After painful CL defeat, AC Milan also goes down at Spezia, Inter does win

AC Milan has not yet processed the 0-2 defeat against Internazionale in the semifinals of the Champions League last Wednesday. The team went down again on Saturday, this time in the league at number eighteen Spezia: 2-0.

Inter did book another victory ahead of next Tuesday’s return. They won 4-2 at home against Sassuolo.

The defeat for Milan also means that the team loses ground in the battle for the first four spots, which earn a Champions League ticket for next season. With three rounds of play to go, the difference with Lazio, in fourth place, is four points.

Milan had chances, especially in the first half, but did not exploit them and ended up falling foul of the sharp playing Spezia. Przemyslaw Wisniewski provided the opening goal fifteen minutes before time.

A corner kick from Salvatore Esposito landed on the head of Kelvin Amian, who saw his header hit the inside of the post. In the rebound, Wisniewski tapped in the final goal: 1-0.

Milan went for the equalizer, but proved powerless and suffered the final blow just before time. Esposito was given a free kick to take and sent it unerringly into the cross: 2-0. That was all in La Spezia.

Inter struggled in the first half with Sassuolo, the number 13 in Serie A. After a disallowed goal for both teams, birthday boy Romelu Lukaku (30) put Inter ahead shortly before halftime.

Early in the second half, the game seemed to be played after an own goal by Ruan and a goal by Lautaro Martínez, which also flew into the goal via the foot of the unfortunate Ruan.

Matheus Henrique and Davide Frattesi (who had already missed three great chances) brought back the unexpected tension, but Lukaku secured the win just before time.

After Milan and Lazio (Friday 2-2 against Lecce), Atalanta also dropped points in the hunt for a Champions League ticket. The team lost 1-0 at number fifteen Salernitana and dropped to seventh place.

Atalanta had won 8-2 at home against Salernitana earlier this season. This time, little to nothing succeeded. The visitors, with Marten de Roon and Teun Koopmeiners in the starting lineup, had most of the ball possession, but the best chances were for Salernitana.

Yet the game seemed to end in a scoreless draw, before Antonio Candreva scored in extra time for Tonny Vilhena’s team.