Inter Milan continues to walk in the water, suspended at home on Saturday by Fiorentina (1-1) during the 30th day of Serie A, giving Milan a chance to increase its lead in the event of a successful evening in Cagliari. The Nerazzurri, the top mid-season favorites to retain their title, are continuing their disappointing comeback phase, having collected just seven points in their last seven matches.
Even if they are still behind (against Bologna), Edin Dzeko and his comrades, who are third by three points behind the Milan-Napoli duo, give the Rossoneri the opportunity to escape with a six-point lead. They could also see Juventus (4th), their next opponent, come back on their heels if the Bianconeri succeed on Sunday against Salernitana.
All this happened at the beginning of the second half in a very rhythmic match against the beautiful Fiorentina in the race for European places (8): Viola opened the scoring by Lucas Torreira (50), and Inter responded Denzel Head Dumfries (55). It was not unfortunate in the previous match with the VAR, which did not refer to a clear penalty kick for Torino (1-1), the Nerazzurri was denied this time after the VAR penalty awarded for the first time for a foul on Lautaro Martinez (65). Totally logical, this equalizer held out to the end despite each team’s last big chance: Alexis Sanchez, for Inter, first saw a defender save his powerful shot (89) and then Jonathan Iconi, for Fiorentina, stumbled on Samir Handanovic after the last dash (90 + 4th) .
Osimene surrenders Napoli
The untenable Victor Osimhen signed his second consecutive brace to lead Napoli to a precious home win over Udinese (2-1) on Saturday, and temporarily lift his team to Serie A leaders AC Milan. While Luciano Spalletti’s team was late in the first half (0-1) and Maradona’s stadium was wasting, the Nigerian striker assured his coach and his fans with a whim (52) and then a cross pass (63).
With this new double, a week after the decisive match in Verona against Hellas (2-1), Osimhen – the fifteenth goal of the season, and eleventh place in the Italian league – preserves Napoli’s hopes of the league title. Napoli temporarily returns to the heyday of Milan, who plays in the evening in Cagliari (17).
Before he woke up, Napoli suffered against Udinese, who opened the scoring with a good shot near the post by Gerard Deulofeu (22). Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina avoided 2-0 with a header from Pablo Mari, who rolled under his crossbar (31). Udinese goalkeeper Marco Silvestri did not surpass a shot from Insigne (32) and then Fabian Ruiz (40) saved it. But he couldn’t do anything against the devastating Osimhen and the more ruthless Napoli, coming into play after breaking Dries Mertens.
Then Napoli succeeded in a good performance against the Friuli team, which finished the match in the tenth after the exclusion of Pablo Mari (82). With only one downside to Luciano Spalletti, but above all Italian coach Roberto Mancini: the injury exit from the right side Giovanni Di Lorenzo, less than a week after the start of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.