Alexis Sánchez hit twice to help Inter Milan win 2-1 at relegation-threatening Parma on Thursday to open a six-point gap at the top of Serie A.
Romelu Lukaku had a hand in both Inter goals in the second half before Hernani pulled one goal for Parma.
Inter moved six points above AC Milan in second place, held to a 1-1 draw by Udinese on Wednesday. The nine-time defending champion Juventus is in third place but has played a game less.
“It was a tough game but this league is like that,” Sánchez said. “You have to fight if you want to win. We are on the right track and all we need to do is think about ourselves and not make mistakes. ”
Parma remained second from bottom, six points from safety.
Key points:
Inter had won six of their seven league games going into the game at Parma, scoring 17 goals and conceding just one.
Parma made the most of their previous chances, but Inter broke the nine-minute stop into the second half.
Lukaku went down a pass on the edge of the area and tried to turn but the ball ended up sellingocheting into Sánchez’s path. Sassuolo defender Riccardo Gagliolo tried to clear his shot off the line but had already passed.
Lukaku did even better eight minutes later when he moved through from his own half and then sent a big ball over to drive Sánchez into the bottom right corner.
Parma posed a brief threat when Hernani returned in Germán Pezzella’s cross in the 71st.