Inter Milan manager Luciano Spalletti suggested the team “has never put in a really ugly performance,” but there are some that may disagree.

An own-goal by Andrea Ranocchia just before halftime followed by a early second half goal by Goran Pandev dropped the Nerazzurri into fourth place in Serie A with a 2-0 loss at Genoa.

The place was decided after Roma defeated Udinese 2-0 earlier in the day. If Lazio defeats Verona Monday, Inter Milan could sit outside the Champions League places for the first time this season.

And it all happened because of a lack of offense against a Genoa team sitting in the bottom half of the table.

“We’re fragile at the moment, we need to be able to grow gradually because it’s not easy to turn everything around at times like this, especially when individual episodes are going this way,” Spalletti told Inter TV following the match.

Inter had chances in the first half with Yann Karamoh — the hero of last week’s win over Bologna — having his first attempt at goal sail wide in the 19th minute. Antonio Candreva also had chances midway through the half.

But, an attempted clearance from Milan Skriniar found Ranocchia who put it off his wrong foot and past Samir Handanovic for an own-goal in the 45th minute.

Just minutes into the second half, it was Pandev who doubled Genoa’s lead with a left-footed attempt that Handanovic had no chance of stopping.

Inter seemed to press slightly for the rest of the game with Éder, Karamoh and Andrea Pinamonti each taking a crack at goal to no avail.

”We’re hoping that this bad spell will finish as soon as possible,” Ranocchia — who was captain for the side against Genoa — told Inter TV. “We need to get back on track right from the next match because there’s still a long way to go in the season. Now’s the time to show desire and character.”

Inter try to reverse their fortune at 2:45 p.m. (ET) Saturday, Feb. 24 against Benevento.

Highlights

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