A dense fog permeated over the field at the Meazza and lingered for 30 minutes after the opening whistle but you could forgive Inter fans for thinking the thick haze was a harbinger of things to come.

And indeed the Nerazzurri were sluggish in the early going, possibly still smarting from a 3-0 drubbing to Napoli and all of the criticism that came with it, and they should have fallen behind 2-0 had Lady Luck not intervened and decided to smile upon the hosts (or take pity on them depending on your level on cynicism).

Genoa wasted a number of chances in front of goal, including an opportunity where three Rossoblu players were unmarked in the six-yard box. Danilo D’Ambrosio cleared a shot off the line and Samir Handanovic made a wonderful save on Lucas Ocampos as Inter wandered aimlessly in the fog, like lost, weary travellers in a J.R. R. Tolkien novel.

The Nerazzurri seemed destined for another defeat until Marcelo Brozovic steered a technically-superb shot into the bottom corner to give them a lead against the run of play to help lift a dazed Inter out of their spell.

Brozovic added another goal just past the midway point of the second half and Inter comfortably saw out the final 20 minutes to secure the points. It wasn’t a vintage performance by any means but the main objective was achieved as the Nerazzurri won their fourth consecutive Serie A clash at home.

Here are a few takeaways from the morale-boosting win:

Epic Brozo

The last four months for Brozovic has been an emotional roller coaster full of ups and downs. The talented 24-year-old went from being banished to the fringes of the first team due to disciplinary issues under former manager Frank de Boer, to reportedly landing on the transfer list, to securing a contract extension, to scoring a pair of expertly taken goals on Sunday.

Joao Mario’s delivery from the corner flag evaded the first wave of defenders and bounced to Brozo, who half-volleyed home past Mattia Perin for the opener. Joao Mario played provider once again as he cut back a pass to Brozovic after a superb run and the Croatian midfielder blasted home from close range.

Brozovic, who can be a game changer on his day, was the driving force in the victory over Genoa and Interisti can only hope that he stays motivated and disciplined for the remainder of the campaign… if he’s not sold in January.

The Joao Mario Show

The Portuguese international has been value for money since his €40 million move from Sporting to Inter in the summer. The silky, smooth 23-year-old adds a touch of class to the midfield with his elegant displays.

Joao Mario set up both goals – with the second assist of the most impressive variety – and continues to be a bright spot in an otherwise stormy campaign. He was given a standing ovation by the Meazza faithful when he was subbed off and rightfully so.

Inter can have a good-to-great midfield and Joao Mario has what it takes to lead the Nerazzurri on their climb back towards respectability.

Palacio Is Past His ‘Best Before’ Date

It pains me to write this but Rodrigo Palacio looked woefully out of place until he was mercifully pulled off before the 60-minute mark against the Rossoblu. The 34-year-old has been a loyal servant to the club and has scored some big goals but he’s way past his prime and it’s irresponsible to start him over Gabriel Barbosa at this point.

Gabigol is supposedly “not ready” for Italian football but what better way to get him acclimatised to calcio than giving him some playing time, especially seeing as Inter are out of the running for a league title for all intents and purposes. Makes sense, no?

Max De Luca is a journalist based in Toronto, Canada and has been published on Reuters, CBC, Yahoo, Goal, USA Today and many more. Every Wednesday, Max will pen a column exclusively for SempreInter.com discussing the most pressing topics of the day.

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