MILAN: AC Milan missed the chance to go top of Serie A on Sunday after a 1-1 derby draw with Inter Milan which allowed Napoli to maintain their place at the summit.

Former Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty for Inter in the 11th minute — and celebrated fiercely against the club he left in June on a free transfer after four years. Milan levelled thanks to an own-goal by defender Stefan de Vrij shortly after, and Inter also had a penalty saved in a in a tense, exciting encounter at the San Siro.

Stefano Pioli’s unbeaten side remained level on 32 points at the top of the Italian league with Napoli, which drew 1-1 against Hellas Verona earlier. Inter are third, seven points below the top two.

Verona, who finished the match in Naples with nine men after two late red cards for Daniel Bessa and Nikola Kalinic, took a point thanks to Giovanni Simeone’s close-range finish from Antonio Barak’s low cross in the 13th minute.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo levelled for the hosts just five minutes later but they couldn’t find a winner.

AS Roma’s misery continued as Jose Mourinho’s side lost 3-2 at Ven­ezia to leave it with just one win in its last seven matches in all competitions.

A goal ahead at half-time after Eldor Shomurodov and Tammy Abraham had scored following Mattia Caldara’s opener for Venezia, Roma collapsed after a harsh penalty decision allowed Mattia Aramu to level with a 65th-minute spot-kick.

David Okereke’s neat finish with 16 minutes remaining lifted Venezia three points above the drop zone while allowing Roma’s local rivals Lazio to leapfrog into fifth with a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Salernitana.

Bologna are just a point below sixth-placed Roma and level with Juventus and Fiorentina after winning 2-1 at Sampdoria. Udinese beat Sassuolo 3-2.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2021