Inter v Napoli, spectacular draw at the San Siro. Conte sent off amid controversy
It was 2-2 thanks to a stunning McTominay but the penalty awarded to the Nerazzurri will be debated for a long time. Milan do not go beyond 1-1 with Fiorentina
Let's start with the substance: finally a good match! Fast, hard-fought, entertaining and uncertain until the final whistle. A spectacle that doesn't offer a winner, or reveal the new master of the championship, but it doesn't matter, it's still early, there's still the whole round to play.
Of course, this 2-2 draw between Inter and Napoli, in the end, restrains the Nerazzurri who could have stretched to +7, and keeps the Parthenopeans alive, who remain in the race keeping 4 points behind the leader and one from Milan, still second in the standings at 40.
Inter, leading with 43 points, left some regrets after a week of announced escapes and wasted chances. Napoli, however, with a proof of great character, fully deserved the draw reached on 81 minutes by McTominay, already author of the first goal of the Italian champions. Conte's team had the merit of replying blow by blow to an Inter side that, at the start, had sprung like a bull in the arena. A lightning start that after not even ten minutes led to the Nerazzurri's advantage thanks to a surgical razor-sharp shot by Dimarco, well served by Thuram. A splendid choral action born from an initiative of Zielinsky, skilful in exploiting one of the few uncertainties of McTominay, Conte's extra man in this last-gasp challenge.
After one-nil, Napoli, immediately put on the ropes, could have been overwhelmed. Gradually, however, it regained its centre of gravity and equalised (26 minutes) with the Scotsman himself, ready to divert an Elmas assist into the net. Here it was Inter who faltered, but they soon recovered, threatening Milinkovic Savic's goal several times. In the second half, Inter lowered the tempo and Napoli became more aggressive, almost taking the lead with Hojlund's low shot hitting the post. The turning point, which was to be discussed all week, came in the 68th minute, when referee Doveri, called to Var for Rrahmani's stomping on Mkhitaryan, awarded Inter a penalty (scored by Calhanoglu) that triggered a furious reaction from Conte, who was then sent off for shouting ("You should all be ashamed of yourselves!") in the fourth man's face.
It was an unseemly and even unjustified reaction because, in this case, the stomp was clearly visible. But Conte, now unleashed, did not listen to reason, continuing his show even from the back of the bench. It was then McTominay, who took advantage of another indecision on the part of the Inter defence, who put everything right. A heart-stopping finale, because in the middle of the second half there was also a chipped post by Mkhitaryan that deceived San Siro. But the draw was a fair one. And even if the result will not dictate the championship, as Chivu had predicted, it still leaves some precise indications: the first is that Inter, while still favourites, will have to reckon with the Italian champions who, let us remember, played with at least four starters less (Neres, Lukaku, Anguissa and De Bruyne). A tough, tough, never tame Napoli. Inter, magnificent at the start, slowed down in the second half, displaying the usual defensive naivety. However, after twenty matches, the top three remain within four points. It is not yet time for a breakaway or a solo. Inter and Napoli are still the best equipped. Milan, despite being second, is still undecided. Roma (36 points) and Juventus, who play Cremonese at home tonight, are back in the running. Spalletti has brought it back to the top of the table. If he wins, he hooks Napoli on 39 points. Paradoxically, it is a beautiful championship.
