Inter take charge in the title race as Milan and Napoli drop points

(Football news) Inter Milan were the biggest winners from this week as they won 2-0 against Hellas Verona while their title rivals all dropped some crucial points. Two goals in the first half put the result beyond Hellas as Nicolo Barella scored from a fine half-volley and a tap in for Edin Dzeko on the half hour mark did all the damage for the hosts. Danilo D'Ambrosio had the best chance to score a third goal for Inter late on but he fired the shot too close to Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo, who saved it brilliantly.

Before last weekend's hard-fought win over Juve, Inter had won one of their previous seven league games which had allowed AC Milan to pull clear at the top of the table but after two successive draws by the leaders, they are now 2 point behind leaders with a match in hand. Barella scored his first goal since January on the end of an Ivan Perisic cross, who then assisted Dzeko for his 13th Serie A goal of the season. Verona did show some fight in the second half, with Kevin Lasagna arrowing a fierce strike just over the top, but Inter defended well and remained in control of the match.

"I know how hard we work, I know how much the boys care, I know that we have brought home a [Italian] Super Cup," coach Simone Inzaghi said.

"But I know that by coaching Inter there may be criticisms at times, which is right that they should be made, yet I have always had confidence. I know the path we are pursuing.

"There are seven to go, we are all there, we will have to fight in every game because the pitfalls in this Serie A are always around the corner."

Napoli’s first Scudetto since 1990 took a major blow as they lost 3-2 against Fiorentina. Napoli were chasing the game after Nicolas Gonzalez hammered the visitors into a 29th-minute lead. Dries Mertens then equalised for the hosts eight minutes into the second half, but then Jonathan Ikone's drilled shot found the bottom of the corner in the goal and then a superb solo goal from Arthur Cabral stunned the crowd in the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Napoli's top scorer Victor Osimhen got one back six minutes from time, but it was too little too late, as Spalletti's side remained in third level on points with Inter and two points behind AC Milan.

AC Milan suffered a second successive 0-0 draw against Torino as they failed to capitalise on their rivals' losing and now find themselves susceptible to the defending Champions who are just 2 points behind them, with a game in hand. The only notable chance came in the first half when Davide Calabria strike was well saved by the Torino keeper, with Milan looking nervous in their first title since 2011.Torino took advantage of their uncertainty and improved after the interval, with Mergim Vojvoda denied by a excellent stop from Mike Maignan before Italy striker Andrea Belotti fired into the side netting.

Milan never really asserted their dominance in the match and followed their goalless draw with Bologna on Monday with another tame stalemate in Turin. With this result they are on 68 points from 32 matches, two clear of Inter, who have a game in hand. Torino stayed 11th with 39 points. Milan were without injured striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic again, therefore they lacked potency up front, as their struggles in front of goal continued.

"We didn't create much but many situations could have become dangerous," Milan coach Stefano Pioli told the media. "I can't say anything about the spirit and the determination, we are just missing a spark.

"It is a positive result but we are missing the victory. The favourites have had missteps for two or three weeks, it's a competitive championship and there are difficulties for everyone.

"We know we can do better. I don't see an anxious or nervous team."

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