The worry for Genoa is that if they commit more numbers forward, Inter might run away with this game. It's going to be tricky to balance the need to get back into the game and damage limitation in the second half.
Lukaku's early goal gives Inter a deserved lead against Genoa. This has been an incredibly one-sided game since the first minute - within 30 seconds Lukaku had drilled a precise finish into the net from 20 yards. From there, Inter created chance after chance, but Genoa survived through a combination of strong goalkeeping from Perin and luck. Scamacca was the only real threat for the away side, but they've managed just three shots and they'll be looking to put in a much better display in the second 45.
45' + 1' HALF TIME: Inter 1-0 Genoa
45' Darmain goes on a mazy run across the box before dragging a tired shot wide from 18 yards.
44' Czyborra angles in a cross from deep, but it sails over Scamacca and it's gathered by Handanovic.
42' The away side have started enjoying a little more possession as we approach half time.
39' Brilliant effort from Martinez! Inter go close again as Darmian's cross prompts Martinez to attempt an overhead-kick, that fizzes straight into the grasp of Perin from close range!
37' Another intricate Inter move ends with Barella laying it off for Martinez to curl a strike from 18 yards that Perin gathers comfortably.
35' Genoa have done well to limit Inter to just one goal so far, but at some point they'll need to start carrying a threat of their own to get back in this game.
33' Handanovic spills Rovella's corner, but he's bailed out by a foul being called against Genoa.
31' Perin is forced into action again as he parries Lukaku's angled drive to safety.
29' Genoa had conceded the joint-fewest Serie A goals since the turn of the year prior to this game, but Inter's attack has ripped through them consistently in the opening 30 minutes. Nevertheless, the hosts have only scored once despite their complete dominance.
27' Perin pushes away Lukaku's vicious drive from 25 yards.
25' Genoa continue to hang on as Goldaniga blocks away a venomous effort from 12 yards by Martinez.
23' Lukaku almost gets a second! Barella slips Lukaku in behind with a deft, threaded pass and the striker cuts inside before whipping a dangerous shot from eight yards that flicks off Zapata and over!
21' Martinez darts towards the edge of the box, but his attempted throughball into Lukaku is cut out by Radovanovic.
19' Barella hits the bar! Inter continue to pile on the pressure as Barella's whipped effort from 25 yards flicks dangerously off the top of the bar!
16' Chance for Martinez! Eriksen's corner is nodded into the path of Martinez by Skriniar, but the striker can't quite get a shot off from close range and Zapata clears!
14' Big chance for Darmian! Lukaku holds off Radovanovic, before slipping Darmian through on goal! However, Perin closes down the angle well and even though Darmian stabs it over the goalkeeper, his effort skews narrowly wide!
12' Scamacca robs Eriksen and drives inside the Inter half, before laying it off to Rovella who curls a speculative effort high and wide from distance.
10' Inter have started this game with real fluency in attack and they look capable of scoring at any moment! Genoa will need to dig in and survive this spell before recovering later.
8' Scamacca lets fly from distance, but his powerful effort is straight at Handanovic.
7' Perisic gets to the byline and drills in a low cross that Genoa nervously clear at the second attempt.
5' Inter look full of intent as Martinez drives into the box, only to be held off by strong defensive work from Goldaniga.
3' Well, that's the ideal start for Inter! Genoa have been a tough team to score against recently, and solving this problem will really take the pressure of the hosts now.
1' Genoa get the first half underway.
The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is just seconds away!
Martinez has been involved in 17 league goals this season (13 goals, four assists), as many as he managed last term – Genoa are one of the eight sides against whom the Inter striker has not yet found the back of the net in Serie A.
Genoa, meanwhile, make six changes to the team that drew with Genoa. Masiello, Zajc, Criscito, Badelj, Zappacosta and Destro all drop out.
Inter make one change to the side that claimed a crucial win over AC Milan last time out: Achraf Hakimi drops out of the squad with Darmian replacing him on the right flank.
SUBS: Andrea Masiello, Valon Behrami, Mattia Destro, Milan Badelj, Eldor Shomurodov, Miha Zajc, Manolo Portanova, Davide Zappacosta, Domenico Criscito, Federico Marchetti, Goran Pandev, Jerome Onguene.
GENOA (3-5-2): Mattia Perin; Edoardo Goldaniga, Ivan Radovanovic, Cristian Zapata; Paolo Ghiglione, Kevin Strootman, Nicolo Rovella, Filippo Melegoni, Lennart Czyborra; Marko Pjaca, Gianluca Scamacca.
SUBS: Danilo D'Ambrosio, Alexis Sanchez, Matias Vecino, Arturo Vidal, Daniele Padelli, Andrea Ranocchia, Ionut Radu, Roberto Gagliardini, Aleksandar Kolarov, Ashley Young, Andrea Pinamonti.
INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Christian Eriksen, Ivan Perisic; Romelu Lukaku, Lauturo Martinez.
Genoa are sitting in a more modest 12th place, but they’ll be a tough test for the hosts today – they’re unbeaten in their last six, with three wins during this run.
Hello and welcome to live commentary of this Serie A fixture between Inter and Genoa. The hosts enter this one in brilliant form: they’ve won five of their last six games to climb four points clear at the top of the table – they’ll be looking to extend their lead with victory today.
