With only one point separating the top four in Serie A pre-round, Inter were facing a tricky home game against Como with the visitors just three points behind their hosts in fifth ahead of kick-off.
But any early nerves were quickly dashed as the Nerazzurri got off to a dominant start and came close to opening the scoring inside 30 seconds, but Lautaro Martinez’s lob landed on the roof of the net.
The Argentine then played Nicolo Barella through in the third minute, but the midfielder was denied by Jean Butez.
Inter continued to probe, and the pressure told with an opener in the 11th minute. Luis Henrique powered through the left side of the Como defence before composing himself in the box and picking out Martinez, who raced onto the ball and powered home his 11th goal of the season in all competitions.
Como struggled to impose themselves in the contest, mustering just two shots - neither of which were on target - in the opening 45 minutes, and they were dealt a further blow when Alvaro Morata was forced off injured.
Como emerged for the restart with much better energy, and ought to have equalised within five minutes after Jesus Rodríguez laid the ball on a plate for Anastasios Douvikas with a cross from the right, but the Greek international skied his effort from just a few yards in front of goal.
The away side were made to pay for that miss, as Inter doubled their lead just before the hour mark through Marcus Thuram, who latched onto Federico Dimarco’s corner and stabbed the ball home for his third goal in two matches.
Dimarco then saw his strike chalked off for offside, but Inter weren’t waiting long for a third goal as Hakan Calhanoglu wrapped up the points with a brilliant strike from distance, marking his seventh goal of the season.
Inter were running riot and added extra gloss to the scoreline late on as Carlos Augusto volleyed home unmarked at the back post from Dimarco’s cross.
A seventh victory in nine matches across all competitions lifts Inter to the summit, while Como’s run of 12 games unbeaten was brought to an abrupt end.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Luis Henrique (Inter Milan)
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