Lukaku pulled Napoli back from brink, Inter bounce back from UCL setback, march toward title

This is no longer a coincidence, nor just a brief period of poor performances. Napoli is in a serious crisis, in a negative phase that in Verona threatened to push them further from the Champions League spots.

The Neapolitans could have survived a draw with Roma, a loss to Atalanta, and a cup exit, but we’re sure Antonio Conte would have been green with frustration had the match ended without a winner. Verona had an unexpected 1-1, until Romelu Lukaku appeared as Napoli’s savior – 1-2 (1-1).

Verona had already thrown in the towel, resigned to the fact that this season they probably couldn’t avoid relegation. Yet Verona still had the ability to complicate matters for the heavy favorite.

On paper, Napoli faced an unmotivated opponent and got the best possible start. In the second minute, Rasmus Hojlund headed the ball into the net from Vergara’s assist. Napoli kept the rhythm after that, missing several chances along the way.

At that point, Antonio Conte’s expression began to change. The temperamental coach started pacing nervously near the bench, as if he sensed potential danger. Napoli tried to manage the minutes and slow the pace.

But they were punished in an unforgivable way—at least from Conte’s perspective. After a routine throw-in, Akpro received the ball around 16 meters out and slotted it into the net. He was completely unmarked, which says enough about the defensive disorganization of the visitors.

The question is whether Napoli deserved more. However, it turned out that Conte made the decisive move of the match when he brought on Romelu Lukaku in the 73rd minute.

Verona’s defense fell asleep in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Lukaku received a perfectly timed pass, went one-on-one with the home goalkeeper, and calmly finished to seal the victory.

Inter - Genoa 2-0 (1-0)

Inter Milan responded to their European setback in emphatic fashion, tightening their grip on Serie A with a composed victory over Genoa CFC. A stunning Federico Dimarco volley and a clinical Hakan Calhanoglu penalty ensured the Nerazzurri stayed firmly in control at the summit.

Still reeling from a shock Champions League play-off exit to Bodo/Glimt, and without the injured Lautaro Martinez or suspended Alessandro Bastoni, Inter had to reset quickly. Calhanoglu began on the bench, while Genoa arrived with renewed confidence under Daniele De Rossi despite a couple of fresh injury concerns.

The hosts set the tone early. Justin Bijlow was called into action twice in quick succession, first denying Ange-Yoan Bonny and then dealing with a dangerous Dimarco corner. Henrikh Mkhitaryan nearly broke the deadlock with a fierce long-range strike that clipped the bar via a deflection, and Bijlow later stretched superbly to keep out Bonny’s header from a Nicolo Barella cross.

The breakthrough, however, was unstoppable. Dimarco combined with Mkhitaryan on the left, continued his run, and met the chipped return ball with an extraordinary left-footed volley from an acute angle. Genoa threatened sporadically, but Inter remained dangerous, with chances at both ends keeping the tempo high.

The second goal arrived amid chaos. Bijlow initially pushed a deflected effort onto the post, but moments later a cross struck a defender’s raised arm, prompting a penalty. Hakan Calhanoglu stepped up and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way to seal it.

There were a few nervy moments late on, including a reflex save from Yann Sommer, but Inter saw it through comfortably. It marked an eighth straight league win for Cristian Chivu’s side, who temporarily stretched their advantage at the top to 13 points.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 27

Friday

Parma - Cagliari 1-1 (0-0)

/Oristanio 83 - Folorunsho 62/

Saturday

Como - Lecce 3-1 (3-1)

/Douvikas 18, Rodriguez 36, Kempf 44 - Coulibaly 13/

Verona - Napoli 1-2 (0-1)

/Akpa Akpro 64 - Hojlund 2, Lukaku 90+6/

Inter - Genoa 2-0 (1-0)

/Dimarco 31, Calhanoglu 70 pen/

Sunday

14.30: (6.60) Cremonese (4.30) Milan (1.50)

17.00: (3.90) Sassuolo (3.60) Atalanta (2.00)

20.00: (2.85) Torino (2.95) Lazio (2.75)

22.45: (2.65) Roma (3.10) Juventus (3.00)

Monday

20.30: (4.00) Pisa (3.35) Bologna (2.05)

22.45: (3.25) Udinese (3.25) Fiorentina (2.40)

***odds are subject to change***