Updated
Winners of Hellas Verona (2-1), the Partenopei come back to within three points of AC Milan, leader of Serie A. Thanks to the draw of the Nerazzurri against Torino (1-1), they even seize the second place.
Author of a double, Victor Osimhen was again decisive.
AFP
Inter Milan avoided in extremis the defeat on the ground of Torino (1-1), Sunday, but nevertheless let spin at the head of the Serie A AC Milan, leader with four points ahead of Nerazzurri also overtaken by Naples, new dolphin.
Alexis Sanchez emerged in added time (90 + 3rd) to save a point after Inter ran behind the score for almost the entire game. Because after having given a lot on Tuesday to afford a useless victory at Liverpool on Tuesday in the Champions League (1-0, after losing the first leg 2-0), Inter were shaken up by the intense pressing of Torino.
The Nerazzurri quickly cracked on a corner, surprised by a fox goal from the surface of defender Bremer (12th). Not unhappy to see the referee not awarding a penalty to Garnet (36th), Simone Inzaghi’s players came close to 0-2 in the second half, saved by a desperate tackle from Robin Gosens in front of Josip Brekalo (64th) then a parade reflex from Samir Handanovic on a header from Armando Izzo (65th).
And they came across an Etrit Berisha inspired in the Turin cage, perfect in front of Lautaro Martinez (16th), Hakan Calhanoglu (31st), Federico Dimarco (52nd) or Arturo Vidal (74th). Edin Dzeko twice missed the frame with a header (60th, 89th) but made up for it by offering the late equalizer – and cruel for the Garnets – to Sanchez.
So far leader at least virtual because of his late match, Inter therefore formally cede the lead to AC Milan – leader with four points ahead – before rubbing shoulders with Fiorentina and above all with a revived Juventus in his next two games.
Osimhen Gate Naples
The home defeat against AC Milan (0-1) hurt but Naples reacted well by winning on the field of Hellas Verona (2-1) thanks to a double from Victor Osimhen. Napoli (60 points) remains three lengths behind the leader rossonero, winner on Saturday of Empoli (1-0). Luciano Spalletti’s team even took advantage of Inter’s misstep at Torino to climb to second place.
Osimhen opened the scoring with an authoritative header from a cross from Matteo Politano (14th) then doubled the lead from close range on a setback offering from the side Giovanni Di Lorenzo (71st). These eighth and ninth league goals from the Nigerian striker, who remained on the pitch despite pain in his right shoulder, came after two throw-ins on the right on which the Veronals were a little light.
Hellas, much more biting in the second half, started to believe it again when Davide Faraoni reduced the score with a header (77th). But the severe exclusion (second warning) of Federico Ceccherini for a hand cut his wings (83rd).
With this defeat, aggravated by a second red for Faraoni after the final whistle, Verona (9th) lost contact with the battle for Europe (up to 7th place). He is five points behind Fiorentina (8th), who beat a Bologna reduced to ten (1-0).
Ahead of the match, Hellas condemned on Twitter any “act, gesture or expression that could incite hatred, violence and discrimination” after the appearance near the stadium, the night before the match, of a banner aimed at Naples. This banner, signed “South turn”, alluded to the war in Ukraine and seemed to suggest making Naples a target for bombing, with the mention of the geographical coordinates of the capital of Campania.
Atalanta and Roma move away
Atalanta Bergamo (5th) and Roma (6th) see their hope of playing in the Champions League next season dwindling further and further after conceding disappointing draws against Genoa (0-0) and Udinese (1-1). Three days after having fought on the European scene, Bergamasques and Giallorossi remain tied on points, but are now relegated to 8 points from Juventus (4th), victorious on Saturday from Sampdoria (3-1). The Bianconeri, undefeated for 15 league matches, seem well on their way to winning the fourth qualifying ticket for the C1, behind the leading trio Milan-Naples-Inter also well launched towards the Champions League.
Remo Freuler’s Atalanta – left on the bench this Sunday – confirmed their big difficulties at home by being unable to break through the lock of Genoa, relegation player still undefeated since the arrival in mid-January on the German’s bench Alexander Blessin, now with seven consecutive draws! Luis Muriel, touching the post, symbolized the lack of success of a “Dea” stopped (a victory in 8 matches).
Atalanta, after three consecutive seasons in the Champions League, is increasingly left behind by Juve, even if Gian Piero Gasperini’s team is still one game behind.
The point of the draw has a little less bitterness for Roma: long led on a goal by Nahuel Molina (15th), it snatched the equalizer in the dying seconds on a penalty from Lorenzo Pellegrini (90 + 4th).
Bergamasques and Giallorossi can be overtaken on Monday by Lazio (7th) in the event of victory for Maurizio Sarri’s players against the poorly ranked Venice (18th). Something to spice up the Roman derby on the program next weekend.
(AFP)