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Inter has a new hero as Marcus Thuram helps the Nerazzurri rout Milan 5-1 in Serie A derby

Sat, Sep 16, 2023
Soccer News (AP)

MILAN (AP) - Inter Milan has a new star player - with a familiar name - as Marcus Thuram helped the Nerazzurri beat fierce rival AC Milan 5-1 in a Serie A derby match on Saturday to maintain their perfect start to the season.

Thuram scored a superb goal to double Inter's lead shortly before halftime, having had a significant hand in the fifth-minute opener. That was netted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who also scored Inter's third after Rafael Leao had got Milan back into the game amid a torrential downpour at San Siro.

Former Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu added a penalty 11 minutes from time and Davide Frattesi capped a great night for Inter in stoppage time.

It was Thuram's second Inter goal in as many matches. He also has three assists in his four matches since joining on a free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach.

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Thuram's father Lilian, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, played as a defender for Parma and Juventus.

Inter is now the only team to have won its four opening matches and the Nerazzurri moved two points ahead of Juventus, which beat Lazio 3-1 earlier. Milan, which has now lost its last five derbies, is three points behind Inter.

Defending champion Napoli played at Genoa later Saturday.

The Milan teams were the only ones with maximum points in Serie A coming into the Derby della Madonnina.

Inter got off to a great start as Thuram used his strength to hold off Milan defender Malick Thiaw and put in a low cross for Federico Dimarco, whose attempt at a shot was volleyed in by Mkhitaryan.

Thuram got on the scoresheet himself in the 38th minute when collected an overhit pass from Denzel Dumfries on the left side of the area and he was perhaps expected to cross but instead he cut past Thiaw and curled a sensational strike into the top right corner.

The rain began to fall heavily in the second half and Milan managed to get back into the match 12 minutes after the break as Leao slotted home an inspired pass from Olivier Giroud. It was the first time Inter had conceded this season.

However, Inter restored its two-goal advantage in the 69th when Mkhitaryan finished off a good team move and the Nerazzurri sealed the result when Calhanoglu blasted home a penalty after Theo Hernandez tripped Lautaro Martinez.

Frattesi, who scored two goals for Italy against Ukraine in the same stadium on Tuesday, capped a great week with his first Inter goal.

UNBEATEN JUVE

Dusan Vlahovic struck twice to help ensure a convincing win for Juventus and take his tally to four goals in the opening four matches.

Vlahovic opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he volleyed in Manuel Locatelli's cross and Federico Chiesa doubled Juve's lead 16 minutes later with his third goal of the season.

Luis Alberto pulled one back for Lazio in the 64th but Vlahovic doubled his tally three minutes later with a fantastic solo effort as he chested down United States international Weston McKennie's long ball and fired into the far bottom corner.

McKennie had also had a part to play in Juve's other two goals.

Juventus remained unbeaten while it was Lazio's third loss.

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