Champions League finalist Inter squanders points at champion Napoli

Champions League finalist Internazionale have lost points in Serie A in the battle for a ticket to next year’s billion-dollar ball. Champion Napoli beat Inter 3-1 at home.

The defeat and a 1-0 win by Lazio later in the evening at Udinese dropped Inter to fourth place. Number five AC Milan won 5-1 over Sampdoria a day earlier and has edged city rival Inter to two points.

The first four spots give access to the Champions League. Should Inter win over Manchester City in the final of the highest European soccer tournament, Simone Inzaghi’s team will also qualify for next year’s main tournament.

Napoli was more dangerous in the first half than Inter, who qualified for the Champions League final last week at the expense of Milan. No goals were scored. However, Inter’s Roberto Gagliardini was shown a red card.

The second half became more spectacular and the goals fell. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa shot beautifully from the turn twenty minutes after halftime (1-0).

Giovanni Simeone seemed to double the score about ten minutes before time. However, his goal was disallowed because fellow player Piotr Zielinski allegedly fouled in the preceding attack.

Just minutes later, it was suddenly tied. Romelu Lukaku tapped in a cross from Federico Dimarco (1-1).

For long, Inter could not enjoy the lead. In the 85th minute, Giovanni Di Lorenzo shot the ball beautifully into the crossbar from distance (2-1). Deep into injury time, Gianluca Gaetano scored the third Neapolitan goal. Eye to eye with Inter goalkeeper André Onana, he worked the ball in (3-1).

Stefan de Vrij played the entire match for Inter. Denzel Dumfries substituted more than fifteen minutes before time.