SAN FRANCISCO, December 06, (THEWILL) – Inter Milan closed the gap on Serie A leaders Milan as midfielder Achraf Hakimi scored twice to help Antonio Conte’s team to a 3-1 victory over Bologna.
The Nerazzuri took advantage of Milan not playing until Sunday to move to within two points of their city rivals as they claimed a third straight league win.
Early dominance by the hosts paid dividends 16 minutes in when, having initially missed his attempted volley from Ivan Perisic’s cross, Lukaku reacted fastest to curl a finish into the top-left corner, with covering defender Danilo only able to help it in.
The Belgian finisher should have doubled Inter’s tally just after the half-hour, but a heavy touch allowed Bologna keeper Lukasz Skorupski to make a brave stop.
Hakimi did get Inter’s second on the stroke of half-time, cruising in behind Bologna’s defence and coolly side-footing in his second Serie A goal from midfielder Marcelo Brozovic’s inch-perfect pass.
Lukaku missed another chance after the restart. He failed to sweep home a flick from defender Alessandro Bastoni after another good serving of Brozovic’s cross. Forward Alexis Sanchez also couldn’t find the net when teed up by Lukaku as Skorupski once more stood firm in a one-on-one.
Again, on the hour mark, Skorupski rushed out to deny Lukaku. Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side, looking to win consecutive Serie A games against Inter for the first time since 1999, made it count when midfielder Emanuel Vignato lashed in from close range.
Yet the contest was all but settled three minutes later as Hakimi cut in on his left foot and drilled in a low finish that Skorupski failed to get enough on.
Inter go against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday in the final fixture of the Champions League Group B ties and Bologna welcome Roma to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Sunday.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
