Mauro Icardi scores brace as Inter Milan ease past Empoli

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:56 am

Mauro Icardi bagged a brace to reach the top of Serie A's scoring charts as Inter Milan claimed a 2-0 win against Empoli in Tuscany.

The Argentinian striker notched twice inside the opening 17 minutes to continue his fine start to the season, form which has helped Inter reach the upper echelons of the table in recent weeks.

Empoli suffered a second home defeat of the new term and are just outside the drop zone.

Still buzzing after scoring the winner against Juventus in Sunday's Derby d'Italia, Icardi was rampant at the Stadio Carlo Castellani and grabbed his first goal after just 10 minutes.

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After racing down the right wing, Antonio Candreva provided the cross for Icardi to head past goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski for a fifth strike in four games.

He made it six in four only seven minutes later. This time Joao Mario stole the ball in midfield and set up Icardi, who had to merely roll the ball past Skorupski.

Samir Handanovic did well to preserve Inter's clean sheet heading into half-time as Federico Dimarco came knocking with high and low attempts that checked the Slovenian stopper's repertoire.

Inter struggled to carve out further chances when play resumed and it was not until the 79th minute that Ivan Perisic set up Icardi for an attempt that rose just over the crossbar.

The Nerazzurri were winding down and allowed Empoli another sight of goal, with Manuel Pucciarelli seizing on Guido Marilungo's pass and blasting the ball past a post.