Rome (AFP)

Inter Milan, Serie A leaders put into orbit by their victory in the Milan derby, followed with a fifth consecutive league victory against Genoa (3-0) on Sunday at San Siro on Matchday 24 of Serie A.

The Nerazzurri, led by a burning Romelu Lukaku (one goal, one assist), have seven points ahead of AC Milan (2nd) before the difficult trip of the Rossoneri to Roma in the evening.

Perhaps more important for his coach Antonio Conte, Inter relegates Juventus (3rd, with one game less) to ten points after the draw conceded by the Bianconeri on Saturday in Verona (1-1).

"Against a team that was in good shape, we had the determination we needed, we are happy because the work pays off," said the Milan coach.

"Today we did something important, the team continues to improve since last season, but there are 14 games remaining," he added.

Inter Milan, despite the financial worries of its owner, the Chinese group Suning, in search of new investors, displayed a serenity rarely seen.

In a one-sided game, Romelu Lukaku led the way by opening the scoring after just 33 seconds, for his 18th league goal, coming back to a Cristiano Ronaldo goal.

"Last year, we lost matches like these, this year we are progressing. We are in the lead, we must continue," said the Belgian international.

"The ranking of the scorers? The most important thing is that Inter wins," he said.

After a harvest of missed opportunities by the Inters in the face of an overwhelmed Genoa, "Big Rom" became a passer for Matteo Darmian, holder in the absence of Achraf Hakimi (suspended), for the 2-0 (69th) .

Then Alexis Sanchez, just entered in place of Lautaro Martinez, added a third, taking advantage of a new blocked shot from Lukaku.

This defeat marks a halt for Genoa (13th), totally transformed since the return to the bench of Davide Ballardini at the end of December and who remained in seven matches without defeat.

The relegation Cagliari (18th), for his part, finally got his head out of the water: the Sardinians, with their new coach Leonardo Semplici, put an end on the lawn of the red lantern Crotone (2-0) to a spiral negative of sixteen consecutive matches without a win, fatal to Eusebio Di Francesco.

Leonardo Pavoletti (56th) and Joao Pedro (60th from penalty) allow Cagliari to return to two points of the first non-relegation, the Torino, who did not play this weekend however due to grouped cases of Covid-19 in its workforce.

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