MILAN — Inter Milan became the second team in Serie A history to score in the season´s first 30 games when it beat Empoli 2-0 and edged closer to the title.
Only Juventus in the 2013-14 campaign scored in its first 30 games. In the big five European leagues this season, no other team has matched Inter´s feat.
Inter extended its lead to 14 points on second-placed AC Milan. There are eight rounds left. Empoli lost its last three games by 1-0 and it was a goal behind after just five minutes when Federico Dimarco turned in an Alessandro Bastoni cross.
Inter was on top throughout but it couldn´t double its lead until the 82nd minute.
Alexis Sanchez, who replaced Bastoni, had the easiest of finishes after good work on the right by Denzel Dumfries.
Empoli remained third to last and in serious relegation trouble.
Dimarco broke the deadlock for Inter in the sixth minute when he fired the ball left-footed into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, Reuters reported.
The rest of the first half ebbed and flowed, with Inter pressing to extend their lead, and Empoli goalkeeper Elia Caprile standing firm to deny them. Yet, Empoli gained momentum towards the end of the half, creating chances that were narrowly off target.
Inter came back with renewed vigour after the break and Nicolo Barella was inches away from scoring after beating three Empoli defenders.
Substitute Sanchez was left unmarked to tap home Denzel Dumfries’ cross and double Inter’s lead in the 81st minute after a flowing passing move from the hosts.
Davide Frattesi almost grabbed a third for Inter with the last kick of the match, but the ball slipped just past the post.
Elsewhere, AS Roma’s bid for a top-four finish suffered a blow as they were unable to break the deadlock in a 0-0 draw at Lecce.
Roma is fifth in the standings with 52 points, five points behind Bologna in fourth place, and the final guaranteed UEFA Champions League qualifying spot.
Atalanta, who has played one match fewer, is in sixth place with 50 points. Lecce is 13th with 29.
Bologna had little trouble securing a 3-0 victory at home against bottom-of-the-league Salernitana, bringing them within two points of third-placed Juventus.
Lecce had chances in the first half but they were frustrated by a solid performance from Roma’s goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
“We suffered a lot in the first half… We have to improve on this, we have to be tougher when we´re playing direct. If the team isn´t capable of switching it up, you struggle,” Roma coach Daniele De Rossi told DAZN.
“It’s a point gained, I find it tough to say, but it is a tough situation. It could have been worse. We were missing everything; we also had a bit of a shortage during the build-up.”
Both teams continued to create opportunities after halftime, with Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu firing wide from close range shortly after the hour mark, while Roma’s Houssem Aouar had a shot kept out by an incredible reaction save from Lecce keeper Wladimiro Falcone.
Remi Oudin had the chance to be the home side’s hero in stoppage time, but his long-range shot was narrowly off target.
Roma will next face city rivals Lazio in the ‘Derby della Capitale’ on Saturday.
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