Luca Caldirola returned to haunt Inter as Monza snatched a stunning 1-0 win at San Siro, a result that means Simone Inzaghi's problems are deepening.
Defender Caldirola started his playing days at Inter but did not make the grade as a first-team regular, going on to have a journeyman career. However, a powerful header from the 32-year-old snatched all three points for Monza on Saturday, as Inter fluffed their big chance to go fourth in the table.
Milan's draw with Bologna earlier in the day had opened up that opportunity, but Inter's dismal run of form continued as Caldirola claimed the spotlight.
It is now one point from the last five league games for Inter, a desperate run at this crucial stage of the season.
Inter striker Romelu Lukaku headed wide from an excellent position early on, wasting a big chance, and there were to be several of those for the home side.
Joaquin Correa then combined neatly with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Lukaku as he carved out a route into the Monza penalty area, but the Argentine forward was denied by Michele Di Gregorio's save.
It was Correa who was providing much of the early Inter threat, but the first half proved a largely drab affair.
Monza's Carlos Augusto fired into the side-netting as the visitors posed an early threat after the break, with Inter losing defender Stefan de Vrij to injury.
Nicolo Rovella also threatened for Monza with a long-range effort before Inter's Lukaku had a header clawed away by Di Gregorio.
Correa sent a shot narrowly wide, and Lukaku fired fractionally over the bar as the hosts pushed for a breakthrough, yet Dany Mota went equally close for Monza with a left-footed strike that went just too high.
Monza stunned their hosts in the 78th minute when Caldirola stomped through a crowd to head in Patrick Ciurria's left-wing corner, and Inter could not find a way back to level terms.
What does it mean? Inter in desperate domestic plight
They have one foot in the Champions League semi-finals after a 2-0 win at Benfica, but Inter's form in the Italian top flight has collapsed. They were chasing Napoli at one point but once that task became obviously beyond them, the Nerazzurri plummeted and find themselves fifth, two points adrift of Milan.
To have taken just a single point from a run of games against Spezia, Juventus, Fiorentina, Salernitana and Monza is unforgivable, and head coach Inzaghi must know there will be questions asked. In theory, Inter can still win the Champions League, but at this stage few would back them to beat Empoli next weekend.
Monza sit happily in mid-table and this terrific derby victory goes down as a season highlight.
Inter hit new low
Inter have lost three consecutive home games without scoring for the first time ever in Serie A. That underlines how desperate this dip in form has been.
Caldirola rocks Inter again
Inter had 25 efforts at goal but only six hit the target. Monza had only seven attempts but made one of them count.
For Caldirola, it was his first goal of the Serie A campaign, although it was not his first significant contribution against Inter. Monza held Inter 2-2 at home in January, snatching a last-gasp equaliser when Caldirola's firm header went in off Denzel Dumfries for an own goal.
Key Opta Stats:
- Before Monza, the last team to win their first away match against Inter in Serie A was Chievo in December 2001.
- Inter have scored 10 goals in their last 12 matches with an average of 0.8 goals per game after netting 38 in their first 18 matches in the league with an average of 2.1 goals per match.
- They have also conceded three of their last five Serie A goals on set-pieces, including two from corners.
- Caldirola scored a goal in Serie A for the first time since September 2020 (a brace against Sampdoria).
What's next?
Inter host Benfica in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. Monza are back in action when they face Fiorentina in Serie A next Sunday.
