Serie A title race goes down to the wire, but Napoli has the edge over Inter
Napoli and Internazionale will have a straight shoot-out on the final day of the Serie A season, with both still in contention to win the title. Antonio Conte has the upper hand on Simone Inzaghi's side as his team are a point clear with just one game to play.
Napoli host Cagliari on the final day, while Inter must travel to in-form Como, needing to better Napoli's result to retain the Scudetto.
Napoli are just one win away from sealing the Serie A title after their 0-0 draw with relegation-threatened Parma on Sunday.
Antonio Conte’s side travelled to the Ennio Tardini Stadium with a slim chance of becoming champions on the night, hoping that Lazio could go to the San Siro and stun Internazionale with a shock victory.
That would have meant that the Gli Azzurri would have needed all three points to supplement that, but they could not find that elusive winner.
Lazio did their bit in forcing the Nerazzurri to drop points, with Pedro's brace enough to share the spoils.
Napoli went close to finding that winning goal when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa rattled the woodwork, while Scott McTominay saw a free kick tipped onto the crossbar by Zion Suzuki.
Both managers were dismissed from the touchline as tempers flared in a crucial fixture for both clubs at different ends of the table.
Napoli thought they had a penalty deep into stoppage time when David Neres was felled, but VAR intervened to bring the play back for an earlier foul on Alessandro Circati by substitute Giovanni Simeone.
As such, it leaves the title race going down to the wire on the final day, while at the foot of the table, Cristian Chivu’s Parma are in a strong position to beat the drop, with Cagliari beating Venezia 3-0 to plunge the visitors into 19th.
However, Lecce and Empoli, both directly beneath the Crusaders, picked up three points in their respective games against Torino and Monza.
On the TNT Sports broadcast of Napoli’s trip to Parma, commentators Adam Summerton and Nigel Spackman discussed the openness of the title race.
"It finishes all square at the Tardini," Summerton said as the full-time whistle blew, with 102 minutes played.
"So much drama. Both of the coaches were sent off. The Napoli players are happy here, knowing that Inter have dropped points and that it is a home game against Cagliari for them to try and seal the title. Inter have got to go to Como. Napoli go into the final day with a one-point lead."
"Next week is about being at home, wanting to win in front of your fans," Spackman said.
"Home to Cagliari, who won today. They’ll go into that game full of confidence. The pressure will be on Napoli at home, but Antonio Conte and his team, going into the next game. Inter have a tough trip to Como.
"You have to say it’s in Napoli’s hands, and that’s how you want it."
Simone Inzaghi’s defending champions have to go to Cesc Fabregas’ big-spending Como, who are in decent form, and hope that Napoli drop points.
Conte and his men simply need to better Inter’s result to seal the deal.
