Inter throw Serie A opportunity away with Lazio draw

Inter threw away a chance to take charge of the Serie A title race, dramatically drawing 2-2 at home to Lazio on Sunday evening.

In the hunt for the Treble a month ago, Inter have been knocked out of the Coppa Italia semi-finals by rivals Milan and surrendered their advantage in Serie A, and there's a very real chance they end up with nothing.

Priced at 1/3 to win the title on 13th April when six points ahead having played a game more, Inter lost at Bologna and then at home to Roma, stopping the rot with back-to-back wins over Hellas Verona and Torino, but now 6/1, their last chance may now have gone.

Yann Aurel Bisseck's well taken finish gave Inter a lead on the stroke of half-time, before substitute Pedro, who turns 38 in July, came off the bench to equalise for Lazio. While the linesman's flag initially ruled the goal out for offside, VAR intervened and the goal stood.

Denzel Dumfries restored Inter's advantage in the 79th minute with a powerful header at the back post before the hero turned villain as Bisseck was penalised for handball after a lengthy VAR intervention.

Pedro scored his second of the game from the spot before Marko Arnautovic missed a gilt-edged chance in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Arnautovic looked to have made amends, nodding in from close range in the eighth minute of stoppage time, only to see his effort disallowed for offside.

Napoli themselves threw away a chance to put themselves within touching distance of the Scudetto, playing out a frustrating 0-0 draw with Parma.

The hosts hit the post through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa in the first half, while Scott McTominay saw his free-kick tipped onto the bar by Parma stopper Zion Suzuki.

Besides those moments, Antonio Conte's men struggled to carve out any openings and fell to a second consecutive draw on the back of four straight wins.

Nevertheless, as long as they match Inter's result on the final day, when they play host to Cagliari and Inter travel to Como, Napoli will win a second Scudetto in three years.

There remains the chance that the title is decided by a play-off. Should Inter draw and Napoli lose, the pair will be tied on points, and while Inter have a better goal difference, a play-off will determine the Serie A champions.

Liam Williams

• Inter Milan
• S.S.C. Napoli
• European Football
• Serie A
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