These added minutes are proving nothing more than a formality as the ball is being knocked about in midfield with neither side particularly keen to do much of anything with it.
90' +2
A. Ranocchia gets yellow.
Ranocchia sticks a leg out to prevent Kurtic from breaking, and that will see the Inter substitute pick up a yellow.
90' +1
Blocked! Dalbert tries his luck from a free-kick but his effort from just under 25 yards deflects behind for a corner - one which amounts to nothing for the hosts.
90'
There will be five minutes added on at the end of this match.
89'
F. Vicari gets yellow.
Incredibly cynical from Vicari as he sees yellow. Martinez poked the ball beyond the defender and appeared to be through on goal, but the defender is having none of it as he steps in front to block his path and take him to ground.
87'
A narrow escape for Viviano as his kick out from the back smacks off Martinez and back towards goal, but just misses the target! It appeared to come back off the shoulder of Martinez, not the arm, so it likely would have counted.
85'
SPAL now turn their attention to a tough match at home to Roma next weekend, before a trip to Frosinone greets them out of the international break in what will prove to be a massive six-pointer at the bottom.
83'
M. Antenucci enters the game and replaces S. Floccari.
A final change for the visitors sees Antenucci replace Floccari.
79'
That should be job done then for Inter, as San Siro is really rocking now. Cries of "if you're not jumping, you're a Milan fan" ring out around the stadium as the atmosphere is already being set ahead of next weekend's derby.
Minute
Description
77'
R. Gagliardini has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by Cédric Soares.
Cedric is credited with the assist, though he really didn't know much about that. He was shooting the whole way, but the scuffed contact worked out perfectly for them.
INTER SURELY HAVE WON IT NOW! 2-0! SPAL are unable to relieve the pressure following a corner and Cedric's mishit shot breaks kindly for Gagliardini, who turns and drives a fierce finish just inside the far post! Excellent from the midfielder, who has not had the best of matches.
76'
SPAL's recent change suggests there could be a wide-open finish to this match as they appear to be all in as they aim for an equaliser. They're being hemmed back still for the time being, however, as Martinez wins Inter a free-kick on the right flank. Cedric whips in the ensuing delivery and it's headed behind for a corner.
74'
Borja Valero enters the game and replaces M. Politano.
The goal was essentially Politano's last involvement of the match as he's replaced by Valero with Inter's final change.
73'
A. Paloschi enters the game and replaces Felipe.
A second SPAL change sees Paloschi replace Felipe. It's a striker on for a defender in what's a refreshingly positive change made by the visitors.
70'
It counts! Play restarts as the goal is given, with the referee not even checking with VAR in the end.
67'
M. Politano has scored a goal for Inter Milan!
OUT OF NOTHING, INTER LEAD! 1-0! It well and truly has come from out of nowhere, as a sudden moment of brilliance from Politano relieves Inter's frustrations! The ball breaks kindly for him following Bonifazi's sliding challenge on Martinez, and Politano turns quickly before guiding a wonderful finish into the bottom corner, leaving Viviano rooted to his spot!
65'
Not a great deal happening at the moment as Inter's push for an opener has been halted, at least for the time being. It's all rather stale with the ball being contained in midfield, in what has become something of a cagey and congested affair.
63'
Felipe gets yellow.
Felipe becomes the fourth SPAL player to be booked in this match, and the sixth overall, as he fouls Joao Mario. The referee has been busy in this regard today.
62'
L. Dickmann enters the game and replaces M. Valoti.
A first change of the match for SPAL sees Dickmann replace the booked Valoti.
59'
No penalty says the referee! Candreva takes a pass and makes a smart turn as he bursts into the area before going to ground as he appeals for a spot-kick. Bonifazi didn't even touch him though, so the referee was right in being adament about it not being a penalty. Candreva is lucky not to be booked for simulation, in fact.
57'
M. Valoti gets yellow.
João Mário gets yellow.
Valoti was nowhere close to arriving on time with his challenge on Dalbert, and that sees him into the book. The yellow means Valoti will be suspended for SPAL's match against Roma next weekend.
Joao Mario is penalised for a handball and then has a few choice words for the referee as he's booked for dissent.
54'
Possession is presiding largely with Inter, but they're barely managing to get the ball out of midfield. SPAL are looking quite assured off the ball, settling nicely into their defensive shape.
50'
It's all been rather patient and ponderous from Inter since the restart. They still have time, of course, but the longer this stays goalless the more their frustration seems to be building, and the more SPAL are growing in confidence.
48'
Cagey start to the second half as neither side come out with any real intensity. It's Inter who will have to show some urgency in this second half if they are to find the breakthrough they need.
46'
A. Ranocchia enters the game and replaces Miranda.
The second half is underway!
Inter are forced into a second change at the interval as Miranda, still suffering from the early knock he picked up, is replaced by Ranocchia.
45' +5
HALF-TIME: INTER 0-0 SPAL.
45' +3
Martinez is proving a real handful, continuing to grow into this match. He's got the SPAL defence on high alert, and the visitors are struggling to cope with his excellent footwork, as well as his clever movement off the ball. The striker appears to have a bit of added motivation as well following that disallowed goal.
45' +1
As a result of the two injury stoppages and the VAR check, there will be a healthy five minutes added on at the end of this first half.
45'
A. Petagna gets yellow.
Petagna becomes the third player booked in this first half as he takes out Asamoah with a late slide in midfield.
42'
A. Candreva enters the game and replaces M. Brozović.
Candreva comes on to replace Brozovic, which will likely see Joao Mario drop a bit deeper with Candreva taking his place in attack.
37'
Schiattarella's late challenge trips up Asamoah and awards Inter another free-kick in a dangerous position, 25 yards from goal. Players are queuing up to take, but Politano winds up getting the honours again, this time skying his effort.
35'
A bit of unrest in the stands following that disallowed goal, as frustration is just starting to build a bit at San Siro. Inter have had the better of play, but that was their only real opportunity of the match thus far aside from a few half-chances for Martinez. The longer this stays goalless, the more uneasy these supporters will get.
30'
Same result! The wall does it's job, just as it did at the other end, as Politano's driven free-kick is blocked. Dalbert arrives with a follow-up as he tries to clip in a cross, but his effort is blocked as well as Inter have to settle for a corner.
29'
S. Missiroli gets yellow.
Missiroli, who won his side a free-kick in a great position 10 minutes ago, now concedes one in the same position at the other end as he slides in late to take Joao Mario to ground. It's a yellow card for him, but more importantly a shooting chance coming up for Inter.
27'
Has to be better! Cedric and Martinez combine again, with the full-back providing another terrific ball in for the striker, but he gets the contact all wrong as he heads disappointingly wide of the mark. He needs to at least be working the keeper from there.
25'
Play halted for a moment as SPAL are awarded a corner, with the referee listening to the voices in his ear from the VAR team, to see if the visitors should be awarded a penalty for a Brozovic handball. It certainly doesn't look that way, though.
20'
The end result is a let-off for Inter as Kurtic's fierce effort from the ensuing free-kick is straight into the wall as the danger is averted.
19'
R. Gagliardini gets yellow.
A lovely burst forward from Missiroli sees him get goalside of Gagliardini, who cynically trips him up 25 yards from goal. It's a yellow card for the Inter midfielder and a free-kick in a dangerous position for the visitors.
15'
Miranda and Cedric get their signals crossed as Kurtic floats a corner into the box. The defenders fail to deal with it as the ball is knocked straight into the path of Petagna, but Miranda reacts quickly to clear the threat.
13'
Wild effort! A couple of dangerous balls into the box issue something of a warning for the SPAL defence. First Bonifazi has to be alert to acrobatically clear a ball in from the right, before a delivery in from the left leads to a shooting chance for Gagliardini, who lashes a wild strike miles over the bar.
11'
Martinez is the focal point with Inter in possession, as the hosts are trying to force the ball in to him up top, but he's being closely marked by the SPAL defence. The striker has had to be clever to try and get on the ball.
5'
Asamoah's forced pass is intercepted as SPAL look to break, but Petagna lacks the pace to get beyond the defence and the break officially ends in an Inter free-kick as the forward lashes out with an arm into the face of Miranda as he tried to get a bit of separation.
3'
Decent start! Dalbert surges down the left and provides good service with a flat, inviting delivery in towards the far post. The cross isn't dealt with as it's knocked straight into the path of Joao Mario, but he lifts a first-time effort over the bar. Back the other way come SPAL, but Handanovic snuffs out the move as he easily claims a cross.
1'
AND THEY'RE OFF! Inter in black and blue as they get the match underway, with SPAL in white and blue.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of this Serie A match as Inter welcome SPAL to San Siro!
Without a win in their last three, a visit from reeling SPAL might be just the right medicine for Inter as they look to get their top-four push back on track after last week’s shock defeat at Cagliari.
Inter trail rivals AC Milan by four points ahead of next weekend’s derby, while leading fifth-place Roma by just three points as their spot in the top four is seriously under threat, making this close to a must-win match for Luciano Spalletti’s side.
Any points dropped in this match would be nothing short of disastrous for the Nerazzurri, with five of their next seven league matches coming against the likes of Milan, Lazio, Atalanta, Roma and Juventus.
With just one win in their last 17 matches, SPAL are faltering near the bottom three with just five points separating them from relegation. Mauro Icardi’s double helped Inter to victory in the reverse fixture, but SPAL won’t have the enigmatic striker to worry about today.
INTER (4-2-3-1): Samir Handanovic; Cedric Soares, Stefan de Vrij, Miranda, Dalbert; Marcelo Brozovic, Roberto Gagliardini; Matteo Politano, Joao Mario, Kwadwo Asamoah; Lautaro Martinez.
SUBS: Antonio Candreva, Daniele Padelli, Keita, Andrea Ranocchia, Milan Skriniar, Ivan Perisic, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Borja Valero.
SPAL (4-4-2): Emiliano Viviano; Kevin Bonifazi, Francesco Vicari, Felipe, Mohamed Fares; Mattia Valoti, Simone Missiroli, Pasquale Schiattarella, Jasmin Kurtic; Andrea Petagna, Sergio Floccari.
SUBS: Andrea Fulignati, Lorenzo Dickman, Mirco Antenucci, Lorenco Simic, Giacomo Poluzzi, Vasco Regini, Marko Jankovic, Alfred Gomis, Alberto Paloschi, Mirko Valdofiori, Filippo Costa.
Martinez has got some decent service, but he could use another presence in the centre to take some attention away from him. Someone like Keita could prove very beneficial to Inter in their efforts to find the breakthrough.
That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
Up next for Inter is the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie with Eintracht Frankfurt, as the German outfit visit San Siro, while SPAL return home to take on top-four hopefuls Roma, under their new boss Claudio Ranieri.
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