Inter Milan 4-0 Genoa: Reigning Serie A champions begin their title defence with an emphatic win as Milan Skriniar, Edin Dzeko, Hakan Calhanoglu and Arturo Vidal all score to send a packed San Siro wild and prove there is life after Romelu Lukaku
- Calhanoglu set up Skriniar for sixth-minute opener, before drilling home second
- Sub Vida added the third goal and Dzeko sealed an emphatic victory late on
- Inter Milan also had two strikes ruled out for offside on Saturday
Debutant striker Edin Dzeko was on target as Inter Milan got their Serie A title defence off to a flying start, thrashing Genoa 4-0 in their opening match of the season in front of fans in the San Siro on Saturday.
Hakan Calhanoglu, who crossed the divide to sign for Inter from city rivals AC Milan in the summer, took centre stage from the off, setting up Milan Skriniar for his side's sixth-minute opener, before drilling home a second eight minutes later.
The visitors had a great chance to get back in the contest just before the interval, but Yayah Kallon dragged his effort wide from a good position.
![Inter Milan made a dream start with Milan Skriniar opening the scoring in the sixth minute](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/21/18/46941885-0-image-a-31_1629567837426.jpg)
Inter Milan made a dream start with Milan Skriniar opening the scoring in the sixth minute
![New signing Hakan Calhanoglu drilled home the second goal in the 14th minute on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/21/18/46942047-0-image-a-32_1629568363021.jpg)
New signing Hakan Calhanoglu drilled home the second goal in the 14th minute on Saturday
That miss proved costly as Inter added a third in the 74th minute through substitute Arturo Vidal to make sure of the three points.
Veteran forward Dzeko, who joined from AS Roma earlier this month, marked his 200th Serie A appearance by heading home a late fourth.
'I was calm because I know that the fans have great faith in me,' Calhanoglu told DAZN. 'We worked hard and well, we started strong and won with style.
'We are mature players, it is easy to play with team mates who have quality, understanding their movements is easier. Today we had a good game and we want to continue like this.'
Inter won their first Scudetto in 11 years last season but having sold star striker Romelu Lukaku and full-back Achraf Hakimi during the close season, and with Christian Eriksen's future uncertain after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch during Euro 2020, doubts emerged in the Italian media over whether the champions would be in good enough shape to defend their title.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/21/19/46942969-0-image-a-45_1629571549120.jpg)
The home side added a third in the 74th minute through substitute Arturo Vida
![Debutant striker Edin Dzeko sealed an emphatic victory with the fourth goal in the 87th minute](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/21/19/46942749-9915025-image-a-41_1629570544796.jpg)
Debutant striker Edin Dzeko sealed an emphatic victory with the fourth goal in the 87th minute
But straight from the off, the man who stepped into Eriksen's shoes in midfield, Calhanoglu, showed there is life in the new-look Inter.
The Turkey international set up Skriniar for his new side's opener from a corner against a flat-footed Genoa.
Calhanoglu then arrowed a brilliant strike into the net to become the first player to both score and assist on his Serie A debut for Inter since Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2006.
Other than Kallon's miss, Genoa were never really in the match, and it was a matter of how many more Inter would score in the second half.
After being thwarted on several occasions by Genoa goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, it was left to Vidal to step off the bench to sweep home the third, before Bosnian Dzeko headed home to get off the mark as an Inter player.
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