Inter Milan kick-started their Serie A campaign with a 2-1 home win over Sassuolo on Sunday, in a game where the hosts wasted plenty of opportunities and conceded a late goal but held on to earn the much-needed three points, Reuters reported.

Cristian Chivu's Inter had suffered two consecutive league losses to lose ground early in the title race, but followed up their midweek Champions League win over Ajax Amsterdam with another victory.

Federico Dimarco gave Inter a 14th-minute lead but despite creating a host of chances, they had to wait for Carlos Augusto's deflected goal nine minutes from time to go 2-0 up, with Walid Cheddira's strike in the 84th minute making for a nervy ending, according to Reuters.