Calhanoglu hits career milestone in 6-0: ‘Inter team is the MVP’

ROME, ITALY - DECEMBER 16: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale scores his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on December 16, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Hakan Calhanoglu celebrated a very special Serie A career milestone when Inter crushed Lazio 6-0. ‘The MVP was the team, because we all contributed in a great reaction.’

It was an epic night at the Stadio Olimpico, which Simone Inzaghi had called a Scudetto showdown going in, because the Nerazzurri absolutely dominated for a 6-0 victory.

Calhanoglu converted a penalty to open the scoring just before half-time, followed by a Federico Dimarco cushioned volley.

They ran riot after the break, with Nicolò Barella, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Augusto and Marcus Thuram completing the rout, six goals from six different players.

Calhanoglu was named Serie A Man of the Match

Inter needed a boost after the surprise midweek Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, which was only their second loss of the entire campaign.

“After Leverkusen, where we played badly, it was a good performance tonight, a great reaction from the team. Everyone played their part and did their job against a strong team that was in excellent form,” Calhanoglu told DAZN.

With the penalty this evening, Calhanoglu marked his 100th goal contribution in Serie A between goals and assists.

“Ah, I didn’t know that. I think the MVP was the team, not me, because we all contributed. I told Marcus at half-time that his goal would be coming.”

Although there were six different players on target, the drought drags on for Lautaro Martinez.

“Lauti is helping the team so much, including with his defending, it’s not a problem for us. His moment will come, the important thing is that the team wins.”

Thuram struck late on to put himself on 11 Serie A goals for this season, only one shy of current Capocannoniere Mateo Retegui.

“It was important for us to come here and play well against a team in great form that had as many points as us. When Calha says I will score, I tend to score,” noted Thuram.

He whispered to DAZN pundit Christian Vieri that he “learned to score goals watching your videos.”

This result will send a message, because Inter are the reigning Serie A title holders and still have a game in hand to be played against Fiorentina, though that probably won’t be rescheduled until February.

100 – Thanks to the penalty scored against Lazio tonight, Hakan #Çalhanoglu has now been involved in 100 goals in #SerieA: 48 goals and 52 assists. Milestone.#LazioInter

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) December 16, 2024

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