BSP-02 Inter Milan lose ground in Serie A with Torino stalemate

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BSP-02

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Inter Milan lose ground in Serie A with Torino stalemate

MILAN, Aug 27, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Inter Milan, considered among the Serie A
title challengers this season, lost further ground by letting a two-goal led
slip to draw 2-2 with Torino on Sunday meaning Luciano Spalletti’s side have
taken a single point from their first two games.

Champions Juventus beat Lazio 2-0 and last season’s runners-up Napoli came
from two goals down to rally past AC Milan 3-2 on Saturday to both start
their campaigns with the maximum six points.

Inter Milan — who returned to the Champions League after finishing fourth
in Serie A last season — had fallen to a shock 1-0 opening defeat to
Sassuolo.

The northerners looked in control in the San Siro with their Argentine top
scorer last season Mauro Icardi setting up Croatian World Cup finalist Ivan
Perisic for the opener after six minutes with Stefan de Vrij heading the
second after 32 minutes.

But Spalletti’s side lost their way after an hour with Andrea Belotti
pulling one back for Torino after a goalkeeping error by Samir Handanovic.
New French signing Soualiho Metie earned the point on 68 minutes.

Salvatore Sirigu denied Perisic late on to give Torino their first point
after last week’s 1-0 loss to Roma.

Inter now trail Juventus and Napoli by five points while Roma, third last
season, will bid for their second win on Monday against Atalanta.

“It’s difficult to explain how we conceded those goals, but the reality is
that the team is struggling with pressure,” said Spalletti.

Meanwhile, surprise package SPAL, playing their second season in the top
flight, are also riding high after their second win, a 1-0 victory over
promoted Parma.

A Mirco Antenucci volley four minutes after the break gave SPAL all the
points against the former two-time UEFA Cup winners, who are back in the top
flight after three consecutive promotions saw them climb back through the
divisions when bankruptcy led to automatic relegation to Serie D.

– ‘Genoa in the heart’ –

Meanwhile, Genoa beat Empoli 2-1 amid scenes of high emotion in their first
match since the bridge tragedy in the city which killed 43 people two weeks
ago.

Supporters observed 43 minutes of silence in memory of the victims whose
names were flashed up on large screens in the stadium as the crowd applauded
at the 43-minute mark.

“Today we were heavy in the head and in the legs, but it didn’t stop us
from playing a good game against a great, well-organised team,” said Genoa
coach Davide Ballardini.

Before all Italian top-flight games players wore T-shirts that read “Genoa
nel cuore” – “Genoa in the heart” – with a design featuring a heart in the
middle of the bridge.

Sampdoria, Genoa’s other club, were beaten 1-0 at Udinese in their opener,
after their first match had also been postponed.

Fiorentina crushed Chievo 6-1 with Giovanni Simeone scoring the final goal
three minutes into injury time with his father, Atletico Madrid coach Diego
Simeone, watching from the stands.

BSS/AFP/MSY/0840 hrs