Inter v Napoli result: All square at the San Siro as Jesus heads home late equaliser for outgoing champions

REPORT - JESUS STRIKES LATE FOR NAPOLI AS INTER HELD AT HOME

Inter’s march towards the Scudetto experienced a slight stumble as a late headed goal from Juan Jesus cancelled out Darmian’s first half opener.

The draw was only the third time this season that Inzaghi side have dropped points at home, and the first occasion in any game all season when they’ve conceded inside the last 15 minutes.

Both teams returned from mid-week Champions League exits to play out 90 minutes of Sunday night laboured football, with the result fair on balance.

The home side had the better of the first half by way of chances though neither side was overwhelmed with opportunities.

The breakthrough goal, when it came, on 43 minutes was carefully constructed from a series of cross-pitch passes. The music stopped on Matteo Darmian. The 34-year old found himself with space in the middle and rifled home a well-picked cut-back from Alessandro Bastoni.

In the second half Napoli had the better of the possession and their persistence paid off on 83 minutes.

It came from their seventh corner of the game, a contentious one that replays may yet show shouldn’t have been awarded.

Nonetheless the legitimacy of it was no excuse for Inter leaving Juan Jesus unmarked at the far post, as Matteo Politano’s inswinging set-piece dropped perfectly for him to head home.

They pressed for a winner but had to settle for the single point, which keeps their Champions League hopes just about alive.

Inter drop points at home for only the third time this season. Napoli stepped up in the second half and that's probably a fair result on balance.

A LAST CHANCE FOR INTER?

The cross is looking for Alexis Sanchez but it's well defended in the middle by Dilorenzo.

Lindstrom and Ngonge brought on by Calzona.

Might have been more. I think neither side would have minded playing a bit longer.

A high ball sees keeper and striker coming together and the decision goes against Marcus Thuram, unfairly I think.

He wants a penalty for the challenge but the referee was never going to give that. It was a solid tackle but nothing wrong with it.

For flying in and taking the whole man out. A booking for Calzona for protesting... I'm not sure what.

They're starting to play with confidence now, and think they can go onto win this one.

The champions are on terms from a corner. No-one was picking up Jesus and the flick-on from Politano's corner was straightforward to head home. Can Napoli go on to get the winner? They're looking dangerous.

Inter haven't conceded a goal in the last fifteen minutes of any game this season. How's that for seeing things out?

Denzel Dumfries and Alexis Sanchez on for Dimarco and Lautaro. That makes this the first time this season the Serie A top scorer has gone three games in a row without scoring. Can we call that a drought?

Anguissa the player to get the shot away, but it's sliced over. Inter getting players back but looking a touch fragile at the back.

The latter a straight swap for Olivera; the latter replacing Raspadori, who hasn't had a great game.

Though I'm not sure he'd be getting much service at this point anyway.

Davide Frattesi comes on for him.

Calzona swaps him out for Jens Cajuste.

But it's wayward and tired and well wide of the target.

It falls well to him and his first touch is good, as is his second, but Jesus just gets across in time to deflect the shot out for an Inter corner.