Serie A: Sampdoria Stun Inter Milan

Inter Milan missed a chance to move top of Serie A on Wednesday with a 2-1 defeat at Sampdoria which ended their eight-match winning streak.

Alexis Sanchez missed an early penalty for Antonio Conte’s side who were tripped up by goals from former Inter players Antonio Candreva and Keita Balde.

Second-placed Inter stays one point behind Serie A leaders AC Milan who host champions Juventus later on Wednesday.

Inter’s leading scorer Romelu Lukaku started on the bench as the forward recovers from a muscular problem.

Sanchez started in place of Lukaku but missed the chance to give the visitors an early advantage with Emil Audero saving a penalty.

But Candreva made no mistake from the spot after 22 minutes, sending Samir Handanovic the wrong way after Samp were awarded a penalty for a Nicolo Barella handball.

Keita Balde added a second after 38 minutes following good work from Mikkel Damsgaard, the Danish winger sending the Senegalese forward through to coolly finish.

Lukaku came off the bench in place of Roberto Gagliardini with just over an hour gone, two minutes before Stefan de Vrij’s header from a Marcelo Brozovic corner reduced the deficit for the visitors.

Claudio Ranieri’s Sampdoria ended their two-match losing streak to sit 11th.

Third-placed Roma closed the gap on Inter to three points after scoring three goals in 35 first-half minutes in their 3-1 win at bottom side Crotone.