Inter’s journey to retain the Serie A title faced a hurdle as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Genoa. Marko Arnautovic’s first league goal for Inter was not enough, with Radu Dragusin’s header canceling out the lead. The draw leaves Inter atop the table with 45 points, providing Juventus an opportunity to close the gap as they face Roma on Saturday.
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Inter’s Arnautovic Ends Goal Drought
After a hamstring injury sidelined him for several matches, Marko Arnautovic made a significant impact, breaking the deadlock after 42 minutes. His goal, tapping home a rebound off the post from Nicolò Barella’s volley, marked his first in Serie A since joining Inter from Bologna in the close season. Despite the draw, Inter remains the league leader, but Juventus is keen on narrowing the gap.
Napoli’s Stalemate and Frustration
Napoli’s pursuit of a top-four spot suffered a setback as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home against Monza. Despite multiple chances, Napoli couldn’t find the net, and Monza missed an opportunity to secure victory as Matteo Pessina’s penalty was saved by Alex Meret. The draw leaves Napoli in seventh place with 28 points, raising concerns about their top-four aspirations.
Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I am not worried by the table, my focus is on getting my lads to play well, and today that is what they did.” Frustration boiled over as Mazzarri and Monza coach Raffaele Palladino received red cards during an altercation and for comments made to the referee, respectively.
Fiorentina’s Dramatic Win Lifts Them to Fourth
In a dramatic turn of events, Fiorentina climbed to fourth place after securing a 1-0 home win over Torino. Luca Ranieri’s header in the 83rd minute sealed the victory, propelling Fiorentina up the Serie A standings. The win positions them favorably in the race for a coveted top-four spot.
Lazio’s Late Surge Sees Off Frosinone
Lazio demonstrated resilience by overcoming an early deficit to defeat Frosinone 3-1. Valentín Castellanos, Gustav Isaksen, and Patric scored in a 14-minute spell late in the match, securing three crucial points for Maurizio Sarri’s side. With 27 points, Lazio sits eighth in the Serie A standings.
Bremer Commits to Juventus Until 2028
In a significant move, Brazilian defender Gleison Bremer extended his contract with Juventus until 2028. The 26-year-old expressed his excitement about the renewal, emphasizing Juventus as not just a winning team but a family. Bremer, who previously played for Atletico-MG and Torino, voiced confidence in Juventus’ current group and acknowledged the challenging task of competing with the formidable Inter.
“This year we are a confident group, new guys have arrived to lend us a hand, but we know well that we haven’t won anything yet: we are aware of Inter’s strength, and our task is to stay up there,” stated Bremer, reflecting the team’s determination to maintain their competitive edge in Serie A.