In Milan, intense weather conditions featuring heavy rain and hail created numerous challenges on Sunday, but they did not hinder Inter Milanโs pursuit of catching up to Serie A leader, Napoli. Inter secured a 2-0 victory over Torino, narrowing the gap to just one point behind Napoli, who surprisingly drew 2-2 with Genoa.
If Napoli and Inter remain level after the final two matches, a playoff will determine the league title. โNaturally, thereโs disappointment right now,โ said Inter coach Antonio Conte. โWe didnโt deserve to draw and drop points this way. However, we must recognize that we used a โbonus cardโ tonight. Out of the required seven points, we secured only one. Now, we must win the remaining two matches.โ
Following an extraordinary 4-3 extra-time win against Barcelona that pushed Inter into the Champions League final, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi made several changes to his team. The visitors took the lead 14 minutes in, courtesy of a brilliant goal by Nicola Zalewski, who received a long pass from Alessandro Bastoni, skillfully turned his marker, and curled the ball into the bottom right corner.
In Turin, play became increasingly difficult due to heavy rain, thunder, and hail. The referee paused the match briefly before halftime to assess conditions with the two captains, opting to continue play to conclude the half. However, the halftime interval extended to 30 minutes instead of the usual 15. Early in the second half, Inter doubled their lead through Kristjan Asllaniโs penalty, which was awarded after Mehdi Taremi was brought down by Torinoโs goalkeeper, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
In an unexpected twist, Napoli twice squandered a lead, damaging their title aspirations. Romelu Lukaku and Giacomo Raspadori each put Napoli ahead in their respective halves after receiving accurate passes from Scott McTominay. Genoaโs initial equalizer was somewhat lucky, as Honest Ahanorโs header bounced off the post and hit Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meretโs thigh, which deflected the ball into the net for an own-goal. Johan Vรกsquezโs late header secured a point for Genoa, heightening the seasonโs final stage drama.
The battle for Serie A survival may also lead to a playoff. Lecceโs 1-1 draw against Hellas Verona left them level on points with 18th-placed Empoli, but not out of danger. Verona, while five points clear, still faces risks. Meanwhile, the already relegated Monza notched their first win since January, marking only their third victory of the season with a 2-1 triumph at Udinese.