Inter and Dzeko condemn Napoli to first defeat of season as Serie A returns
Edin Dzeko’s bullet header wrecked Napoli’s unbeaten record as Internazionale held on for a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Serie A leaders at San Siro.
Napoli’s defeat, which also ended their 11-match domestic winning streak, enabled second-placed Milan to narrow the gap at the top to five points as Serie A returned after a seven-week break for the World Cup and festive season.
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Napoli struggled for rhythm on their return after the seven-week World Cup and festive break, and Dzeko’s 56th-minute effort from Federico Dimarco’s cross proved enough. The visitors laid siege to the Inter goal in the dying stages with substitute Giacomo Raspadori seeing a late low effort saved by André Onana.
Juventus continued to press the top two but they left it late to claim their seventh straight win at Cremonese, with Arkadiusz Milik rifling home the only goal of the game from a stoppage-time free-kick. Cremonese, still without a win this season, had an early strike from Emanuele Valeri disallowed by VAR, and Cyriel Dessers hit the post in the second half.
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Sandro Tonali scored a goal and set up another to guide Milan to a 2-1 victory at Salernitana. Rafael Leão put Milan ahead in the 10th minute, picking up Tonali’s pass and going around goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa for a brilliant finish. Tonali got on the scoresheet five minutes later with a long-range strike into the bottom corner.
Sandro Tonali (right) celebrates after scoring Milan’s second goal. Photograph: Ciro de Luca/Reuters
Brahim Díaz, who twice came close in the first half, thought he had added a third around the hour but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside. Milan could have added more goals but they missed chances, including from Olivier Giroud – and almost paid the price as the hosts rallied. The Salernitana substitute Federico Bonazzoli pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute after he connected with a cross at the back post to beat goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu but Milan held on.
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Lorenzo Pellegrini’s early penalty proved enough for Roma to get back on track with a 1-0 home win over Bologna. José Mourinho’s side moved level on points with fifth-placed Lazio, who fell to a 2-1 loss at Lecce. Ciro Immobile put the visitors in front at half-time, but Gabriel Strefezza and Lorenzo Colombo led a dramatic second-half fightback.
Gabriel Strefezza celebrates his equaliser for Lecce against Lazio. Photograph: Giovanni Evangelista/LaPresse/Shutterstock
Atalanta also fought back in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw at Spezia. Emmanuel Gyasi and M’Bala Nzola put the hosts 2-0 up at the break, before Ethan Ampadu’s goal was disallowed for offside. Rasmus Højlund pulled one back before Mario Pasalic grabbed a stoppage-time leveller from close range.
Sampdoria earned a vital 2-1 win at Sassuolo to boost their battle against relegation, with Manolo Gabbiadini and Tommasso Augello on target. Bottom-placed Verona led through Milan Djuric but had to settle for a point at Torino.