Inter v Napoli lacks fireworks and makes headlines for the wrong reasons

Matteo Darmian scores during the 1-1 home draw against Napoli. Photo: Daniele Mascolo/Reuters” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/JUvz_KfmRY5a7lPl7s_i.Q–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/theguardian_763/76d8720797682d727 538915f004e8534″ data src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/JUvz_KfmRY5a7lPl7s_i.Q–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/theguardian_763/76d8720797682d7275 38915f004e8534″/>

It should have been one of the big occasions of the season. Inter versus Napoli as winter turns to spring: a baton-passing moment, with the Serie A champions-elect hosting the team that shocked the world when they won the Scudetto last year. We wanted fireworks. We got two burnt-out teams and a match overshadowed by accusations of a player using racist language.

Technically there were fireworks. Inter was welcomed to San Siro by supporters who lit lights and displayed a banner with the words “Fieri di voi” – “Proud of you”. After the disappointment of a midweek Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid, Curva Nord’s ultras made a conscious show of gratitude for what was nevertheless a remarkable year.

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Inter were second in Europe’s top club competition last season and did not even mount a serious challenge against Napoli on home soil at the time. This term the story is reversed. Failing to reach the last eight of the Champions League is an unequivocally bad result for a team capable of so much more, but Inter’s disappointment is tempered by the knowledge that they will soon claim their twentieth Serie A title, and thus being able to display a second gold star. above their club badge.

A satisfying moment under any circumstances. In this case made so much sweeter by the fact that neighbors Milan are stuck at number 19.

Napoli also arrived with the fresh bruises of a Champions League exit. Theirs expected more, a two-legged draw against Barcelona always looked like a tall order for a team that has changed managers three times since winning the league under Luciano Spalletti. Still, there were chances, even after they fell behind early in the second leg, and a missed penalty decision could have changed the course of the match at 2-1.

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis had spoken of his regret at failing to win the Champions League alongside Serie A in 2023. He offered his players a €10 million bonus this time to beat Barcelona, ​​knowing that victory would have secured his team. a place in next year’s FIFA Club World Cup.

The story continues

But there is no amount that can turn back the clock ten months. Napoli were seventh in the table when they headed to San Siro on Sunday. With Roma and Bologna both in brilliant form, even qualifying for next season’s Champions League looks like a tall order.

Inter set an aggressive pace, pressing hard and throwing themselves into tackles. They earned the 1-0 lead that Matteo Darmian earned by converting an Alessandro Bastoni cross just before half-time. Still, Simone Inzaghi’s team was far from their best. Their advantage was due to furious application, not precision or clarity of thought.

As their legs got tired in the second half, Inter became sloppy. Juan Jesus equalized from a corner after being left unmarked at the back post. Before their trip to Atlético, Inter had not conceded a goal in the last 15 minutes of a match all season. Now they had done it twice in four days.

That wasn’t the most important part of this story. A few minutes earlier, Jesus had been seen talking to referee Federico La Penna. The lip reading showed that he accused someone of calling him “nigger”. An older form of the Italian word for ‘black’. Its translation depends on the context, but when directed at another person it may be taken as offensive.

“This is not okay,” Jesus seemed to say to the official. Serie A teams wore special badges on their sleeves for this round with the message “Keep racism out”, part of a league initiative to combat discrimination in stadiums. Jesus gestured to him after pointing the official in the direction of Francesco Acerbi. Replays showed the pair had exchanged words after a challenge in the Inter penalty area.

No on-field consequences were imposed and Jesus played down the incident at full-time. When asked what happened, he replied: “What happens on the field stays on the field. Acerbi apologized and we move on. When the referee whistles, that’s it… Things are said on the pitch, but he apologized because he knows he went too far. I hope it won’t happen again because he’s an intelligent boy.”

A generous response, but not everyone will agree with his preference to leave the matter alone. Article 28 of the Italian Football Federation’s Sports Justice Code sets out strict penalties for “discriminatory conduct” – including any “disparagement or insult on grounds of race, colour, religion, language, sex, nationality or ethnic origin”. The minimum penalties for these types of violations start with ten-match suspensions.

There is no indication yet whether an official investigation into the incident will be opened.

Empoli 0-1 Bologna, Frosinone 2-3 Lazio, Hellas Verona 1-3 Milan, Internazionale 1-1 Napoli, Juventus 0-0 Genoa, Monza 1-0 Cagliari, Roma 1-0 Sassuolo, Salernitana 0-1 Lecce, Udinese 0-2 Turin
Postponed Atalanta vs Fiorentina

Even a lengthy ban would likely have no impact on Inter’s march to the Scudetto. Sunday’s match finished 1-1, ending their run of 10 straight league wins, but they remain 14 points clear at the top of Serie A. The only real question is whether they can break the league’s points record – 102, from Antonio Conte’s Juventus – will beat. in 2014 – a goal that now requires them to continue playing all their remaining nine games.

This weekend’s draw was more valuable for Napoli, who are nine points behind fourth-placed Bologna and behind fifth-placed Roma by six points. It is becoming increasingly likely that this last position will suffice for a spot in the Champions League next season, after another increase in the coefficients round of successes for representatives of the Italian Europa League and Europa Conference League.

“The amounts still give us a reason to dream,” Jesus said. “At home we are all against each other. We must give everything to try to reach the Champions League and honor our Scudetto until the end.”