Lukaku double helps Inter keep pressure on leaders AC Milan
Romelu Lukaku scored a good second-half double due to Inter Milan kept the pressure on Serie A good leaders AC Milan with a 4-0 make an impression on Benevento on Saturday.
Antonio Conte's Inter sits two factors behind their metropolis rivals, who beat Bologna 2-1 previously Saturday.
A Riccardo Improta's own target put the hosts ahead early on against 11th-placed Benevento at the San Siro.
Lautaro Martinez scored 12 minutes following the break before Lukaku added two even more.
Champions Juventus moved into third, seven tips off top location with a game in hand, after a 2-0 win over Sampdoria.
Milan bounced back again after losses to Atalanta found in the league and Inter in the Italian Cup on Tuesday, a casino game where Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off.
"It was a solid response from the team. A victory that gives us confidence towards the end of a difficult week," explained Milan coach Stefano Pioli.
The midweek Milan derby was overshadowed by a clash between Ibrahimovic and former Manchester United teammate Lukaku.
Ibrahimovic on Saturday drew a good blank for a second straight league video game for the first time this season.
Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski made an excellent double preserve from the Swede in early stages.
The visitors were awarded a penalty when Mitchell Dijks brought down Rafael Leao, with Ibrahimovic upgrading to take it.
However the 39-year-old's poor track record from the spot continued along with his fourth penalty miss in all competitions this season.
Luckily, Ante Rebic was readily available to slide in the rebound soon after Skorupski's save.
Franck Kessie took Milan's second penalty 10 minutes after the break pursuing an Adama Soumaoro handball.
The Ivorian made no mistake, planting the ball into the middle of the web.
"The penalty taker is Ibra, it's up to him, when he doesn't feel like taking it, I kick," said Kessie.
Substitute Andrea Poli pulled an objective back again for 13th-placed Bologna against his former golf club with nine minutes to go.
- Eriksen makes mark again -
In Milan, Inter's Christian Eriksen, who scored a late winner in the Cup derby, create the primary goal in the seventh minute when his free-kick was converted into his private net by Improta.
Martinez ended his six-match aim drought on 57 mins with a left-footed hit into the bottom corner.
Achraf Hakimi had an objective eliminated for offside, but seconds down the road Benevento goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo's dreadful move was intercepted by Martinez, who setup Lukaku to score.
Alternative Alexis Sanchez served up the fourth for Lukaku with 12 minutes to go, bringing the striker's tally to 14 league goals this year, one less than Serie A leading scorer Ronaldo.
"(Eriksen) is adapting perfectly to this new function," explained Inter assistant coach Cristian Stellini, standing set for Conte who is serving a two-meet ban.
"He's working hard, now he has the chance to prove his worth."
In Genoa, Ronaldo failed to score for the 3rd consecutive league game, but Juventus continued their climb up the table.
The Portuguese striker has been criticised for breaking coronavirus rules with a visit to a mountain resort for his girlfriend's birthday.
"Ronaldo always will his bit for the crew and it's no problem if he doesn't score," stated Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo.
Federico Chiesa opened the scoring on 20 mins after a maneuver involving all 3 Juventus forwards.
Alvaro Morata played a good one-two with Ronaldo, prior to the Spaniard's low cross was slotted in by Chiesa.
Claudio Ranieri's Sampdoria came near a great equaliser, with Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny denying Fabio Quagliarella a goal against his former club on the eve of his 38th birthday.
Morata had a goal ruled out for offside on 56 minutes for Juve, who have had to hold back until injury period to score another.
Ronaldo's cross-field move found the run of Juan Cuadrado who laid it on a plate for Ramsey to tap in his second league goal of the season.
"The attitude is best suited, we finish a great January where we have grown a whole lot, even if we could have killed off the overall game sooner," said Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini.
