Milan, April 11 (BNA): Inter Milan took a big step towards defending the Italian League title without playing on Sunday.
Milan, the leaders of the Italian Football League, lost again due to its poor ending in a 0-0 draw with Torino, while Napoli lost 3-2 at home to Fiorentina.
Milan remained at the top of the Italian league, only two points behind Inter, who beat Hellas Verona 2-0 on Saturday and played a game less than their title rivals. Napoli was also two points behind Milan, the Associated Press reported.
It was the second straight 0-0 draw for Milan. The Rossoneri have scored just four goals in their last seven matches in all competitions, from more than 100 attempts.
“We didn’t create many scoring chances but we played well, unfortunately we miss that final spark,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli. “We fought for every ball but it’s a period we don’t get into.
“We were considered the favourites for two or three weeks but unfortunately mistakes happen. Sometimes we are said to be the favourites, sometimes Inter and sometimes Napoli, it’s pointless to talk about percentages, anything can still happen in the title race.”
Milan’s hopes of finding the scoring boots waned even before kick-off as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ante Rebic, Ismael Bennacer and Samo Castillejo were unable to make the trip due to injury.
Pioli is hoping to get them back for next week’s match against Genoa.
In Turin, Milan were let down again by some poor finishing touches. It could have been worse for the Rossoneri, but for several great saves from goalkeeper Mike Minnen.
Super Subs
Napoli were looking to climb to the top of the league, at least temporarily, but Fiorentina took a surprising lead in the 29th minute. Alfred Duncan’s cross was not cleared and Nicholas Gonzalez controlled the ball to his chest before firing into the top corner.
Dries Mertens was brought in in the 56th minute and was virtually compensated for with a first touch two minutes later, passing the ball into the lower left corner after Victor Osimhen ran to the left and slipped from the sideline.
It took Jonathan Icone less time to make an impact, as he scored his first Serie A goal just a minute after he came off the bench.
Napoli thought the equalizer again, but Hirving Lozano called offside instead it was Fiorentina who consolidated their advantage in the 72nd minute, as Arthur Cabral ran to the left and cut inside past Stanislav Lobotka before running into the far corner.
Osimhen put on a frantic conclusion when he pulled the ball back six minutes from the end of the match, slotted the ball between two defenders and then shot hard into the top corner.
HAT TRICK HERO
Ciro Immobile scored a hat-trick in Lazio’s 4-1 victory over relegation-threatened Genoa to boost its chances of qualifying for Europe.
Adam Marocic scored Lazio’s first goal in the 31st minute and Immobile doubled the team’s lead in the first half before adding two more goals after the break.
Genoa narrowed the difference briefly with a stroke of luck, as a pass from Patrick and the underside of the crossbar rebounded to an own goal by the Lazio defender.
Lazio finished sixth, two points behind rivals Roma, who beat bottom club Salernitana 2-1. Jose Mourinho’s side suffered more than expected and needed two late goals to grab the three points.
Fiorentina is two points behind Lazio and two points above Atalanta, who lost 2-1 to Sassuolo after a double from Hamed Traore.
Genoa remained three points from the safety zone. And equal in points with Venice, who lost 2-1 at home to Udinese.