Internazionale recorded a narrow victory on Saturday evening, reducing the gap to league leaders Napoli back to three points with three matches remaining.
Internazionale secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Hellas Verona on Saturday evening at San Siro, a result that keeps their Serie A title dream alive.
With only three rounds remaining in the season, the win allows Inter to close the gap on league leaders Napoli to just three points, intensifying the pressure as the title race approaches its thrilling conclusion.
The match came just days after a physically and emotionally draining Champions League semi-final clash against Barcelona, which ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw. With the second leg scheduled for Tuesday, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi was forced to balance his priorities carefully, choosing to rotate several key players to manage fatigue and avoid injury.
Among those rested was Denzel Dumfries, who had been one of the standout performers against Barcelona, scoring two goals and providing an assist in a sensational return to the starting lineup. Inzaghi opted to preserve him for the crucial return leg at Camp Nou. He was joined on the bench by other regular starters such as goalkeeper Yann Sommer, midfield dynamo Nicolò Barella, defenders Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco, and forward Marcus Thuram. Despite the squad rotation, Dutch center-back Stefan de Vrij was included in the starting XI, bringing some needed experience and stability to the backline.
The game started with a burst of action. In the 7th minute, Inter were awarded a penalty after VAR spotted a handball in the Verona box. Kristjan Asllani, who had been given a rare start in midfield, took responsibility and confidently slotted the ball past Verona keeper Lorenzo Montipò. It was his first goal of the Serie A season and a valuable one given the circumstances.
Despite taking an early lead, Inter struggled to kill off the game. They controlled possession, passed the ball around patiently, and created several half-chances, but lacked the final touch to double their advantage. Young talents like Valentin Carboni and Davide Frattesi showed promise, but Verona’s low defensive block and organized structure frustrated the hosts for much of the match.
Hellas Verona, despite already being condemned to relegation, showed character and determination. They remained compact at the back and looked to hit on the counter whenever possible. They came close to equalizing in the second half when Ondrej Duda found space just outside the box and curled an effort that narrowly missed the target. Inter’s backline, marshaled by De Vrij, held firm under occasional pressure.
Substitutes Lautaro Martínez and Barella were brought on in the final quarter of the match to inject energy and control, but the game remained tense until the final whistle. A late corner for Verona had San Siro holding its breath, but Inter managed to clear their lines and hang on to the three points.
The result was not glamorous, but it was exactly what Inter needed: a win, a clean sheet, and no fresh injury concerns ahead of their massive European encounter with Barcelona.
Simone Inzaghi acknowledged after the match that the performance wasn't their best, but praised his team’s professionalism and focus. “It’s not always about putting on a show,” he said. “Sometimes it's about doing what’s necessary to stay in the fight. Tonight we did just that.”
Inter now look ahead to what may be the most important match of their season the Champions League semi-final second leg at Camp Nou. With the aggregate score tied at 3-3, everything is still to play for. A place in the final is on the line, and Inzaghi will count on fresh legs and renewed energy from his rotated squad.
After that, Inter's focus will return to Serie A, where they face a challenging run-in. Their remaining fixtures are against Torino (away), Lazio (home), and Como (away) none of which are guaranteed wins. Lazio, in particular, are pushing for a Champions League spot and will be highly motivated.
Napoli, meanwhile, have a slightly more favorable schedule on paper: Genoa at home, Parma away, and Cagliari at home. But as this season has shown time and time again, nothing can be taken for granted. Inter will need to win all their remaining games and hope that Napoli stumble at least once.
There is still a strong belief within the Nerazzurri camp that the title is within reach. With momentum on their side, a Champions League final spot potentially within grasp, and key players in form, the final weeks of the season could deliver something truly special for the blue half of Milan.
