Barella stunner helps Inter to 3-1 win over Cremonese

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Nicolo Barella scored a brilliant first-half goal as Inter Milan earned a comfortable 3-1 home win over Cremonese in their fourth Serie A match of the season on Tuesday.

Joaquin Correa slotted home to open the scoring in the 12th minute from a rebound after Cremonese keeper Ionut Radu saved an Edin Dzeko effort.

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Barella doubled the lead in the 38th minute after the Italy international stunned the Cremonese defence by firing home from long distance following a cross from Hakan Calhanoglu.

Cremonese tried to fight back after Inter's opener and, while the promoted side created fewer chances in the first half, they still had two attempts on goal.

Cyriel Dessers had a powerful effort saved by Samir Handanovic in the 14th minute while Charles Pickel's strike five minutes later was easily anticipated by the Inter keeper.

Substitute Lautaro Martinez, who replaced Correa in the second half, scored in the 76th minute following a quick counterattack initiated by Barella.

Martinez, Inter's top goalscorer last season, has either scored or assisted in each of the first four games of the campaign for the first time in Serie A.

"I really wanted the goal, we wanted a victory after the defeat in Rome [against Lazio]. We started with the right mentality, we earned the important points," Martinez told DAZN.

Cremonese did not go down without a fight and their efforts in the second half were not completely in vain as David Okereke scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute.

Okereke, who joined Cremonese from Club Brugge over the summer, caught everyone by surprise with a brilliant long-range finish, his second goal of the season.

"I am very happy, we won a match which was not easy against a team who earned less than they deserved," Inter manager Simone Inzaghi told DAZN.

Inter sealed victory without injured forward Romelu Lukaku, who will also miss Saturday's crucial clash against local rivals AC Milan.

Inter, second in the table with nine points after four games, clash with rivals AC Milan on Saturday while Cremonese host Sassuolo on Sunday.