ZCZC
BSP-06
FBL-SERIEA-ITA
Inter held by Roma after racism storm, leaving Juve to eye top spot
MILAN, Dec 7, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Inter Milan were held to a goalless draw by
Roma at the San Siro on Friday, leaving the way open for Italian champions
Juventus to reclaim top spot in Serie A this weekend.
Antonio Conte’s side have a two-point advantage on Juventus who play Lazio
at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
The match in the San Siro had been overshadowed by a racism storm after
Italian sports daily Corriere dello Sport’s controversial “Black Friday”
headline.
The front-page headline accompanied an article about the first Serie A
meeting between former Manchester United teammates Romelu Lukaku and Chris
Smalling.
On the pitch, defender Smalling and Gianluca Mancini stifled Inter’s
prolific strike duo Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, who between them have scored
18 of their team’s goals in 15 league games this season.
Conte’s side proved toothless in attack against a well-organised Roma,
failing to find the net for the first time this season, days before their
Champions League clash against Barcelona.
“The great merit of Roma is having stopped Lautaro-Lukaku,” said coach
Paulo Fonseca.
“Inter’s main chances came from our mistakes, but we always played the ball
with courage and that’s what I want for the team.
“We did well defensively. Smalling and Mancini had a good game like the
whole team, it’s certainly not easy against Inter.”
Lukaku, Marcelo Brozovic and Matias Vecino all missed chances for the hosts
as Roma snatched a precious point to move fourth and into the Champions
League places.
Inter were lacking in midfield with Stefano Sensi, Nicolo Barella and
Roberto Gagliardini all out with Roma missing goalkeeper Pau Lopez while Edin
Dzeko started on the bench after flu, but came on for the final 25 minutes.
Midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo took Dzeko’s place up front with Roma dominating
the first half hour, although Inter had the best chances with Antonio Mirante
denying Lukaku after a blundering Jordan Veretout back-pass.
A similar error from the Roma goalkeeper nearly proved costly when Mirante
passed the ball straight to Lukaku on the edge of the area just before the
break but Marcelo Brozovic wastefully fired over the bar.
Inter held on to top spot but their advantage remains under threat from
Juventus with third-placed Lazio eight points behind the leaders.
“We faced an excellent Roma but their goalkeeper was their best player on
the pitch, they never had a shot on goal,” said Conte.
“I congratulate my players, even if we were wasteful, we should have sealed
the three points.”
Roma are just one point ahead of Cagliari, with the Sardinians travelling
to Sassuolo on Sunday.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0937 hrs