Torino 2-2 Inter
Inter squandered a 2-0 lead after the break, but they still have a chance to be crowned champions next matchday if they beat Parma.
Marcus Thuram heads in for 0-1 against Torino.
Inter let two valuable points slip away in a 2-2 draw against Torino after having the match firmly in their grasp at 0-2. Thuram and Bisseck, both scoring headers from crosses delivered by an inspired Dimarco, put the Nerazzurri ahead. However, Giovanni Simeone and Nikola Vlasic leveled the contest in just nine minutes. Despite the setback, Chivu’s side still has the Scudetto within reach and could seal the title next weekend against Parma.
Inter knew a victory over Torino would all but secure the Scudetto. The first warning came just 30 seconds in, when a loss of possession in buildup left Giovanni Simeone in a good position, though his shot was eventually blocked. The Nerazzurri responded quickly with a header from Akanji that skimmed the post.
Torino, adopting a very defensive approach, seemed to have absorbed the early scare. Inter began controlling possession, but another buildup error nearly gifted Saúl Coco a chance, whose long-range effort flew over the bar. From then on, the match followed a predictable script: the visitors kept the ball, while Torino pressed man-to-man and occasionally dropped into a deep 6-3-1 shape. Inter threatened again with a couple of chances from Akanji and Bonny, as Torino relied heavily on long balls.
The breakthrough finally came for Chivu’s men. A Dimarco cross to the far post found the head of Marcus Thuram, who put the Serie A leaders ahead. It was another assist for the Italian wing-back, his 17th of the season. Despite the blow, Torino did not change their approach. Inter nearly made it two just past the half-hour mark with a Bonny header that went just wide. The last chance of the first half fell to Zielinski, who volleyed a rebound from a corner but saw his effort fly close to the post.
Early in the second half, Federico Dimarco almost scored Inter’s second when he appeared from the second line amid a scramble in the box, but Paleari denied him with a brilliant save. On one of the rare occasions Inter could counter, Thuram faced Ismajli one-on-one, but the defender held his ground and the Frenchman’s shot was deflected for a corner. From that corner came the 0-2: a pinpoint Dimarco delivery found Bisseck, who rose above everyone to head home.
Torino refused to give up and pulled one back with 20 minutes remaining. A great team move between Simeone and Ilkhan saw the Argentine chip the ball over Sommer to reduce the deficit. Moments later, the same striker nearly grabbed a second after a cross from Marianucci, but his angled shot went wide. The home side were in full flow, and Njie tested Sommer with a fierce strike that the goalkeeper did well to save, preventing an equalizer.
In the same move, the action that changed the final stages occurred. A header from Zapata struck the hand of Carlos Augusto, an infraction that initially went unnoticed but was eventually spotted by referee Maurizio Mariani after a VAR review. Vlasic stepped up and converted the penalty, making no mistake.