Inter’s Scudetto hopes were dashed on Sunday afternoon as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Bologna at the San Siro.
Bologna’s resistance was short-lived as a dominant Inter took the lead through Romelu Lukaku after the 20-minute mark. The Belgian tapped home after Lotaro Martinez’s glancing header deflected off the post.
Romelu Lukaku was in the right place at the right time to score his 26th goal of the campaign/Marco Luzani/Getty Images
The Nerazzurri pressed for a second and twice went close through Ashley Young – looking like his vintage self – and a brilliant Lautaro, before Riccardo Orsolini struck with Samir Handanovic to restore parity. A wonderful opportunity was completely rejected.
Moses Barrow also went close for Bologna after the restart with an effort from distance that crashed just inside the post, but any hopes of getting back into the contest were dashed by Roberto Soriano’s dissent on the hour mark. seemed to end with dismissal before . .
But remarkably, after Lautaro Martínez had his penalty saved by Łukasz Skorupski, Bologna turned it around in an instant as 18-year-old Musa Juara and Barrow scored either side of Alessandro Bastoni’s dismissal to put the hosts in the lead. Surprised.
Substitute Alexis Sanchez was then brilliantly denied by Skorpski in the closing stages as Inter looked for a late equaliser, but the visitors held on for a 2-1 victory.
Key talking point
Antonio Conte’s side lost on Sunday afternoon / Socrates Images / Getty Images
After showing incredible grit to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the last ten minutes at Parma last Sunday, the complete opposite was on display. They fell.
It was a game they should not have lost. Inter were completely dominant in the early stages, with their talent in the first leg, Antonio Conte’s autonomy and devastating vertical completely overwhelming Bologna. And after going a goal up, they spurned several glorious chances to double their lead – not least a penalty which Lukaku handed to Lautaro in a confidence-boosting bid.
What a fatal mistake that would prove to be.
In the blink of an eye, Inter were behind, as Bologna made the most of Conte’s brief spell of pressure. The Nerazzurri couldn’t cope with the electric tide and with Bastoni gone, their defensive structure was simply terrible. Victory was inevitable for Bologna.
Conte still has work to do – and a few more doubles in the transfer market – if he wants to turn this Inter side into real winners.
Starting XI: Handanovic (6); D’Ambrosio (6), De Vrij (8), Bastoni (5); Candreva (7), Gagliardini (5), Brozovic (7), Young (6); Erickson (6); Lotaro (6), Lukaku (7).
Vegetables: Alexis (5), Esposito (N/A), Biraghi (N/A), Vecino (N/A), Valero (N/A)
On a bitterly disappointing afternoon for the Nerazzurri, there was no mistaking Stefan de Vrij’s display (again).
Stephen de Vrij impressed in defeat / Emilio Andreoli / Getty Images
The best centre-back in Serie A was at his best in this, as his aggression quickly thwarted the dangerous Barrow while his presence in possession ensured that Inter He could bypass Bologna’s first line of press at a canter – even pretend. Also its ability to distribute over long distances.
The Dutchman certainly didn’t deserve to be the losing side on Sunday afternoon.
Starting XI: Skorpski (9); Tomiyasu (5), Danilo (6), Dansville (6), Dijks (6); Dominguez (8), Shoten (7); Orsolini (5), Soriano (7), Sansone (6); Barrow (8).
Vegetables: Bani (7), Mahal (6), Jawara (9), Swanberg (N/A), Baldursson (N/A)
Heels face a tough test of travel to Verona on Thursday night before hosting struggling Torino at the weekend.
Bologna, meanwhile, host Sassuolo and visit Parma in their next two Serie A matches.