Inter ever closer to the Scudetto

It must also be said that when things go wrong, then everything goes wrong because Como, who also hit a post with Paz and a crossbar in the final with Ramon, deserved the draw. In a pyrotechnic finale, thanks to a penalty scored by Lucas da Cunha in the 89th minute, Fabregas' team tried desperately to equalise but failed to breach Sommer's goal, not brilliant, but nevertheless on the ball. Also among Inter's best was Barella, author of the two assists for Thuram's goals. Perhaps it was precisely Barella who was the symbol of an Inter side that, after losing its way, found its way back to the Scudetto.

Inter also continue to be Fabregas' black beast: five defeats in five games, with 13 goals conceded. Now Como sees Juve escape to fourth place with a two-point lead. And behind Roma who, winning with Pisa, now trail them by just one length. With Milan, third, in free fall.

Parma-Napoli 1-1. How strange this run-up to Inter! Instead of accelerating, the pursuers slow down. They take breaks. And if AC Milan were trailing, Napoli risked a lot at the Tardini stadium, drawing a match they were even losing after having given the Emiliani a comfortable lead. It was thanks to a dunk by Elphege, left undisturbed by Juan Jesus and Buongiorno, a new clumsy comic couple, that allowed Strefezza to tap into the net to make it one-nil. After a half given to Parma, Napoli woke up in the second half when Conte inserted Aliisson for Anguissa. It was enough to rev up the engine which led to McTominay's equaliser, skilful in finishing after a Hojlund pass. Even after the equaliser, however, Napoli built little and that little was neutralised by the reflexes of goalkeeper Suzuki. For Parma, not caught in the relegation zone, a draw that increases their self-esteem. For Napoli, instead, two very heavy points lost. Inter is now far away, but the fight for the Champions League is still to be played out.

Milan-Udinese 0-3. Poor Diavolo, always in trouble! The third defeat in the last four matches, not only takes away any Scudetto ambitions, but also plunges it into a new nightmare that many fans, thanks to Allegri's 'cure', had removed: the not so remote one of losing the Champions League pass again this year. The drubbing against Udinese is the photograph of a group that has collapsed in on itself, highlighting all its flaws: the fragility of the defence and the inconsistency of the attack. Which certainly has Leao to blame, but which also becomes a convenient scapegoat to hide other magagne. Shall we talk about Rabiot, demolished by Zaniolo? And Pulisic, who hasn't scored since last year? And the defensive block? Bartesaghi's own goal, on Atta's cross, is a textbook example of how a defender should not behave in front of a threat with his back half turned and his arms like a penguin.

Ekkelenpam's second header goal, again from Zaniolo, also cried out for revenge. What were De Winter and Athekame doing? How is it possible for experienced defenders to be mocked like that? The truth is that, by launching the three-pronged attack (with Leao still in the centre and not on the left, a role that is more natural to him), Milan lost that precarious solidity that, until now, had allowed them to avoid major troubles. Then there's the rest: a mix of physical and mental fatigue that, with the Rossoneri having no midweek commitments, leaves one puzzled. San Siro booed, disappointed, angry, as it did last year with Fonseca and Conceicao. But the open question is not only Leao (although we are now at the end of the line), but that of a project born badly, with a lot of foreigners of poor quality. Now there is talk of a striker like Lewandowski, a formidable bomber heading for retirement. In just a few years, Milan has thrown away its enviable heritage (Calhanoglu, Tonali, De Ketelaere, Teo Hernandez, Maldini junior) to stuff itself with old glories and poor foreigners, apart from Modric who, at 40 years of age, cannot single-handedly keep up a team aiming at the Champions League. Allegri only hid the cracks, but now, by dint of hiding them, everything is falling apart. Ps: And Zaniolo? But did Buffon and Gattuso see him right? For the national team he is a fully recovered player. Why did they leave him at home?

Atalanta-Juventus 0-1. Quite true: football is not an exact science. This was demonstrated by Juve beating Atalanta in Bergamo to arrive (in fourth place) just three points behind the trailing Milan. All's well that ends well, but Palladino has a point when he says that Atalanta 'dominated Juventus and were only punished by an episode'. In the first half, in fact, the Bianconeri failed to score, with Yldiz substituted after an hour in a pneumatic vacuum. While the hosts had at least three excellent goal occasions to materialise an almost undisturbed dominance.

In the second half, everyone was expecting the knockout blow, but instead, Boga took advantage of a serious uncertainty by goalkeeper Carnasecchi to turn the film of the match upside down. Spalletti rightly praised the Bianconeri, but he must above all thank the Dea's lack of precision, who, by dint of wasting (14 shots and 13 corners), were rightly punished. Juve, however, remain an indecipherable team, appreciable for their tenacity and for having put Milan in their sights, whom they will meet in a fortnight' time at the San Siro for a probable showdown. Meanwhile, the Bianconeri in the last four days have recovered seven points from the Rossoneri.

Roma v Pisa 3-0. A one-sided match worth talking about only for the quarrel between Ranieri and Gasparini, which became embarrassing both for the two protagonists and for the club, which will have to intervene. It is clear that Ranieri's outburst on TV ('I had chosen three or four other coaches before him, but the club preferred Gasperini'), made by a man usually inclined to mediation, is even more striking. Such heavy words mean that Ranieri has his pockets full. And that if esteem ever existed between the two, it is now simply no longer there. That Gasp was a difficult character was widely known. Evidently with his constant complaints he has gone too far. Who will leave? At the moment it looks like Ranieri. But the Friedkin family owes him a lot. And in Rome sor Claudio still enjoys a certain popularity. Perhaps more so than Gasparini.

32nd day

Cagliari-Cremonese 1-0

Torino Verona 2-1

AC Milan v Udinese 0-3

Atalanta-Juventus 0-1

Genoa v Sassuolo 2-1

Parma-Napoli 1-1

Bologna-Lecce 2-0

Como-Inter 3-4

Evening

Fiorentina v Lazio (20.45)