave Lazio, there is a chance he could winners. The match in Tuscany got off to Immobile scored the third from the on the near 38,000 places made avail- ed. The hosts also had two goals ruled go to Inter, but let’s see what happens,” a flying start with Filippo Bandinelli lash- penalty sport following a foul on able at the San Siro, the roars from the out offside either side of half-time, with Tare said. ing the hosts ahead in the fourth minute, Francesco Acerbi in the dying minutes of stands brought some joy back to the Ivan Perisic and Calhanoglu — who Correa wasn’t even on the Lazio only for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic head the opening half. In the other matches ‘Nerazzurri’ after a difficult summer. arrived from local rivals AC Milan to take bench for Maurizio Sarri’s first league Lazio level seconds later. Sassuolo won an entertaining contest at Financial problems led to coach Antonio the place of Christian Eriksen as he match in charge of the Roman club at Milinkovic-Savic then laid on Manuel 10-man Verona 3-2 while Roberto Conte’s departure and the sale of star recovers from cardiac arrest at Euro Empoli, but his teammates did not Lazzari to put the away side ahead just Piccoli’s stoppage-time tap-in gave players Romelu Lukaku and Achraf 2020 — both denied. appear to miss him as they ran out 3-1 after the half-hour mark before Ciro Atalanta a 2-1 win at Torino. — AFP Depay rescues saved just before the break. Dortmund crash to first defeat Leverkusen made it 3-0 after the break when Moussa Diaby hit draw for Barcelona against Freiburg in 11 years the net after his shot took a deflection. Gladbach also lost in Bilbao BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund hour to go. Freiburg had been defender Matthias Ginter with a slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat at winless in their previous 19 meet- head injury, then striker Alassane MADRID: Barcelona were given a torrid time by Freiburg on Saturday as star strik- ings with Dortmund dating back Plea also went off after twisting Athletic Bilbao but escaped from their trip to San er Erling Braut Haaland drew a to May 2010. his knee. Replacement Nadiem Mames with a point as Memphis Depay’s superb rare Bundesliga blank. It was the Bayer Leverkusen later romped Amiri completed the rout with late strike secured a 1-1 draw for the Catalans on first time Dortmund have lost to to a 4-0 victory at home to Leverkusen’s fourth goal three Saturday. Depay found the net with a fine left-foot Freiburg in Germany’s top flight Borussia Moenchengladbach. minutes from the whistle. “We let half-volley 15 minutes from time in the Basque for 11 years, with Saturday’s set- Visiting goalkeeper Yann Sommer them get the better of us,” admit- Country for his first goal in La Liga since moving to back coming just four days after Barcelona from Lyon. losing 3-1 to Bayern Munich in the Ronald Koeman’s side had impressed in their German Super Cup. first match of the post-Lionel Messi era as they “We made stupid mistakes, beat Real Sociedad 4-2 last weekend, but they were twice!” grumbled Dortmund cen- fortunate to depart with a point from this game and tre-back Manuel Akanji. “We gave it was impossible to avoid questions about the away a free-kick for the first and BILBAO: Barcelona’s Memphis Depay (right) cele- Argentine at full-time. the second goal was a counter brates his goal with teammates Jordi Alba (center) “I don’t like to always talk about the same thing attack. We can’t invite opponents and Sergio Busquets during the Spanish League but he is the best in the world and the opposition to score, especially when we have football match against Athletic Club Bilbao at the might be more afraid if Messi is there,” Koeman Champions League aspirations.” San Mames stadium in Bilbao on Saturday. —AFP admitted. “For us too, if there is a pass to Leo, nor- Dortmund will discover their mally he doesn’t lose the ball, and today we gave group opponents when the draw the ball away too often in the first half. You notice it, Barcelona were unchanged from their opening for the Champions League is made but that’s how it is, it can’t be changed now.” victory meaning another start for Pedri, the brilliant on Thursday. Freiburg raced into It was a difficult night for Barcelona’s defense in young midfielder who also played at Euro 2020 and the lead when dead-ball expert particular, with Gerard Pique coming off after half the Olympics and is now set to get a two-week hol- Vincenzo Grifo blasted in a superb an hour and Eric Garcia being sent off in stoppage iday. Martin Braithwaite, who netted twice against free-kick after just six minutes. Real Sociedad, missed an early sitter for the visitors Dortmund thrashed Eintracht time for bringing down Inaki Williams. Former FREIBURG: Borussia Dortmund’s Norwegian forward Erling Haaland when he blazed over after great play by Depay. Frankfurt 5-2 last Saturday on the Manchester City defender Garcia received news of (right) reacts at the end of the German first division Bundesliga foot- Athletic, with 11,000 of their fans allowed into opening weekend, but the visitors’ his grandfather’s death before the match and strug- ball match against Freiburg in Freiburg, southwestern Germany on the 53,000-capacity San Mames for this game as defensive frailties emerged again gled throughout the 90 minutes, allowing Inigo Saturday. —AFP Martinez to get away from him to head in the open- coronavirus restrictions are gradually loosened in la having been a problem last season. er early in the second half. Liga, then saw Oihan Sancet turn and crash a shot After England midfielder Jude “He is a great professional to play so well in a off the crossbar from 12 yards out. Bellingham lost the ball, Freiburg had a nightmare start when ted Gladbach captain Stindl. game after the death of his grandfather. We wish Pique then came off to be replaced by Ronald forward Roland Sallai was left Mitchel Bakker’s shot hit the post, Hertha Berlin omitted Matheus him all the best in his personal situation,” said Araujo, suggesting Koeman should not have played unmarked to smash home his shot deflected off the Gladbach keeper Cunha from their match-day squad Koeman, who insisted the draw was the right result. the center-back who had reportedly been struggling as the hosts doubled their lead on and rolled over the line for an own for their 2-1 home loss to Athletic, though, will feel they should have won with a minor injury before the game.