AFP – Napoli held Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw yesterday and maintained their lead at the top of Serie A as a host of teams now line up to contend top spot.
Antonio Conte’s Napoli are a point ahead of Inter and three other teams after escaping the San Siro with a hard-fought draw in which Hakan Calhanoglu slammed a 74th-minute penalty off the post.
Calhanoglu held his head in his hands after missing his first penalty in 18 attempts for Inter.
Turkiye captain Calhanoglu, who had fired Inter to a win over Arsenal from the spot in the Champions League midweek, blasted home the hosts’ equaliser two minutes before the break after Scott McTominay tapped Napoli ahead midway through the first half. From there Inter took the initiative and were unlucky not to go ahead through Federico Dimarco in the 53rd minute, when the Italy full-back’s low drive crashed out off the base of the post.
Inter sit fourth but only two points separate the top six, with Juventus just behind the four teams right on Napoli’s heels.
Second on goal difference are Atalanta, who won their sixth straight league match after coming back from a goal down at half-time to beat Udinese 2-1.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side came through thanks to Mario Pasalic’s leveller 11 minutes after the break and an own goal from Isaak Toure moments later.
