Inter Milan kept the pressure on Serie A leaders Napoli by securing a 1-0 victory over Roma on Sunday, with Lautaro Martinez scoring the decisive goal at the Stadio Olimpico. The Argentine forward netted his fourth goal of the season in all competitions, capitalizing on a defensive error from Roma’s Zeki Celik to seal the win.
Inter’s victory keeps them two points behind Napoli, who also earned a 1-0 win over Empoli earlier in the day. This marks a crucial weekend as all four of Italy’s top teams secured victories. Inter will now focus on their upcoming Champions League match against Young Boys, though they may have to manage without Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi, both of whom were injured in the first half.
Despite the narrow scoreline, Inter dominated much of the game, with Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar making key saves to deny Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries from extending the lead. “The boys played well … once we broke the deadlock, we had chances to score again and should have,” Inter coach Simone Inzaghi told DAZN. “I’m very happy with what the boys showed me today.”
Roma, sitting in 10th place, suffered their second league defeat of the season, adding to an already difficult campaign. Their hardcore fans staged a protest by staying outside the stadium for the first 15 minutes, expressing their discontent with the club’s direction under American owner Dan Friedkin. Roma coach Ivan Juric voiced his frustration, stating, “We created chances but didn’t take advantage of them … to give away a goal the way we did in a match like this is a real shame because the team played well.”
Napoli Secure Lead with Kvaratskhelia’s Penalty
Napoli maintained their position at the top of Serie A with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Empoli. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored the game’s only goal from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute, marking his fourth of the season. The win is Napoli’s fourth consecutive across all competitions.
Despite the loss, Empoli put up a strong fight, controlling large portions of the match. Napoli’s penalty was their only shot on target, and it proved enough to secure the win in front of a large crowd of travelling supporters. Empoli had defeated Napoli twice last season, and their victory in Naples last November contributed to Rudi Garcia’s dismissal as coach.
Napoli, without the burden of European football, have been able to focus on their domestic campaign under coach Antonio Conte. “We’re trying to build something here, something that isn’t just a flash in the pan but lasts long-term,” Conte said after the match.
Fiorentina Thrash Lecce 6-0, Atalanta Ease Past Venezia
Fiorentina delivered a dominant 6-0 win over 10-man Lecce, moving up to fifth place in the table. Danilo Cataldi and Andrea Colpani both scored twice, while Lucas Beltran and Fabiano Parisi added to the tally. Lecce’s Antonino Gallo was sent off after fouling Dodo, a decision that left Lecce with 10 players for much of the match.
Atalanta, level on points with Fiorentina, secured a 2-0 victory over bottom-placed Venezia. Mateo Retegui was instrumental in the win, assisting Mario Pasalic for the opening goal and scoring himself with a chip early in the second half. Retegui now leads the Serie A scoring charts with eight goals this season.
With these results, the top teams in Serie A remain tightly packed as they look ahead to the next round of matches.
