Inter Milan moved to the top of Serie A on Sunday after edging Genoa 2–1, capitalising on slip-ups by their closest title rivals earlier in the day.
The path was cleared when AC Milan were held to a 2–2 draw by Sassuolo, before defending champions Napoli suffered a 1–0 defeat at Udinese.
Inter seized the opportunity at Genoa through goals either side of half-time from German defender Yann Bisseck and captain Lautaro Martinez. Genoa threatened a late comeback when Portuguese forward Vitinha pulled one back in the 68th minute, but Simone Inzaghi’s side held firm to secure the points.
The win moved Inter one point clear of Milan at the summit, with Napoli a further point back in third.
Napoli had earlier missed the chance to go top after seeing two goals ruled out before Jurgen Ekkelenkamp struck in the 73rd minute to hand Udinese victory and end the champions’ run of three straight league wins.
Injury-hit Napoli were left to rue a missed opportunity, having known that victory would have sent them top following Milan’s draw.
At the San Siro, Sassuolo took an early lead through Ismael Kone before Milan responded with a Davide Bartesaghi equaliser after half an hour. The 19-year-old defender, opening his Serie A account, then put the hosts ahead after the break with a tight-angle finish.
However, French forward Armand Laurienté ensured Sassuolo left with a point, netting a 77th-minute equaliser.
“We played a good match,” Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri told DAZN. “Some may say we dropped two points, but I think we gained an important one.”
“We still have to improve because we’re conceding too many goals, but we’re in the top four, which was our objective at the start of the season,” he added.
AC Milan, along with Inter, Bologna and Napoli, will not feature in league action next weekend as they compete in the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
AFP
