After a tense derby at the Allianz Stadium, Inter Milan won against Juventus on Sunday (1-0), during the 31st day of Serie A. The Italian champions remain in the wheel of AC Milan and Naples in the top three, with the intact hope of retaining their title. On the other hand, the situation is complicated for the Old Lady.
Before receiving Inter Milan on Sunday April 3, Juve remained on 17 matches without defeat in the league. His last loss dated back to November 27 against Atalanta Bergamo. Since then, Massimiliano Allegri and his men had won 11 games, conceded 6 draws and regained ambitions. This series came to an abrupt end against the Interists.
The Nerazzurri, Italian champions last season, were under pressure at kick-off. A loss to the Bianconeri, coupled with Napoli’s success in Bergamo earlier on Sunday, would have knocked them off the podium. So Simone Inzaghi’s men took out the warm-up blue to meet the physical challenge of the Turinese.
At the end of a hung first period, the visitors made the difference in the confusion. Alvaro Morata stepped on Denzel Dumfries’ foot, leading the referee, after using his video assistants, to award Inter a penalty. Hakan Calhanoglu hit it and saw Wojciech Szczesny win this duel. Juventus then exulted … until the blow: the man with the whistle, Massimiliano Irrati, ordered that the penalty be taken again, because Matthijs de Ligt had entered the box too early. And on his second attempt, Hakan Calhanoglu this time hit the mark (45th + 5).
AC Milan keep control, but Napoli and Inter are still hot on their heels
In the second half, Juve launched all their forces to resurface, with the entry into play of Moïse Kean, Arthur and Federico Bernardeschi. But nothing helped, not even this attempt by Swiss Denis Zakaria, deflected by goalkeeper Samir Handanovic on the post at the start of the last quarter of an hour. Paulo Dybala’s inaccuracies didn’t help either.
Defeat, Juventus advanced to fourth place with 59 points. Seven days from the end of the season, the title has not gone away, but it will be difficult to get because in front, the leading trio is advancing. Inter, which had lost ground in recent weeks, gives a boost and has 63 points. Napoli are second with 66 points and AC Milan are leaders with 66 points too, but with a better goal difference.
The Milanese enemies could well engage in fierce competition until the end, in the game of late matches. AC Milan are due to play their match of the 31st day on Monday against Bologna. It will be, for the Rossoners, the opportunity to perhaps regain control of Serie A on their own. But Inter Milan also have a card up their sleeve with a match of the 20th day, also against Bologna, to catch up with the April 27. In Italy, the suspense remains intact.