Internazionale 3-1 Bologna result - Piotr Zielinski, Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram on target as Serie A leaders coast to victory

Internzionale retained their place at the summit of Serie A with a comfortable victory over Bologna.

In an uncharacteristically sloppy performance from Vincenzo Italiano's side, Inter were gifted a number of opportunities and could have scored many more if visiting goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia had not played so well.

The opening goal came six minutes before the break when Lautaro Martinez ran onto Marcus Thuram's clever back-flick and squared for Piotr Zielinski to rifle home.

The other two Inter strikes came in the second half from corners, with Martinez heading home unmarked from six yards out and Thuram from a couple of yards out after he deflected the ball home with his chest.

The win puts Inter a point clear of City rivals AC Milan and two clear of Napoli, while Bologna - who got a late consolation through Santiago Castro - stay seventh.

Their Milan rivals had 48 hours on top, but there was little doubt, once this game began, that Inter would return to the zenith.

But the striker could not quite direct his effort on target.

Lykogiannis becomes the longest name in the referee's notebook for a foul on Esposito.

It was a harsh barge in the back but the referee keeps his card in his pocket this time.

A good outswinging Lykogiannis cross from the left flank finds the striker who does not get the cleanest connection onto the ball but just diverts it into the net, hitting Sommer in the head en route.

Just one chance for the forward tonight, with a header he directed wide.

It dipped down quickly enough but was direcred just wide of the post.

Another goal from a corner this time it reaches Thuram two yards out and he lets the ball hit his chest and deflect into the net.

He is cautioned for a foul on Martinez.

Mkhitaryan looked like he had found the French striker, but Vitik gets in front and heads back to his keeper.

Orsolini comes on for Cambaighi and Zortea replaces Holm.

Barella and Calhanoglu come off. They are replaced by Sucic and Mkhitaryan

But he opts to go around Lykogiannis and the chance dissipates.

But he can find neither his captain nor Thuram in the middle.

Martinez raced after a ball over the top and though Ravaglia got a hand to the effort it would have drifted in if Heggem had not cleared.