Inter smashes five past Monza to move five clear
Inter Milan crushed Monza with a 5-1 away win in Serie A, sending another strong message to its challengers that it is more than serious about laying claim to the title this season.
Doubles from Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez, both of whom scored one from the penalty spot, saw Simone Inzaghi's side move five points clear at the top of the table, with Marcus Thuram provided a goal and an assist in an emphatic display.
Calhanoglu put Inter in front with a penalty in the 12th minute after a VAR review and Martinez doubled the lead two minutes later from close range before Calhanoglu added a third on the hour, netting a neat back-heel assist from Marcus Thuram.
Monza had a goal disallowed at 2-0 down, but midfielder Matteo Pessina eventually pulled one back with a penalty to make it 3-1, but Martinez made it 4-1 withhis spot-kick before Thuram sealed the win for the visitors two minutes from time with a classy goal.
Inter remains top with 51 points from 20 games ahead of second-placed Juventus, which hosts lowly Sassuolo on Wednesday (AEDT).