After Milan, the other leaders also go out
Inter beat Napoli 3-2 in the big match of the 13th matchday of Serie A. The Neapolitans collect their first defeat in the league and remain at 32 points with Milan, beaten 4-3 by Fiorentina yesterday: the leading couple stops and Inter, at 28 points, approaches the top of the standings.
THE MATCH
Napoli strikes first after a balanced start. At 17 ‘the pressing blue allows you to recover the ball, restart of Spalletti’s team on the Insigne-Osimhen axis and ball to Zielinski: powerful right, 0-1. Inter poured into the opponent’s half and immediately found a draw. Enveloping action, a dry conclusion by Barella and rejected by Koulibaly: the defender hits with his arm, the Var helps the referee Valeri who awards the penalty.
Calhanoglu makes no mistake from the spot, 1-1. After the double blaze, the pace drops and the teams cancel out. Balance jumps before rest thanks to Perisic’s flicker. Corner from the left, the Croatian finds time for the header deflection: Ospina rejects but the ball has already crossed the line, 2-1.
Inter came out better from the blocks even at the beginning of the second half. The Italian champions conceded little and hit with a lethal restart in the 61st minute. Correa devours the whole field before offering the ball to Lautaro, surgical diagonal and goal: 3-1. Napoli seems to be on the mat, but finds a way to reopen the match. Dzeko loses the ball on his own trocar, Mertens doesn’t think twice and shoots from 20 meters: ball at the intersection, 3-2 in the 78th minute. The Azzurri have time for a final assault and scare Handanovic with a header from Mario Rui: the goalkeeper deflects to the top of the crossbar. At 97 ‘Mertens wastes a colossal opportunity: he can kick from a few meters, he sends to the stars. Inter thanks, Napoli goes out.
Source-www.adnkronos.com