Inter Milan secure fourth place with win over Empoli

Inter Milan secured fourth place in the Serie A table by beating Empoli 2-1 at San Siro on Saturday.

All three goals arrived before half-time, with Mauro Icardi reaching 16 for the season before Croatian forward Ivan Perisic responded to Manuel Pucciarelli’s equaliser.

Roberto Mancini’s men can no longer be caught by fellow Europa League chasers Fiorentina after building a seven-point gap over the Tuscans, who have two games left to play.

Inter wasted no time setting about mid-table Empoli, who went off the boil in the new year after making a strong start to the season, and carved out their opening goal inside 12 minutes.

A rapid raid forward saw Perisic storm down the left wing before touching the ball inside for Icardi to finish with a thumping effort.

The Nerazzurri might have doubled up through Perisic moments later but were instead pegged back by Empoli as Pucciarelli steered Massimo Maccarone’s headed assist beyond Samir Handanovic.

Perisic, though, ensured Inter took a lead into the break by scoring five minutes before half-time.

Stefan Jovetic’s low drive was blocked by Alberto Pelagotti, only for Perisic to convert with a tap-in.

Even though the draw was a viable option, 12th-placed Empoli seemed happy enough to shut Inter out and hope for a chance to break, rather than mount their own offensives in the second half.

Marcelo Brozovic did sneak into the visitors’ box when put through by Jonathan Biabiany in the 80th minute, but Andrea Costa put in a timely block.