Inter Milan's 2018-19 Serie A campaign has got off to a losing start as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sassuolo at the Maipei Stadium this evening.
Domenico Berardi scored the only goal of the game as Sassuolo racked up an early three-point haul, maintaining their impressive record against Inter in the process which has now seen them win seven of their last 11 meetings.
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The hosts could have been in front after only four minutes when Mehdi Bourabia broke into the penalty area before drilling an effort towards the bottom corner which Samir Handanovic pushed away with a fine save.
Inter had a chance of their own midway through the opening 45 minutes as Mauro Icardi latched on to a pass inside the area, but he too was denied by the keeper as Andrea Consigli turned his shot around the post.
The visitors were behind just six minutes later, though, when Miranda was penalised for holding inside the penalty area. Berardi saw Handanovic get a hand to his subsequent spot kick, but there was too much on the effort as Sassuolo drew first blood.
Inter almost hit back immediately when Icardi let fly from long range shortly after the half-hour mark, only to see his strike fizz narrowly past the post.
Berardi could have doubled his personal tally on the stroke of half time when he collected Alfred Duncan's through-ball before going for goal from inside the area, but his effort flew over the crossbar.
Inter boss Luciano Spalletti made a change at the break in a bid to spark his team into life, but the introduction of World Cup finalists Ivan Perisic did not have the desired effect.
Matteo Politano did come close for the visitors on the hour mark when he went for goal from the edge of the area, but his shot was narrowly off target and Sassuolo were back on the attack shortly afterwards.
Indeed, the hosts were inches away from doubling their lead when Kevin-Prince Boateng went for goal from the edge of the box, only to see his effort come back off the post.
It almost proved to be a pivotal moment in the game as Inter went down the other end and created their best chance of the match just one minute later, but Icardi could not keep his shot down as Sassuolo escaped.
There was one final major scare for the home side as Stefan de Vrij rose highest inside the area to plant a header towards goal in stoppage time, but Consigli was equal to the effort as Sassuolo held out for all three points.
Sassuolo next take on Cagliari away from home, while Inter will be looking to get their campaign well and truly underway against Torino.
SASSUOLO (4-3-3): Consigli; Lirola, Magnani, Ferrari, Rogerio; Bourabia (Sensi 64'), Magnanelli, Duncan; Berardi, Boateng (Babacar 85'), Di Francesco (Boga 74')
INTER MILAN (4-4-1-1): Handanovic; D'Ambrosio, De Vrij, Miranda, Henrique; Politano, Vecino, Brozovic (Karamoh 86'), Asamoah; Martinez (Balde 69'); Icardi
Barney Corkhill
