Inter 3-1 Bologna: Hakimi strikes twice to close the gap on Milan

Inter closed the gap on Serie A leaders Milan as Achraf Hakimi scored twice to help Antonio Conte’s team to a 3-1 victory over Bologna.

With Milan not playing until Sunday, Inter took the chance to move to within two points of their city rivals as they claimed a third straight league win.

Romelu Lukaku got the ball rolling with his 12th goal of the season in all competitions, before Marcelo Brozovic’s sublime pass played in Hakimi for a second.

Emanuel Vignato’s 67th-minute goal threatened to make things tense for Inter, but Hakimi’s second – a fine finish at the culmination of a fantastic run infield – wrapped things up.

Inter’s early dominance told 16 minutes in when, having initially missed his attempted volley from Ivan Perisic’s cross, Lukaku reacted sharply to curl a finish into the top-left corner, with covering defender Danilo only able to help it in.

8 – Romelu #Lukaku has scored 8 goals in his first 9 Serie A 2020/21 apps: the Inter striker has scored more than 7 goals before the 11th app of the season for the first time in his career. Superb. #InterBologna

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) December 5, 2020

Lukaku should have doubled Inter’s tally just after the half-hour, but a heavy touch allowed Lukasz Skorupski to make a brave stop.

Inter did get their second on the stroke of half-time, however – Hakimi cruising in behind Bologna’s defence and coolly side-footing in his second Serie A goal after latching onto Brozovic’s inch-perfect pass.

Another chance went begging for Lukaku after the restart, the Belgian just failing to sweep home after Alessandro Bastoni had flicked on Brozovic’s cross.

Lukaku turned provider when he teed up Alexis Sanchez, but Skorupski once more stood firm in a one-on-one.

Bologna’s goalkeeper rushed out to deny Lukaku again on the hour and Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side – looking to win consecutive Serie A games against Inter for the first time since 1999 – made it count when 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.

What does it mean? Inter on track in title race, but Champions League prospects hang by a thread

Inter muscled their way to a 3-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach in midweek and have now won four of their last five in all competitions.

It is an impressive run, but Conte must now ensure the Nerazzurri, who managed 14 attempts but allowed Bologna to have the same, take that form into a vital Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.

Lukaku matches another Inter record

Lukaku enjoyed a brilliant debut campaign, with his tally of 34 goals in all competitions matching Ronaldo’s haul from the 1997-98 season.

Lukaku has now netted more than seven goals before the 11th league game of a season for the first time in his career, while also joining Christian Vieri as the only Inter players to have scored in all of his first four Serie A appearances at San Siro in a single season in the three-points-per-win era.

Hakimi comes to the fore

Former Real Madrid youngster Hakimi established himself as one of the most exciting full-backs in Europe over the course of a two-year loan spell with Borussia Dortmund, though the Moroccan has had an inconsistent start in Italy.

The 22-year-old stepped up in style on Saturday with two clinical finishes, however, becoming the youngest defender to score a brace in the big five European leagues in 2020-21.

What’s next?

Inter need a victory over Shakhtar on Wednesday if they are to stand a chance of progressing from Champions League Group B. Bologna, meanwhile, face Roma on Sunday in their next Serie A outing.