Napoli vs Inter Review
Napoli secured a well-deserved point in a thrilling 1-1 draw against Scudetto contenders Inter Milan, with Philip Billing scoring in the 87th minute, which extended Simone Inzaghi’s team’s winless streak away from home in Serie A to four matches. Entering the match with a narrow one-point advantage at the top of the league, the Nerazzurri knew that a victory would significantly boost their chances of defending their title. Given the importance of the game, a cautious start was anticipated, but it was Inter who struck first midway through the first half when Federico Dimarco expertly curled a free-kick into the top corner, marking his fourth goal of the season.
Napoli, winless in their last four league matches, needed a strong response. Romelu Lukaku nearly equalized with a sharp volley that just missed the near post. As halftime approached, the hosts continued to search for a way back into the game, but Alessandro Bastoni made a fantastic block to prevent Lukaku from scoring from close range. After the break, Napoli maintained their attacking momentum, with Giacomo Raspadori having a close-range shot blocked and Stanislav Lobotka shooting over from the edge of the box. Despite having a lot of possession, clear chances were hard to come by for Antonio Conte’s team, as Scott McTominay’s powerful shot was easily saved by Josep Martínez, the goalkeeper for the visitors.
As the clock approached the final fifteen minutes, Napoli intensified their efforts to find an equalizer, and their persistence was rewarded with just three minutes left. Lobotka delivered a smart pass to substitute Billing, who, after having his first shot saved by Martínez, managed to find the bottom corner to level the score. This goal created an exciting finish, but despite some late pressure from the home team, both sides ended up with a draw, allowing Inter to keep their narrow lead at the top of the table.
