Two goals in three second-half minutes helped Inter Milan to a 2-0 victory at home to Benevento and moved them up to third in the Serie A table.
Chances had been at a premium in a poor first half, but Slovakian Milan Skriniar broke the deadlock in the 66th minute and a quick-fire second from Andrea Ranocchia sealed the points.
An early opening for Inter saw Antonio Candreva sent clear by a pass from Matias Vecino but he took too long to shoot and the chance was gone.
Benevento responded and Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had to be alert to stop Massimo Coda from opening the scoring.
Vecino brought a comfortable save from Christian Puggioni before Skriniar’s headed opener from a well-worked corner.
Defender Ranocchia nodded in a second three minutes later, with Inter’s path to victory made even more comfortable by the late dismissal of Nicolas Viola for a second bookable offence.
Earlier in the day, Roberto Donadoni’s Bologna recorded back-to-back Serie A victories by beating Genoa 2-0 at the Stadio Renato dall’Ara.
Blerim Dzemaili could not keep his shot down as the best chance of the first half went begging but Bologna made amends after the break as Mattia Destro unceremoniously scuffed the ball over the line.
Uruguayan Cesar Falletti scored his first Serie A goal and propelled Bologna further clear when turning home Destro’s lay-off in the 72nd minute.
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