Inter 1 Crotone 1: Zenga returns to haunt struggling Nerazzurri

Crotone extended Inter’s winless run in Serie A to eight matches as Andrea Barberis’ second-half equaliser secured Walter Zenga’s side a well-deserved 1-1 draw at San Siro.

Playing in place of the injured Mauro Icardi, Eder marked his first league start of the season by heading the Nerazzurri ahead in the 23rd minute, albeit visiting defender Davide Faraoni got the final touch on the ball.

Yet the out-of-sorts hosts laboured throughout and Crotone deservedly picked up a valuable point in their battle to beat the drop, Barberis reacting quickly to poke a loose ball beyond Samir Handanovic.

The result will be particularly pleasing for Zenga, a legendary name at Inter who is back coaching in his homeland after an unsuccessful spell at English Championship side Wolves.

As for his old employers, a fifth successive draw will see Inter retain fourth place in the table, though Roma can close to within a solitary point with victory away at Verona on Sunday.

8 – Inter Milan have equalled their longest winless streak in their Serie A history (eight games), recorded on five occasions – the latest in May 2017. Fasting. #InterCrotone

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 3, 2018

After Inter won 2-0 in the previous meeting of the teams last September, they were riding high in the table having picked up maximum points from their first four outings in the campaign.

However, a miserable run of form either side of the mid-season break has emphatically ended talk of an unlikely title challenge and instead left Luciano Spalletti’s side looking nervously over their shoulder in the battle to secure Champions League football next season.

There was a collective sigh of relief around the San Siro when Eder opened the scoring, the forward converting Marcelo Brozovic’s corner home via a deflection off Faraoni’s head.

Inter had to rely on a set-piece opportunity to break the deadlock though, as they struggled in open play during a lethargic first-half display that highlighted the lack of confidence running through the team.

Faraoni made amends for his accidental involvement in the opening goal with a crucial clearance to prevent a second after the break, cutting out Antonio Candeva’s low cross as two Inter players waited to apply the finish in the middle.

The interception kept Crotone within touching distance, and the visitors grew in confidence with each minute that ticked by during the second half.

Their willingness to push extra bodies forward paid off with an equaliser on the hour mark, Marcello Trotta’s attempted pass rebounding off the knee of Borja Valero to set up Barberis, who kept his composure to convert the one-on-one opportunity.

Spalletti responded to conceding by summoning Rafinha from the bench, and the Brazilian was denied a late winner on his home debut when his goal-bound shot was acrobatically kept out by a diving Alex Cordaz.

Ivan Perisic failed to even hit the target when well-placed to convert Danilo D’Ambrosio’s cut-back pass from the right in the closing stages, while Inter were relieved to see Trotta’s left-footed drive on the angle fizz narrowly wide during an eventful finish to an otherwise tepid contest.

| FT Inter 1-1 Crotone

Final whistle at the Meazza. #InterCrotone pic.twitter.com/P1NUlfCtTw

— Inter (@Inter_en) February 3, 2018