16.09.2017 20:34 h

Inter leave it late to stay top in Serie A

Inter Milan left it late before sealing a fourth consecutive win in as many games to sit top of Serie A with a 2-0 victory at Crotone on Saturday.

Luciano Spalletti's side suffered in the heat of Calabria but late strikes from Milan Skriniar and Ivan Perisic put them top ahead of champions Juventus and Napoli -- also looking for their fourth wins -- who play on Sunday.

"It wasn't easy," said Spalletti. "Winning in these circumstances shows we can adapt.

"It was very hot in Calabria, the pitch was very dry and slowed down the pace of the ball, while the wind also created problems in the first half."

But former Roma boss Spalletti refused to get carried away despite his side's unblemished record this season.

"We are not interested in the table right now, we just did what we had to do. It's a long road ahead of us and we won't get swept up in the moment."

Crotone shocked Inter 2-1 at the Stadio Ezio Scida last April in a defeat that effectively ended the Milan club's bid for European football this season.

But despite the pressure the Serie A strugglers held on for 80 minutes largely thanks to the efforts of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic who saved from Aleksandar Tonev and Marcus Rohden just after the break.

The final ten minutes proved fatal with first defender Skriniar scoring on 82 minutes after a free kick which the Crotone defence failed to clear, and then in-form Croatian striker Perisic three minutes into time added on.

"I'm happy with this first goal in Italy, although for me it is more important to have won," said Slovak international Skriniar, a summer signing from Sampdoria.

"We didn't have a great game, but winning was really important. Here it's not easy to play, the fans are very fiery, but we managed to bring the game home."

Crotone narrowly avoided the drop last season and this term are also in the bottom three after just one point from four games.

Fiorentina followed on from last week's 5-0 rout of Verona with a 2-1 win at home against Bologna in a game dubbed the "Apennines derby" because of the mountain range separating the two cities.

Bologna stifled the hosts' attack in the first half before Federico Chiesa broke through on 51 minutes with a curling shot into goal only for Rodrigo Palacio to equalise a minute later.

German Pezzella headed in the winner off a Cristiano Biraghi corner after 69 minutes as the Tuscany side moved up to sixth.

Bologna stay tenth after their second defeat of the season.

Later Saturday, Roma look for their first win since the opening weekend against Verona with Alessandro Florenzi set to return after missing almost a year with knee ligament damage.