Journalist
November 10, 2024 (changed at 10.57pm) – MILANO
The fog at San Siro also enveloped two words: overtaking and escape. Inter-Napoli ends 1-1 and does not give satisfaction to the title holders. No arrow to the right, no acceleration. Conte remains ahead of the Nerazzurri by just one point, while Inzaghi chases and exits with regrets. Inter suffered in the first half, but then hit the post with Dimarco and missed a penalty with Calhanoglu in the second half. The Azzurri, having taken the lead through McTominay and then caught again by a right-footed shot from the Turk from the top of his hat, held on and left the Meazza unbeaten. The first direct clash ended in a draw.
Scott’s goal
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Napoli’s integrity undermines Inter’s approach. Usually the Nerazzurri attack big matches in the first quarter of an hour, but this time they struggle more. Thanks to a Napoli team who prepared the game against the opponent to cut off the passing lines. He marks himself as a man. Lautaro, forced to duck, is hounded as soon as he touches the ball, while Thuram gives less depth. The same goes for Dimarco: Di Lorenzo and Politano limited his range of action, preventing him from producing his usual crosses. The beacon of Inter’s Ar Men remains the usual Calhanoglu, who draws rainbows with his feet. A couple of openings, in fact, draw applause, but in the end Napoli passes. In the 23rd minute McTominay, gigantic for almost the entire match, confirmed himself as Conte’s extra man by scoring a dirty but fundamental goal: Kvara’s corner, Rrahmani’s touch and Scott’s right-footed robbery. The man who arrived from Hadrian’s Wall to make all of Naples rub their hands. Zoom on the action: the goal comes from a corner kicked by Dumfries, who perhaps could have managed the ball better.
segna gutter…
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Inter, disoriented, conceded a little more. Napoli plays on the opponent: they come out on the counterattack, give the ball to Kvara to send Dumfries out of control and filter into midfield with Anguissa. Works. In fact, on the half hour mark, Acerbi made a split save on Kvaratshkelia, who was launched into the net by a very booing Lukaku (caught with every ball he touched). Calhanoglu’s mistake was serious, however, as he was guilty of giving the ball to the Belgian. At this point Napoli took refuge: in the 40th minute Acerbi, fed by a through ball from Barella, put on the striker’s cloak and turned into the area with ease. Left shot neutralized by Meret. But the goal is in the air. In fact, a handful of minutes from the gong, Calhanoglu dusts off his past as a playmaker with a magical and powerful right foot and scores Napoli with a slash from 25 meters straight into the seven (Meret has some fault). The celebration is furious.
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…and he’s wrong
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Who knows what Inzaghi may have said to his team during the interval. Inter returns to the field with the eyes of a tiger and tries to attack a more submissive Napoli than in the first half. The totems, however, are two defenders: Acerbi and Buongiorno. The best on the pitch in a match dominated by physical duels. The former Sassuolo player won the one with Lukaku, while the former Toro canceled out an unrecognizable Lautaro, imprecise and shady. In the 47th minute, following an assist from Dumfries, he doesn’t shoot on goal from close range. Inexplicable. Inter improved as the minutes passed and created a couple of good chances with Dimarco (post in the 52nd minute), but the best chance came again on Calhanoglu’s right foot (74′). Anguissa brings down Dumfries in the area, Mariani whistles the penalty and the Turk grabs the ball confidently. But this time the ball hits the post. First mistake for the Nerazzurri. Second season after the one in the national team. A streak of 17 consecutive penalties scored in Serie A was interrupted. The match ended with a left-footed shot from Barella neutralized by Meret. Inter are better on points, but in the end they only gain one. Napoli remains first alone. Behind there, however, there are those chasing: Atalanta, Fiorentina, Inter and Lazio at 25. Juventus at 24. We go to rest with the queue.
