Inter Milan gave local rivals AC Milan the lead in the Serie A title race on Sunday despite a 1-1 draw in Turin, as Napoli edged them into second place with a 2-1 victory in Verona. Alexis Sanchez hit the leveler in the third minute of added time in an entertaining encounter in Turin that left Inter third, four points behind Milan. Simone Inzaghi’s side have a game in hand, but they are now looking over their shoulders at Juventus, who are only three points behind their former rivals in fourth position after going on a 14-match unbeaten run .
It would have been unthinkable at the start of the year when Inter were four points clear at the top and 12 ahead of Juve, but Inter are in tatters after looking imperious ahead of Christmas.
“We know we have to do more, have a different approach to these games, if we want to retain the title,” Inzaghi admitted to DAZN.
Sanchez’s equalizer was set up by Edin Dzeko, who was Inter’s worst culprit in front of goal after heading just wide on the hour mark and then nodding from close range moments before. his Chilean teammate does the honours.
However, Inter could easily have lost in a deeply disappointing game.
After Brazilian defender Bremer put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute, Samir Handanovic brilliantly deflected Armando Izzo’s free header in the 64th minute.
Seconds before Robin Gosens saved his goalkeeper with a desperate lunge to prevent Josip Brekalo from scoring what would have been a superb individual goal after the Croatia international weaved his wave into the box.
They were also saved by the officials when Andrea Ranocchia was ruled for failing to foul Andrea Belotti in the box nine minutes before the break, a decision which left Torino puzzled.
“I went to see (referee Marco) Guida and told him it was a penalty, and he said ‘VAR didn’t call me, so I had to make the right decision'”, said Torino sporting director Davide Vagnati.
“You can talk about our brilliant performance and the determination of Inter, but if there is a penalty, they have to give it to us. »
PERFECT PICTURE OSIMHEN
Victor Osimhen struck the first of his brace for Napoli, who kept them three points clear of Milan, in the 14th minute at Stadio Bentegodi by hitting home a perfect header from Matteo Politano’s cross.
In a turbulent game for Osimhen and the rest of his squad, at one point it looked like Napoli would have to be without their star striker for over half an hour when the 23-year-old was out of action for four minutes with a shoulder problem following a collision with Koray Gunter.
He went on, however, and netted his crucial ninth league goal of the season in the 71st minute before grabbing a camera and snapping a photo of the Napoli fans.
“(Kalidou) Koulibaly gave me the camera to take pictures of the fans who were amazing from the whistle until the very end. I think they deserved to get shot,” he told DAZN.
Verona, whose die-hard fans caused outrage ahead of the game with a banner showing the coordinates of Napoli as a bombing target for Russia, has seen its hopes of continental football next season dashed despite the withdrawal of a Davide Faraoni’s goal shortly after Osimhen’s second. .
They are seven points behind Roma and Atalanta who sit sixth and fifth after their respective draws with Udinese and Genoa.
Atalanta appear to have lost their Champions League fight after a goalless stalemate with struggling Genoa, who have now drawn all seven matches under manager Alexander Blessin.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta are eight points behind fourth-placed Juventus, but with one game less.
Atalanta and Roma can both be overtaken by Lazio, who are two points behind the pair ahead of their game against Venezia in Rome on Monday night.
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