Inter off to flier thanks to Lukaku
ROMELU LUKAKU scored after just 32 seconds as Inter Milan took another step towards the Serie A crown.
The Belgium star set up ex-Manchester United teammate Matteo Darmian for the second goal in a 3-0 win at home to Genoa.
And Alexis Sanchez netted the third to make it a hat-trick of former Old Trafford men on the scoresheet for Antonio Conte’s table toppers.
Lukaku, who took his Serie A goal tally to 18 this season, said: “We are on top of the table, it’s a nice feeling, but we must continue.
“We faced some defeats in these kind of games last season and we want to improve. I am really happy with the victory.
“We scored three goals and kept a clean sheet – perfect.”
Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 19th goal of the season, but Juventus fell further behind in the title race after being held 1-1 at Verona on Saturday.
In Germany, former Tottenham manager Christian Gross became part of an unwanted record when he was sacked as Schalke boss yesterday.
The Bundesliga’s worst side in more than 50 years was pushed a step closer to its first relegation since 1988 by a 5-1 thrashing at Stuttgart.
Gross was fired, which means whoever takes over will become Schalke’s FIFTH manager of the season. No Bundesliga club has ever had as many in a single campaign.
Ex-Huddersfield boss David Wagner, Manuel Baum and Huub Stevens were the others who had tried and failed this term.
Ex-Arsenal duo Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi are reported as being among a delegation of senior players that demanded the removal of Gross, who only came out of retirement in December.
Schalke chairman Jens Buchta said: “The sporting situation is clear. Now the team has to play a third of the season as successfully as possible.
“The players owe it to the fans and the club.”