Inter Milan triumphed 3-1 over Empoli at home on Sunday, maintaining their chase of Napoli at the top of the Serie A 2024-25 standings.
Lautaro Martinez broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a curling shot, Denzel Dumfries added a second with a powerful header from a corner in the 79th, and Marcus Thuram rounded off the victory 10 minutes later, after Empoli had briefly reduced the deficit.
With 47 points, Inter sits second in the table, just three points behind Napoli, but with a game in hand. Empoli, meanwhile, is 14th with 20 points.
The home side dominated possession in the first half, creating several chances but lacking the finishing touch to break the deadlock.
Martinez nearly scored early with a bicycle kick from a free kick, but Empoli keeper Devis Vasquez was equal to the challenge, making a superb save.
Just before halftime, Martinez came close again, with a half-volley from close range that clipped the post after a bouncing ball passed through the Empoli defense.
The breakthrough came for Inter in the 55th minute. Martinez received a pass just outside the box and, with a precise curling shot, found the net despite Vasquez’s full stretch.
Dumfries doubled the lead in the 79th minute with a header from a corner that bounced into the ground and into the top corner of the net.
After Dumfries’ goal, Inter eased off the throttle. Empoli fought back briefly when Sebastiano Esposito, on loan from Inter, pulled one back in the 84th minute with a close-range finish from a cross.
However, Empoli couldn’t capitalize on the momentum.
Inter sealed the victory as Thuram scored their third from a counter-attack, ensuring the three points stayed in Milan.
