Incredible scenes as play continues well past the 93rd minute. The frustration is apparent on the faces of the Inter players – and the manager – as they can’t believe they’ve thrown away an additional two points!
90' +1
S. Pellissier has scored a goal for Chievo! Assist by M. Stępiński.
SERGIO PELLISSIER DOES THE INCREDIBLE! 1-1! UNBELIEVABLE! A goal at the death steals Chievo a point! Stepinski plays a ball over the top for Pellissier who gets into the penalty area and dinks it over Handanovic! Skriniar did all he could to make a last-ditch clearance, but he didn’t get there in time as the captain sends the fans home happy!
The substitute plays his part as Stepinski gets the assist on the equalising goal!
90'
The fourth official indicates an additional three minutes at the end of the match for stoppages.
86'
Pellissier climbs all-over Vrsaljko and drags him to the ground, ending a Chievo corner-kick and allowing Inter to clear their lines with less than five minutes left.
84'
Inter are looking to shut the game down as Hetemaj brings Martinez down just outside the centre-circle. It’s incredible that the match hasn’t seen a sending off yet, as there have been five cards and several repeat offenders.
82'
Borja Valero enters the game and replaces João Mário.
Joao Mario will play no further part as Borja Valero gets an eight-minute run-out.
79'
Chievo have just over 10 minutes to make something happen. They started the second half very positively but haven’t done anything of note recently as they limp towards the final whistle. It should be a comfortable win for Inter who are poised to make another substitution – but perhaps there is still more in this game.
77'
V. Birsa enters the game and replaces E. Giaccherini.
Giaccherini departs with former Milan player Birsa coming on to see if he can level the match.
76'
Giaccherini’s free-kick is taken to the centre of the goal, right on the six-yard box but Skriniar rises highest and clears it out for a corner. The ensuing set-piece is taken short before being launched towards the back post, but it misses the head of Bani and goes out for a goal-kick.
Minute
Description
75'
L. Martínez enters the game and replaces M. Politano.
Inter’s second substitution sees Politano make way for Martinez.
73'
Chievo are pushing forward through Hetemaj but there is no real pace or creativity in the build-up. The hosts catch a break however as Brozovic brings Hetemaj down on the right-hand side outside the penalty area with a dangerous sliding tackle. The midfielder has already been booked, but he won’t be sent off for that infringement.
69'
Stepinski gets into the penalty area and chooses to shift play to Giaccherini on his left-hand side instead of going for goal himself with the defender closing down. The former Italy international loses the ball in his feet and can’t manage to get anything towards goal as the attack breaks down.
67'
M. Vecino enters the game and replaces R. Nainggolan.
Nainggolan departs the pitch as Vecino returns to the pitch after missing Inter’s last-three fixtures.
65'
Perisic gets into the penalty area and steers a D’Ambrosio cross towards the far post, but it narrowly misses its target and Sorrentino can once again breath a sigh of relief. The whistle comes late however as the winger was unable to hold his run – so a goal would not have counted anyways!
63'
Jaroszynski crosses it into the chest of Stepinski who takes it down with his chest before laying it off for Rigoni. The midfielder charges forward and has a pop – but it’s blocked almost immediately. Inter survive, but the danger hasn’t passed yet as Chievo look to be showing some fight.
61'
N. Rigoni gets yellow.
M. Stępiński enters the game and replaces R. Meggiorini.
Rigoni is now booked for taking Nainggolan down in midfield.
Di Carlo decides to take Meggiorini out of the firing line as he removes him from play. Stepinski is his replacement.
59'
M. Brozović gets yellow.
Brozovic is shown a yellow card – the fourth of the match – for a dangerous sliding tackle in midfield.
57'
PELLISSIER ALMOST MAKES IT 1-1! Giaccherini receives a pass from the right and without taking a second touch, feeds it through for Pellissier. The striker has a shot from just in front of Handanovic, but the goalkeeper manages to parry it away for a corner!
55'
It’s getting heated as Skriniar goes over to confront Meggiorini who he feels pushed him over after the play had gone. The Inter players go over to crowd the referee and let their feelings be known, but the official fails to produce a card, urging Skriniar to restart play from the free-kick.
54'
Jaroszynski takes the free-kick but it’s not met by a team-mate in the penalty area and Inter once again clear without too much fuss.
53'
João Mário gets yellow.
Immediately after the restart, Joao Mario – perhaps feeling the adrenaline of his first challenge – goes over and fouls Jaroszynski, giving Chievo a free-kick and the Portugal international a yellow card.
52'
Joao Mario puts a crunching tackle in on Meggiorini which gives Chievo a free-kick inside the centre-circle.
50'
Giaccherini passes it to Hetemaj who can only hit an awkward volleyed cross high into the penalty area. Handanovic goes over the top of his own defender, and a Chievo striker as he leaps to make the punch – which he does unconvincingly.
48'
Perisic has the ball on his right foot in the penalty area, and quickly shifts it onto his left before hitting a shot that Bani gets in front of well. Inter have a corner.
46'
P. Jaroszyński enters the game and replaces S. Kiyine.
Kiyine is replaced by Jaroszyński as Di Carlo makes a change at half-time.
Inter get the match restarted from the kick-off!
45'
HALF-TIME: CHIEVO 0-1 INTER.
44'
Vrsaljko makes it down the entire length of the right flank before cutting it inside for Icardi. The build-up is good, but it ends after Perisic’s brilliant cross is turned wide at the back post by Joao Mario.
42'
Hetemaj is shown a yellow card for a handball in midfield which the referee deems to be done on purpose.
41'
P. Hetemaj gets yellow.
39'
I. Perišić has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by D. D'Ambrosio.
D'Ambrosio's lovely display of selflessness has earned him an assist with that pass.
INTER FINALLY GET THEIR NOSES IN FRONT! 1-0! Icardi plays it out to the left for D’Ambrosio inside the penalty area, and the full-back plays a perfectly weighted pass across the face of goal for Perisic who hits it high into the roof of the net! With six minutes before the interval, Inter finally lead!
37'
During another spell of Inter possession around the penalty area in which they fail to break down Chievo, Politano decides to have a run down the edge of the area and try a chipped pass into the area – which fails to meet a team-mate. Bani lets it bounce over his head and Sorrentino has another goal-kick to take.
35'
Politano has a strike from outside the area but he doesn’t curl it anywhere near enough, and the wired shot flies well-wide of the goal. With 10 minutes until half-time, there isn’t much from either side to suggest someone will take the lead before then.
33'
Chievo’s insistence on playing high passes though the centre for their strikers to bring down just isn’t working. Pellissier and Meggiorini may be physical in their own right, but the younger and quicker De Vrij and Skriniar are dealing with it easily. Chievo are having enough possession to threaten, but they can’t unlock this Inter defence.
31'
Politano whips in a free-kick, but it isn’t high enough to get any purchase from the head, and Chievo once again escape.
30'
S. Kiyine gets yellow.
Kiyine slides in to tackle Vrsaljko who was bombing down the right. It’s a yellow card for the Chievo player and a free-kick for Inter just outside the area.
26'
D’Ambrosio does enough to block a Depaoli header from just inside the penalty area after a back-post cross from the left comes in – thanks to yet another Inter turnover.
24'
Nainggolan manages to swing a cross in from the right-hand side but Icardi isn’t really in a position to do anything more than make contact with his head as it rolls out for a Sorrentino goal-kick.
23'
Chievo’s hard work is paying off as they once again manage to stop Perisic on a counter-attack and force him to stop and play it backwards – killing any momentum the move had. Di Carlo certainly has his side organised and structured.
21'
Handanovic almost has the ball taken off his foot by Meggiorini who presses intently, but the goalkeeper is able to get his clearance away at the last minute, gifting the ball to the Chievo defence who push it forward down the right for Giaccherini. His cross meets Pellissier who doesn’t connect cleanly but wins a corner for his endeavour.
19'
It hasn’t been a match of great quality so far as both sides have committed poor turnovers and wasted decent attacking positions. Chievo seem to have dragged Inter to their level, turning the match into a bit of a scrap. It’s probably their best way to squeeze something out of the fixture, but Icardi only needs one chance to break the deadlock.
15'
Giaccherini places the ball right on the penalty spot but nobody in a Chievo jersey attacks the delivery, allowing Skriniar to atone for his earlier mistake with a well-taken clearing header.
14'
Hetemaj goes down heavily after a duel with Skriniar – which the centre-back was always going to win. The referee deems that too much pressure was applied, however, and Chievo win an opportune free-kick on the right-hand side.
12'
Vrsaljko’s deep cross is blocked almost immediately by Rossettini who takes up a perfect position. Chievo get caught attempting to play it out from the back neatly, returning possession to the Nerazzurri in an area to attack.
10'
Kiyine spreads the play with a powerfully hit switch but it skips off the turf and goes just too far for Hetemaj to latch onto. It’s a good idea, but once again Chievo are lacking the final bit of quality needed to really hurt Inter.
8'
Skriniar makes a great tackle outside his own penalty area to win the ball back after a De Vrij turnover in his own third. Chievo are showing their intent – if not their quality.
6'
Skriniar plays it between the lines for Perisic who turns and tries to pass it out for Politano on the right with a lazy pass which is quickly intercepted by a Chievo midfielder. It's a bit of a stuttering start from Inter who are looking a bit lax.
4'
Perisic shifts the ball to his left and takes a shot towards goal from just outside the area but it flies high and wide of the goal, failing to trouble Sorrentino.
2'
A low corner is taken by Depaoli – and it’s a disappointing take as Inter clear it easily without too much fuss.
1'
Chievo get the match underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Serie A fixture between Chievo and Inter!
Rock-bottom of the league with only four points, Chievo have looked destined for relegation since coming into the new season with a three-point deduction due to off the field irregularities. It’s been a trying season for the side from Verona who have the Serie A’s second-worst attack, and third-from-bottom defence.
INTER STARTING XI (4-2-3-1): Samir Handanovic; Sime Vrsaljko, Stefan De Vrij, Milan Skriniar, Danilo D’Ambrosio; Marcelo Brozovic, Matteo Politano; Joao Mario, Radja Nainggolan, Ivan Perisic; Mauro Icardi.
CHIEVO SUBS: Strahinja Tanasijevic, Mauro Burruchaga, Mehdi Leris, Valter Birsa, Mariusz Stepinski, Bostjan Cesar, Nenad Tomovic, Pawel Jaroszynski, Adrian Semper, Filip Djordjevic, Elia Caprile, Joel Obi.
With less than 15 minutes remaining, the team news has been confirmed! Let's start with the home side!
INTER SUBS: Andrea Ranocchia, Daniele Padelli, Keita Balde Diao, Antonio Candreva, Lautaro Martinez, Roberto Gagliardini, Dalbert, Borja Valero, Matias Vecino.
Scoring goals has been a bit of an issue of late for the Nerazzurri, though their rock-solid defence continues to be their strongest facet. Striker Mauro Icardi has found the back of the net in three of his last four matches; 60% of their goals in that time. They will need to find scorers from other places on the pitch – and this match provides as good a time as any to see if they are capable.
Winless in their opening 16 fixtures with all points coming from draws, the side now headed by Domenico Di Carlo has at least arrested an earlier run of seven-straight defeats, with four stalemates in their last five. They may be in Serie B next year, but they aren’t going down without a fight as they have taken points from both Napoli and Lazio in the last month – proving that they are able to stifle the big boys in Italy.
Inter got back to winning ways a week ago by beating Udinese 1-0 after four matches without victory in all competitions – a run which saw Inter lose in the Derby d’Italia to Juventus, as well as draw with PSV. By failing to beat the Eredivisie champions, Inter were sent out of the Champions League, and into the Europa League knockout phase after finishing third in their group – behind Barcelona and Tottenham.
Inter head into the interval with a 1-0 lead at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi after a thoroughly dull display of football in the first half. Perisic’s simple finish at the 39th minute was only Inter’s second real chance of the match, as Chievo did very well while level to get men behind the ball and defend in numbers. With the visitors ahead, perhaps it will force Di Carlo’s side to come out of their shell and attack – which should lead to a much more open game.
Chievo pressed and harried in the opening stages, creating an awkward game and forcing a number of Inter turnovers in midfield. They weren’t able to capitalise as they’re clearly lacking any form of creativity or spark. The route-one manner of their attacking through Pellissier and Meggiorini is predictable, and easy for Skriniar and De Vrij to deal with. Inter have left gaps at the back, but it’ll take a lot more if they wish to earn anything from the game.
That concludes our Serie A commentary of the fixture between Chievo and Inter! We hope you enjoyed it!
Chievo travel to the city of Genoa to face Sampdoria on December 26, while Inter will try and cut the gap when they host Napoli in a crucial clash on the same day.
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