Dimarco aids Inter in securing eight point advantage in Serie A as Juventus falters
Federico Dimarco delivered three assists while Inter Milan crushed Sassuolo 5 0 on Sunday extending their unbeaten streak in Serie A to 12 games and meanwhile Pierre Kalulu netted late in stoppage time to earn Juventus a 2 2 tie against Lazio.
With this performance Dimarco raised his assist count for the season to nine he also struck the frame of the goal and blocked a definite score on the line helping Inter pull eight points ahead of local competitors AC Milan.
Nevertheless he remained grounded about his strong play.
"I do not see myself as special. In this sport when results are positive you are hailed as a star but when they sour you become irrelevant" Dimarco remarked.
"I simply continue training in my usual manner without dwelling on other matters."
Inter have triumphed in 11 and tied one during this 12 game unbeaten sequence.
Defenders Yann Bisseck and Manuel Akanji found the net along with attackers Marcus Thuram Lautaro Martinez and Luis Henrique.
Dimarco was involved early on clearing a shot from Canadian Ismael Kone off the line in the opening minute.
Just ten minutes in Inter went ahead as German defender Bisseck nodded in Dimarcos corner from the 11th minute at the far post.
Dimarco nearly grabbed a goal himself on the 18th minute but his free kick rebounded off the crossbar.
He set up another shortly after delivering a cross from the left for French striker Thuram to redirect it into the net with his right foot at the near post.
Sassuolo believed they had clawed one back four minutes before the interval when Norwegian midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt poked home from close range but video assistant referee intervention disallowed it for offside.
Inter sealed the contest within ten minutes of the second half starting as Argentine forward Martinez slotted in from near the penalty spot following a lengthy throw into the area.
This effort placed the team captain level with third on Inters historical leading scorers.
Dimarco then assisted his third from a corner allowing Swiss defender Akanji to power a header home from six yards.
Ex Chelsea and Manchester United player Nemanja Matic received a red card for comments directed at the official dashing any slim chances Sassuolo had of gaining a result.
Thuram struck the upright before Henrique added the fifth with a clever touch and shot one minute from the end.
Opportunity for Roma
In the evenings fixture Juventus mounted a thrilling recovery from two goals down to claim a point in Turin.
Strikes around the half time interval gave away side Lazio the upper hand even though Juventus had controlled possession until then.
The home team saw a goal from Teun Koopmeiners disallowed for offside involving Kephren Thuram on the 26th minute.
Ex Spanish winger Pedro netted the opener in first half stoppage time after an error by Juventus skipper Manuel Locatelli.
Almost immediately after the break Danish attacker Gustav Isaksen converted neatly from the right flank making it two nil to Lazio.
Juventus persisted and American midfielder Weston McKennie pulled one back just shy of the hour.
French defender Kalulu then clinched the draw with nearly the final action of the game.
However these lost points open the door for Roma to match fourth placed Juventus who occupy the final Champions League spot if they win against struggling Cagliari at home on Monday.
Earlier Lecce created a three point buffer from relegation with a 2 1 success over Udinese on their turf while Parma alleviated their drop worries via a 1 0 triumph at Bologna courtesy of Christian Ordonezs 95th minute strike.