Lukaku scores 2 as Inter beats Genoa 4-0 to go joint top

Romelu Lukaku scored two goals and set up another as Inter Milan beat relegation-threatened Genoa 4-0 on Saturday to move level with Juventus at the top of the Serie A table heading into the winter break.

Lukaku could have had a hat trick but allowed teenage forward Sebastiano Esposito to take a second-half penalty. The 17-year-old Esposito converted for his first goal on his first Serie A start.

Inter needed the win to spend the festive period joint top of the table after Juventus won at Sampdoria midweek.

However, Inter was on a three-match winless streak that had seen it slip to second and crash out of the Champions League, and Lukaku’s strike partner, Lautaro Martínez, was suspended.

Genoa was second from bottom and had lost its previous six matches at Inter, scoring just once.

Inter broke the deadlock with two goals in quick succession. Lukaku headed in Antonio Candreva’s cross in the 31st minute and turned provider two minutes later for Roberto Gagliardini’s deflected strike.

Lukaku could have doubled his tally shortly after the hour mark when Inter was awarded a penalty for Kevin Agudelo’s foul on Gagliardini. But the Belgium forward gave the ball to Esposito, who celebrated wildly after converting.

Lukaku did get a second in the 71st, taking his tally to 12 in Serie A since his move from Manchester United in the off-season.

SURPRISE LOSS

Cagliari’s Champions League bid took a hit as it lost 2-1 at struggling Udinese.

Cagliari remains fifth but is six points below Roma and the final qualifying position for Europe’s premier club competition.

Udinese moved five points above the relegation zone ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

The home side led from the 39th as Rodrigo De Paul curled in a magnificent opener.

Cagliari thought it had secured a point when Joao Pedro leveled with six minutes remaining but Seko Fofana restored Udinese’s lead less than a minute later.

Fabio Pisacane was sent off in injury time for a second yellow card to add to Cagliari’s misery.

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