Inter pip Empoli, reclaim top spot  –  Juve win again

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MILAN, Jan 6, (AFP): Mauro Icardi hit his eighth goal of the campaign as Inter Milan edged hosts Empoli 1-0 on Wednesday to reclaim top spot in Serie A from Fiorentina.

Fiorentina had gone provisional top thanks to a 3-1 win at Palermo where Slovenia international Josip Ilicic struck a brace to take his goals tally to the season to nine in 18 games.

But Inter, one of several teams showing they have the tools to unseat four-time consecutive champions Juventus this season, restored their one-point lead over La Viola thanks to Icardi’s winner on the stroke of half-time.

It was the ninth time this season Inter have won 1-0, but that statistic is unlikely to unnerve coach Roberto Mancini as long as his side keep on winning.

Empoli are a notoriously difficult team at home and Inter weathered an early storm at the Castellani stadium, where veteran striker Massimo Maccarone, Riccardo Saponara and Piotr Zielinski were just off target for the hosts in a busy opening period.

Inter ‘keeper Samir Handanovic had extended his contract by three years on Monday and showed why the club are keen to retain his services when he rushed off his line to anticipate Manuel Pucciarelli.

Handanovic also beat away a Marcel Buchel strike and on the stroke of half-time Empoli were made to pay for their earlier misses, Icardi pouncing at the near post to beat home ‘keeper Lukasz Skorupski to Ivan Perisic’s weighted delivery.

Remarkably, the Argentinian — who finished tied with veteran Verona striker Luca Toni on top of the league’s scoring charts last season — has only had 12 shots on target all season, with a return of eight goals.

Empoli remained a threat throughout the second half but Inter, who boast the stingiest defence in the league with only 11 goals conceded, held firm to make sure they stay top at least until they host Sassuolo at the San Siro on Sunday.

Earlier, Ilicic hit a brace and late substitute Jakub Blaszczykowski added the trimmings as Fiorentina maintained their own title push.

For Fiorentina coach Paulo Sousa, it was another positive sign but he insisted the race for a title they haven’t won since 1969 will go right to the wire.

“We fully deserved the win but it wasn’t easy after the festive break,” said the Portuguese. “We have to continue like this but I’ve said from the start of the season the league championship this season is a tough one.”

Juventus consigned their poor start to the campaign to distant memory with a commanding 3-0 win over Verona in Turin.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men have now won eight league games on the trot, and it came with relative ease after Argentina international Dybala put the hosts ahead after eight minutes.

A Leonardo Bonucci header on the stroke of half-time and Simone Zaza’s late goal capped a comprehensive win for the Turin giants.

In late September, Juve were ruled out of contention for a record-equalling fifth consecutive ‘scudetto’, but Allegri told Mediaset: “We’re back among the leading pack: whoever makes the least mistakes will triumph.”

He added: “We weren’t great at the start of the game but we didn’t concede anything to Verona.

“The lads did well, especially for a first game back after the holidays, but we’re still not quick enough and we have to improve our technique.”

Roma remain in fifth place but Rudi Garcia’s men dropped two precious points after letting a two-goal lead slip in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Chievo, where goalline technology was used for the first time in Serie A to validate a late leveller from Chievo midfielder Simone Pepe.

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