Napoli’s run of 12 games unbeaten in the Serie A came to an end as Inter Milan beat Napoli at the San Siro stadium. Last suffering Serie A defeat 273 days ago, Napoli had found themselves deservedly ahead in the 17th minute of the football match when Piotr Zielinski nicked the ball off the boot of Nicolo Barella in the middle of the park, before going on to finish off a sweeping counterattack.
Since April 2017 the visitors’ first goal against ‘I Nerazzurri’ at San Siro meant the league’s top scorers had to breach its tightest backline to get a result – Inter did just that twice in the opening 45 minutes to come from behind. Converting the penalty midway through the half Hakan Çalhanoglu equalized before Ivan Perisic met Çalhanoğlu’s corner delivery and planted the header from close range into the left side of the goal taking the lead before the break.
Until Inzaghi’s side added a third goal on the hour-mark Inter’s advantage remained fragile when Lautaro Martinez slammed the ball into the back of the net. Seemingly out of sight, Luciano Spalletti’s last roll of the dice was bring Dries Mertens in and the Belgian made no mistake scoring his 103rd Serie A goal to make it 3-2 just 3 minutes after entering the pitch.
The victory has ensured Nerazzurri will remain in the race for Scudetto – they now have 28 points sitting comfortably in the 3rd place, behind only AC Milan and Napoli with 32. Watch football highlights of Serie A games as Inter Milan beat Napoli.
Inter Milan – Napoli 3:2
Goals: Calhanoglu 25’ (p.), Perisic 44’, Martinez 61’ – Zielinski 17’, Mertens 78’
Sassuolo – Cagliari 2:2
Goals: Scamacca 37’, Berardi 52’ (p.) – Balde 40’, Joao Pedro 56’ (p.)
Bologna – Venezia 0:1
Goals: Okereke 61’
Salernitana – Sampdoria 0:2
Goals: Di Tacchio 40’ (o.g.), Candreva 43’
