Serie A: AC Milan and Napoli both suffer their first losses of the season as Inter close in on the leaders

(Football news) Inter Milan, the defending champions defeated Napoli 3-2 as they cut the gap on Napoli and AC Milan to four points after 13 rounds of matches and ended Napoli’s status as the only unbeaten team across Europe’s five major leagues. In the first half, the visitors struck first when Piotr Zielinski won the ball off Barella and scored off an Insigne pass in the 17th minute, Inter were quick to equalise after Kalidou Koulibaly was penalized for a handball after VAR intervened as Hakan Calhanoglu converted from the spot cooly. Inter just before halftime scored as Perisic’s flicked header just about crossed the line to give Inter a 2-1 heading into the break. In the second half, Inter continued their domination as Lautaro Martinez scored their third on a counterattack in the 61st minute, set up by compatriot Joaquin Correa.

Dries Mertens scored a wonderful goal out of nowhere to set up a pulsating finale with his club record 137th goal for Napoli. Inter’s goalkeeper Samir Handanovic made a brilliant save from Mario Rui’s header in injury time before Mertens missed a glorious chance as he blazed over the bar with the final kick of the ball. With this result Napoli stay on top with 32 points but Inter move to 28 points as they move within 4 points of the lead.

“It was a very important game for us looking at the league table. We have been playing well but every now and again the result isn’t the right one for us, but today the team played with intensity and character." said Martinez.

Luciano Spalleti after the match said “Lautaro is a very strong player, when he arrived he had to settle into the team, but when I gave him space he did what he had to. He’s proving to be a champion, that’s it.In the second half we did a lot better in the game, some more courageous choices and some unpredictable balls.In the first half we did little, we were looking for solutions without character. Sometimes we arrived late and gave them space, but we had a high-level game.

Spalletti on the Inter style of play said, “Inter’s wingers? With them it becomes difficult to play with a different tactical attitude. The line has to stay very narrow because you have to get there with the full-back on their fifth player.When the distances get longer it becomes difficult, but then there is a space in the middle, sometimes we find it, it depends on the quality of possession of the ball. If you spin it well and pile into the area, they hardly find the distance of the wingers. Sometimes, however, they are the ones who decide with their quality. These are the preparations that must be put into the game”.

AC Milan suffered their first defeat of the Serie A season as they lost 3-4 to Fiorentina, in the first half, goals from Alfred Duncan and Riccardo Saponara gave the La Viola a comfortable lead as AC Milan didn’t look at their ruthless best, mistakes at the back from Tatarusanu cost them a lot. In the second half, AC Milan started creating some opportunities but it was Dusan Vlahovic who rounded the keeper to fire in a third for Fiorentina but Zlatan Ibrahimovic responded with a quick fire double, pouncing on loose ball for the first before meeting a low cross for his second goal. Vlahovic then secured the three points after a mistake in the back from Theo Hernandez as he found the bottom corner with a brilliant finish. Ibrahimovic was again involved for Milan’s third, after his header struck the bar and rebounded off Venuti into his own net.

“We must feel the pain of this defeat, but I remain convinced that I have a very strong team. Losing always hurts, as does conceding four goals. Maybe we could have made a comeback without the fourth goal."Milan coach Stefano Pioli told Sky Italia

This victory means a lot for our self-esteem, we have never won a big game until now. We made some mistakes, but we did well to see it out," Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi told DAZN

Juventus bounced back after two losses to win 2-0 against Lazio which saw Sarri’s 19 match unbeaten home run end. In the first half Juventus received a penalty after VAR adjudged a foul on Alvaro Morata in the box. Leonardo Bonucci calmly converted the penalty, as Lazio failed to create some clear cut chances in the first half. In the second half, Juventus soaked in Lazio’s pressure and in the 83rd minute, Reina brought down Chiesa in the box, it was an inevitable penalty and Bonucci converted again. With this result Juventus moved 21 points in 8th place as Lazio also have 21 goals but ahead on goal difference.

Allegri after the match said, “It was Juve against Lazio, not Allegri against Sarri, but football is also a strategy. There are moments you need to keep the ball, moments when you have to counter, moments when you must defend.I thought Lazio would keep the ball for 70-80 per cent, but we did well to keep 46 per cent, so that was an improvement. As time goes on, we’ll do better. It’s the kind of thing you can only learn with time and a run of victories. I never watch the penalties. We had a good game, but we did waste too many scoring opportunities, because this is a team with great potential and the ability to reach the opposition goal, then we are too hasty”.

Also read: Premier League: Liverpool thrash Arsenal while City and Chelsea gain three points but Man Utd’s poor form continues

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