Inter miss chance to go third

AFP, MILAN: Inter Milan were held to a goalless draw at Atalanta on Saturday, missing the chance to move third and back into the Champions League places ahead of AS Roma and Lazio.

Juventus and Napoli are on course for the first two Champions League places with three teams fighting for the two remaining with Inter, Roma and Lazio now all on 60 points.

Inter have now gone three matches without a win and remain fifth with Lazio and Roma going head to head in the Roman derby at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

Atalanta dominated the first half with Papu Gomez missing an early chance sending the ball wide after five minutes.

Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic did well to clear a Musa Barrow header, with Ivan Perisic denied by Atalanta’s Etrit Berisha after half an hour.

Inter got more into their stride in the second half with Mauro Icardi setting up Perisic only for Hans Hateboer to slide in to block.

Atalanta showed signs of fatigue late in the game but held off as Inter pushed for the winner with Perisic and Roberto Gagliardini both off target. Atalanta move up to eighth, three points off the Europa League places.

Torino also suffered a setback in their push for European football next season with a goalless draw at 10-man Chievo to end their three-match winning streak.

Defender Mattia Bani was sent off two minutes from time for a foul on Kevin Bonifazi, but the side from Verona held on to earn a precious point in their battle against relegation.

A minute’s silence was held before the game for Italian defender Sauro Toma, the only surviving member of the legendary Grande Torino football team, who died on Tuesday aged 92.

He escaped the Superga air disaster due to a knee injury on May 4, 1949, when the flight returning from a friendly game in Lisbon crashed killing all his teammates.

Both sides had chances to break the deadlock with Torino’s Daniele Baselli’s searing effort flying wide, while Chievo’s Fabrizio Cacciatore missed when alone in front of an open goal after 75 minutes. Torino lost Nicolas Nkoulou to a muscular problem with Bani’s header from a corner flying over the bar.

Torino pushed for the late winner with an Adem Ljajic effort cleared, leaving the visitors 10th -- six points off the Europa League places -- with six games left this season.

Chievo are three points above the drop zone, with relegation rivals Cagliari jumping ahead after condemning Udinese to a ninth straight defeat.

 

 

Inter miss chance to go third

AFP, MILAN: Inter Milan were held to a goalless draw at Atalanta on Saturday, missing the chance to move third and back into the Champions League places ahead of AS Roma and Lazio. Juventus and Napoli are on course for the first two Champions League places with three teams fighting for the two remaining with Inter, Roma and Lazio now all on 60 points. Inter have now gone three matches without a win and remain fifth with Lazio and Roma going head to head in the Roman derby at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. Atalanta dominated the first half with Papu Gomez missing an early chance sending the ball wide after five minutes. Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic did well to clear a Musa Barrow header, with Ivan Perisic denied by Atalantas Etrit Berisha after half an hour. Inter got more into their stride in the second half with Mauro Icardi setting up Perisic only for Hans Hateboer to slide in to block. Atalanta showed signs of fatigue late in the game but held off as Inter pushed for the winner with Perisic and Roberto Gagliardini both off target. Atalanta move up to eighth, three points off the Europa League places. Torino also suffered a setback in their push for European football next season with a goalless draw at 10-man Chievo to end their three-match winning streak. Defender Mattia Bani was sent off two minutes from time for a foul on Kevin Bonifazi, but the side from Verona held on to earn a precious point in their battle against relegation. A minutes silence was held before the game for Italian defender Sauro Toma, the only surviving member of the legendary Grande Torino football team, who died on Tuesday aged 92. He escaped the Superga air disaster due to a knee injury on May 4, 1949, when the flight returning from a friendly game in Lisbon crashed killing all his teammates. Both sides had chances to break the deadlock with Torinos Daniele Basellis searing effort flying wide, while Chievos Fabrizio Cacciatore missed when alone in front of an open goal after 75 minutes. Torino lost Nicolas Nkoulou to a muscular problem with Banis header from a corner flying over the bar. Torino pushed for the late winner with an Adem Ljajic effort cleared, leaving the visitors 10th -- six points off the Europa League places -- with six games left this season. Chievo are three points above the drop zone, with relegation rivals Cagliari jumping ahead after condemning Udinese to a ninth straight defeat.