Inter Milan have cut the gap on SSC Napoli and AC Milan at the top of Serie A to four points after a 3-2 win over Luciano Spalletti's men at Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday. The Partenopei went ahead through Piotr Zielinksi before the champions came to life with Hakan Calhanoglu, Ivan Perisic and Lautaro Martinez on target only for Dries Mertens to cut the deficit late on.
Fiorentina's breathtaking 4-3 win over Milan on Saturday had opened the door to Napoli going clear at the summit but they faltered, and star man Victor Osimhen also suffered a painful looking injury. The result means that there are now no unbeaten sides in the Italian top-flight with Inter now coming back into title contention.
Comeback of champions
They have not always played like titleholders but Inter showed their credentials as Italian champions this weekend with a stirring comeback against one of the teams vying to snatch their crown. Mertens' superb late strike took some of the shine off of the Nerazzurri's recovery but Samir Handanovic made a super save late on as Inzaghi's men showed that they will still have some say in this season's title race.
Neapolitan nightmare
Having gone one goal up on Spalletti's return to face his former club, Kalidou Koulibaly opened the door to Inter's fightback when he conceded a penalty and then the hosts proceeded to turn the screw on Napoli unlike anybody else so far this campaign. Calhanoglu was a particularly tricky customer with a goal and assist in the first half to send Inter in ahead.
Ouch for Osimhen
The Nigeria international was substituted after a clash with Milan Skriniar and has since gone to hospital with Napoli waiting on the results of tests. Until that update, cheekbone damage appears to be the best-case scenario with anything taking him out of action for a significant period potentially very damaging for their domestic and continental hopes.
Goal crazy Afena-Gyan
AS Roma needed two late goals from Felix Afena-Gyan to beat Genoa CFC in their first outing under new boss Andriy Shevchenko with the Ukrainian boss headed for a draw until eight minutes from time when the visitors struck twice with Jose Mourinho once again getting himself in the headlines with a second half booking.
Valiant Venezia
Elsewhere, Venezia's 1-0 win away at Bologna through David Okereke's second half strike was arguably the pick of the results with Paolo Zanetti's men now up to 13th and provisionally six points above the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Sampdoria picked up an important 2-0 win over Salernitana and Cagliari earned a 2-2 draw away at Sassuolo.
Sunday's Serie A scores
- Sassuolo 2, Cagliari 2
- Salernitana 0, Sampdoria 2
- Bologna 0, Venezia 1
- Inter Milan 3, Napoli 2
- Genoa 0, Roma 2