Pedro ruins Dumfries' hero role during the Italian title race

Internazionale remain in the hunt for the Serie A title, but they missed a golden opportunity to take control of the race after a dramatic 2-2 draw against Lazio at the San Siro.

With a place in the Champions League final already secured, Inter entered the match knowing that only a win would allow them to keep the pressure on leaders Napoli. Denzel Dumfries, one of the standout performers in Europe for the Nerazzurri this season, started once again and appeared destined for another decisive night.

The first half was played at a high tempo, with both teams showing attacking intent. Lazio, already out of the title picture but still full of quality, created danger on the break. Inter, meanwhile, built steadily and looked threatening down the flanks. Just before the break, they got their reward. Federico Dimarco unleashed a shot from the edge of the area that was deflected, and the rebound fell kindly to Yann Bisseck, who smashed the ball high into the net. It was a crucial goal, and at halftime, Inter were virtually top of the table, leapfrogging Napoli momentarily.

The second half told a different story. Lazio began to impose themselves more confidently, controlling possession and winning battles in midfield. Their pressure paid off with a quarter of an hour to go when Pedro brought them level, finishing smartly after a spell of sustained pressure. But Inter responded almost immediately. Just minutes later, a free-kick from Hakan Çalhanoglu was perfectly delivered into the box, where Dumfries rose highest to power a header into the net, making it 2-1 and restoring belief in the stands.

Yet the night was not done. In the closing minutes, the match took another cruel twist for Inter. Goalscorer Bisseck, the hero of the first half, saw the ball strike his arm inside the penalty area. The referee didn’t hesitate pointing straight to the spot. Pedro stepped up and calmly converted for his second goal of the match, silencing the San Siro and sealing a 2-2 draw. The result means Inter remain behind Napoli, and with only one match to go, they now depend on other results to have any hope of winning the Scudetto.

Meanwhile, in Parma, Napoli had the opportunity to tighten their grip on the title race but also failed to secure all three points. The league leaders travelled to face relegation-battling Parma knowing that two wins from their final two matches would make them champions. Despite the high stakes, Napoli produced a flat and frustrating performance. The first half was toothless, with very few clear chances. In the second half, they increased the pressure, but found Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki in inspired form. The Japanese shot-stopper pulled off a series of key saves, including a stunning dive to deny Scott McTominay’s curling free-kick.

The drama wasn’t over yet. In the dying seconds of the match, Napoli thought they had been awarded a penalty when Matteo Politano was brought down in the area. But after a VAR review, referee Daniele Doveri overturned the decision, leaving Napoli to settle for a 0-0 draw. Still, because Inter also dropped points, Napoli’s fate remains in their own hands. A win at home against Cagliari next weekend would be enough to crown them champions of Italy for the second consecutive season.

Elsewhere, AS Roma took a huge step toward securing European football next season with a 3-1 win over AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico. The match was billed as a crucial clash in the battle for the final European places, and it didn’t disappoint. Roma, under Claudio Ranieri, began strongly and opened the scoring just three minutes in. Gianluca Mancini headed in brilliantly with the back of his head following a well-placed corner. Things quickly got worse for Milan, as Santiago Giménez was shown a straight red card for a reckless elbow on Mancini, leaving the visitors down to ten men for nearly the entire match.

Surprisingly, Milan managed to level the score before halftime. João Félix capitalised on a messy situation inside the box and slotted in his first league goal in Italy, briefly giving the Rossoneri hope. But Roma didn’t let the numerical advantage go to waste. In the second half, they resumed control, and Leandro Paredes gave them the lead again with a stunning free-kick that left the keeper rooted. The icing on the cake came in the 85th minute, when Bryan Cristante launched a thunderous strike from distance a true ‘Sunday shot’ that flew into the top corner to seal the victory.

The win not only strengthened Roma’s position in sixth place, which grants access to the Conference League qualifiers, but also offered an emotional farewell to Ranieri in his last home match. For Milan, the loss leaves them with a tough challenge ahead if they hope to salvage European football next season.

Juventus also boosted their Champions League hopes with a composed 2-0 win over Udinese in Turin. Despite being without Teun Koopmeiners due to injury, Juventus managed to keep their rhythm and control the tempo for large parts of the game. Dutch duo Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Kingsley Ehizibue started for the visitors, who offered some resistance but ultimately couldn’t stop Juve’s push. After a goalless first half, the breakthrough came just past the hour mark when Nico González fired in a fierce strike. Dušan Vlahović came off the bench and added a second in the 89th minute to seal the win. The result puts Juventus firmly in control of fourth place and in pole position to claim Italy’s final Champions League spot.

In Florence, Fiorentina edged a thrilling 3-2 win over Bologna in a match that combined drama, goals, and fatigue. Bologna, who had just won the Coppa Italia earlier in the week against Milan, looked sluggish, especially in the first half, where several of their key players were rested. Fiorentina took advantage and grabbed the lead through Fabiano Parisi, who converted after sustained pressure.

In the second half, Dutch striker Thijs Dallinga was brought on and made an instant impact. He met a cross from Riccardo Orsolini and headed home the equaliser his third of the season. But Bologna barely had time to celebrate before Amir Richardson restored Fiorentina’s lead with a composed finish from inside the area. The hosts extended their advantage late on, before Bologna managed to pull one back in stoppage time, setting the final score at 3-2. The victory keeps Fiorentina’s slim European hopes alive, while Bologna miss a chance to lock down a top-four finish perhaps a sign that the midweek celebrations took their toll.

With one round of matches remaining, the title race, the battle for Europe, and the fight for survival are all still very much alive in Serie A promising a thrilling conclusion to an already unforgettable season.