ROME: Edin Dzeko’s second-half equalizer at Napoli secured for Inter Milan a 1-1 draw and the Serie A lead on Saturday.

Napoli could have gone on top with a win. Instead, Inter have a one-point lead over Napoli with a game in hand, and third-placed AC Milan were one point further back in their three-way battle for the title.

“We must always accept calmly what the pitch dictates and then we can learn our lessons,” Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti told DAZN. “We played a very good game, but there were a few balls we didn’t take advantage of and we didn’t manage to keep the ball.”

Napoli were awarded a penalty after four minutes when Stefan De Vrij fouled Victor Osimhen in the box. The referee did not immediately notice the foul and pointed to the penalty spot only after a VAR check. Lorenzo Insigne fired in a powerful shot to the right of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.

Napoli came close to doubling their lead in the 12th when Piotr Zielinski hit the post.

Dzeko levelled just after the interval with a bit of luck. The Bosnia forward fluffed his header in the box but the ball ricocheted off Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo and back into his path. Dzeko’s killer instinct was then on display as he fired into the top corner from a tight angle.

“We managed to extinguish their enthusiasm and in the end there’s a bit of regret because we had more than them left in the tank,” said Massimiliano Farris, who coached Inter with Simone Inzaghi suspended and in the stands. “The penalty could have sent the match their way, but after the break we showed what a good side we are.”

Elsewhere, Mattia Zaccagni scored a double to add to a Ciro Immobile penalty as sixth-placed Lazio beat Bologna 3-0 in Rome to move three points behind Juventus in fourth.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2022