Inter-Napoli 2-2
GOALS: 9′ pt Dimarco, 26′ pt McTominay; 28′ st Calhanoglu (rig), 36′ st McTominay.
INTER (3-5-2): Sommer 6; Bisseck 6, Akanji 5, Bastoni 6; Luis Henrique 6, Zielinski 6.5 (17′ st Mkhitaryan 6.5), Calhanoglu 7 (43′ st Sucic sv), Barella 6, Dimarco 7 (43′ st Carlos Augusto sv); Lautaro Martinez 6 (43′ st Bonny sv), Thuram 6 (38′ st Esposito sv). On the bench: Calligaris, Taho, De Vrij, Acerbi, Frattesi, Diouf, Cocchi. Coach: Chivu 6.
NAPLES (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic 6; Beukema 6 (33′ st Lang 7), Rrahmani 5.5, Juan Jesus 6.5; Di Lorenzo 6, Lobotka 6, McTominay 7.5, Spinazzola 6.5; Politano 6 (49′ st Mazzocchi sv), Hojlund 6.5, Elmas 6.5. On the bench: Meret, Contini, Gutierrez, Buongiorno, Olivera, Vergara, Lucca, Marianucci, Ambrosino. Coach: Conte 6.
REFEREE: Duties of Rome 6.
NOTES: clear evening, pitch in good condition. In the 26th minute Antonio Conte was sent off for protests. Booked: Juan Jesus. Corners: 4-1 for Inter. Recovery: 2′; 6′.
Controversy and tense nerves like the first leg. This time, after the Neapolitan 3-1 defeat of “Maradona” in October, the big match between Inter and Napoli, at San Siro, ends without winners. A 2-2 that doesn’t act as a watershed and that all things considered doesn’t displease anyone, not even Antonio Conte, who was sent off in the second half for protests after the awarding of a penalty kick, scored by Calhanoglu for the momentary 2-1. Chivu’s team takes the lead twice (the first with Dimarco) and McTominay responds twice. A heavy double that prevents the escape of Inter, leaders now at 43 points, with a three point advantage over Milan and four points more than the Neapolitans.
First half
The former United player played more than a sumptuous hour of play, but after having started in the worst possible way. In the 9th minute, his turnover under pressure from the former Zielinski gave the Nerazzurri the lead: the Pole fed Thuram, who in turn triggered Dimarco, who scored a lethal diagonal shot for Milinkovic-Savic. McTominay made amends in the 26th minute, finishing with a winning deflection ahead of Akanji a splendid Neapolitan move finished off by Elmas with a cross from the left. The first half of the game ended at 1-1 and at the start of the second half Napoli started strong.
Second half
In the 48th minute Akanji mistimed his advance, opening up a path for Hojlund who flew towards the area and kicked diagonally, chipping the post to Sommer’s left. Two minutes later another chance: cross from the left by Spinazzola, Di Lorenzo hits the header from a very good position but misses the measurement. It is the entry of Mkhitaryan in place of Zielinski that restores geometry to Inter. And it is the Armenian who earns the penalty that puts Inter ahead in the score: the former Roma player anticipates Rrahmani who lands on his opponent’s foot in the area in the most classic of step on foot. Referee Doveri lets play, but is called back to the VAR. Then he awards the penalty and sends off Antonio Conte due to the Neapolitan coach’s vehement protests. Calhanoglu goes from eleven meters who displaces Milinkovic and makes it 2-1. However, Napoli remains in the game. And in the 81st minute the equalizer arrived: Lang transformed a ball that seemed destined for the back into an assist, McTominay volleyed it and beat Sommer for the second time. In injury time there was also room for a post hit by Mkhitaryan. It is the last emotion of a match that does not seal Inter’s escape from the Scudetto, with their first draw in this championship.