Edin Dzeko cancelled out a Lorenzo Insigne penalty, while Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic made some brilliant saves to share the points.
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Inter Milan and Napoli played out a 1-1 draw in Naples in the Serie A fixture on Saturday. It was a Scudetto showdown at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, as only one point separated the leaders Inter from Napoli and AC Milan. Edin Dzeko cancelled out a Lorenzo Insigne penalty, while Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and the woodwork allowed Inter to take a point. Meanwhile Milan have a chance to leapfrog them both when they host Sampdoria on Sunday. Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly made his comeback after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
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⚖️ | PAREGGIO
⏱️ Finisce qui il match del Maradona ⚔️
? I nerazzurri lottano, recuperano e tornano da Napoli con 1⃣ punto #NapoliInter 1⃣-1⃣
⚽️ 7′- Insigne (rig.)
⚽️ 47′- @EdDzeko #FORZAINTER ⚫️? pic.twitter.com/Awe2UFiv3d— Inter ??? (@Inter) February 12, 2022
Napoli started the match brightly and took the lead inside the opening seven minutes. Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s effort from Piotr Zielinski’s cut back went wide, but Stefan de Vrij had caught Victor Osimhen on the back of the ankle . After a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty, which Insigne fired home past Handanovic to put the hosts ahead. Handanovic had dived the right way but Insigne’s effort had too much power to beat the keeper.
Few minutes later, Zielinski almost scored the home side’s second as his shot from the edge of the box hit the post. Matteo Politano limped off with a calf problem before Insigne’s acrobatic volley went over the crossbar. It was all Napoli in the first half and Inter rarely threatened the opposition goal. Dzeko’s header from Ivan Perisic’s cross which went straight to the Napoli keeper David Ospina, was their only attempt on target in the opening half.
However, the visitors equalised within 30 seconds of the restart. Lautaro Martinez’s cross from the right found Dzeko inside the box, although the initial header was blocked, the Bosnian striker reacted quickly to smash home the rebound off the underside of the crossbar from a tight angle.
Marcelo Brozovic conceded the ball possession, allowing Osimhen to drive forward and force a difficult save at the near post from Handanovic. At the other end, Koulibaly made a decisive interception to stop Dumfries tapping in the Perisic cross.
Insigne’s cross from the right deflected off multiple players before reaching Eljif Elmas at the back post. But Handanovic made a brilliant save once again to deny Elmas from close range.
