Italy’s football champions Inter Milan have seized the opportunity. Eight hours after league leaders SSC Napoli’s home defeat, the Nerazzurri struggled to a 1-0 (0-0) compulsory win against newly promoted FC Venice and reduced the deficit to one point.
World champion Lautaro Martinez redeemed the 20-time title holder, who had been struggling for a long time, with his header goal (65th). Inter dominated in the first half, but missed several top-class chances. In the end, the defending champion even had to thank goalkeeper Yann Sommer for not going into the break with a deficit: The ex-Gladbach player saved against Gaetano Oristanio with a great reaction (41′). Then Inter celebrated too early: Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s supposed 1-0 was overturned for offside after video evidence (51′). The guests’ late equalizer was also canceled due to a handball (90+8).
To the match center: Inter Milan vs. FC Venice
AS Roma had previously suffered another setback without Rio world champion Mats Hummels. In the 2:3 (1:2) draw at Hellas Verona, the ex-Dortmunder, who had made an unsuccessful debut with an own goal in the 5-1 defeat at AC Florence a week ago after coming on as a substitute, was back on the bench. Roma caught up twice before conceding the decisive goal from Abdou Harroui in the final phase (88′). With 13 points from eleven games, the capital club is already well behind the international places.
Atalanta with exclamation mark
By midday, SSC Napoli had already suffered a painful setback in the title fight in the Italian Serie A. In front of their own crowd, the league leaders suffered a painful 3-0 defeat against pursuers Atalanta Bergamo. The man of the match was former Bundesliga professional Ademola Lookman with a brace (10th and 31st minutes).
The title fight in Serie A remains extremely exciting thanks to Atalanta Bergamo’s surprisingly clear success – especially since SSC Napoli travels to San Siro in Milan for the top game next weekend. Then coach Antonio Conte and his team meet defending champions Inter.
Conte’s former club serves as a template for Napoli’s home defeat. If the Nerazzurri win against Venezia on Sunday evening (8:45 p.m./DAZN), they would only be one point behind the leaders.
Doppelpack von Lookman
Ademola Lookman became the match winner for Atalanta. In the 10th minute of the game he scored from close range after a failed clearance by Giovanni di Lorenz. The Nigerian got the ball into the net without any problem.
21 minutes later he scored a brace. He mercilessly punished Napoli’s careless defensive behavior. The front-runner caught a counterattack, but only half-heartedly attacked Charles de Ketelaere, who had the ball. The Belgian fed Lookman, who tested his luck with a long-range shot. Naples goalkeeper Alex Meret was no longer able to significantly distract the ball.
Lookman had several opportunities to score a hat trick as the game progressed. However, the former Leipzig player was substituted in the 76th minute and Berlin-born Lazar Samardzic came into play for him. Bergamo’s third goal came in stoppage time, with Mateo Retegui responsible for the final point in a one-sided encounter.
Zum Match Center: SSC Napoli vs. Atalanta Bergamo
