Inter held by Lazio as Pedro penalty deals blow to title hopes
Inter vs Lazio
On a tense Sunday evening at the San Siro, Inter Milan’s aspirations of clinching the Serie A title were dealt a devastating setback as a late penalty from Lazio’s Pedro secured a dramatic 2-2 draw, leaving the defending champions one point behind league leaders Napoli with only one game remaining in the 2024-25 season. The match, played before a fervent crowd desperate for a result that would propel Inter to the top of the table, was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Inter squandering a golden opportunity to capitalize on Napoli’s earlier 0-0 draw against Parma. Yann Bisseck, who had opened the scoring with a thunderous strike just before halftime, turned from hero to villain by conceding a 90th-minute penalty that allowed Lazio to snatch a point. With Inter now on 78 points and Napoli on 79, the title race is set for a nail-biting finale, with Inter facing Como away and Napoli hosting Cagliari on the final day. Should the teams finish level on points, a playoff will determine the Scudetto, adding further intrigue to an already gripping campaign. For Lazio, the draw kept them in sixth place with 65 points, two behind Juventus in fourth, as they continue their push for a European spot. The match encapsulated the fine margins that define championship races, with Inter’s resilience tested and their hopes now resting on a potential Napoli stumble.
The first half unfolded at a curiously subdued pace, belying the high stakes for both teams. Rather than the frenetic, high-octane encounter one might expect from a match with title and European implications, the opening 45 minutes resembled an end-of-season affair with little to play for. Inter, under the guidance of Simone Inzaghi, controlled possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances, their attacking play lacking the incisiveness that had characterized their earlier performances in the season. Lazio, meanwhile, adopted a cautious approach, content to absorb pressure and look for opportunities on the counter. The first shot on target came after half an hour, when Federico Dimarco unleashed a first-time effort from the edge of the area, forcing a sharp save from Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas. The chance, while not converting, signaled Inter’s intent to raise the tempo, and the San Siro crowd responded with a surge of encouragement, urging their team to seize control. Shortly before the break, Lazio nearly stole the lead against the run of play, as Gustav Isaksen found himself one-on-one with Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer after a swift break. Sommer, however, spread himself brilliantly to deny the Danish striker, preserving the deadlock and keeping Inter in the game. The turning point of the half came on the stroke of halftime, when Inter’s persistence from a set-piece paid dividends. A Dimarco effort from a corner was blocked, but the ball fell to Bisseck, who took a touch to steady himself before smashing a ferocious shot into the roof of the net. The goal, Bisseck’s second of the season, sent the San Siro into raptures, giving Inter a 1-0 lead and a psychological edge as they headed into the interval. For Lazio, the concession was a blow, but their disciplined first-half display offered hope that they could regroup and respond.
The second half saw Lazio emerge with renewed vigor, their manager Marco Baroni making tactical adjustments to push for an equalizer. The Biancocelesti began to press higher, their attacking intent evident as they sought to exploit gaps in Inter’s defense. An excellent opportunity arrived in the 65th minute, when Boulaye Dia found himself in a prime position just yards from goal. Under pressure from Sommer and Bisseck, however, Dia sent his effort agonizingly wide, a miss that would prove costly. The momentum shifted decisively in Lazio’s favor minutes later, as substitute Pedro, a veteran forward known for his knack for decisive moments, leveled the score in the 72nd minute. The goal came from a well-worked move, with Matías Vecino providing a clever layoff that allowed Pedro to fire home from the edge of the six-yard box. The strike, Pedro’s fourth of the season, silenced the San Siro and highlighted Lazio’s growing threat, their ability to capitalize on limited opportunities a testament to their resilience. For Inter, the equalizer was a wake-up call, exposing vulnerabilities in their defensive structure and raising the specter of a missed opportunity in the title race. Inzaghi, pacing the touchline, urged his players to regroup, knowing that a response was essential to keep their Scudetto dreams alive.
Inter’s character, a hallmark of their championship-winning campaign the previous season, shone through with 11 minutes remaining. Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the Turkish midfielder whose set-piece expertise has been a cornerstone of Inter’s success, floated a perfectly weighted free kick to the back post. Denzel Dumfries, exploiting a lapse in Lazio’s marking, rose unmarked to head in from close range, restoring Inter’s lead at 2-1. The goal sparked wild celebrations, with the San Siro erupting in a cacophony of noise as fans sensed a victory that could propel their team to the top of the table. Dumfries’s header, his third goal of the season, underscored Inter’s aerial prowess and their ability to deliver in clutch moments. The momentum appeared to have swung decisively in Inter’s favor, and with Napoli’s earlier draw fresh in their minds, the Nerazzurri seemed poised to seize control of the title race. However, the drama was far from over, as a late twist would turn the game on its head. In the 90th minute, Bisseck, who had been a rock at the back, inexplicably handled the ball in the box, prompting a VAR review. The referee awarded a penalty, and Pedro stepped up to coolly convert, slotting his shot past Sommer to secure a 2-2 draw. The San Siro fell silent, the weight of the moment palpable as Inter’s title hopes took a significant hit. Pedro’s composure from the spot, his second goal of the night, was a dagger to Inter’s ambitions, highlighting the fine margins that separate triumph from despair.
In the dying moments, Inter’s never-say-die attitude nearly salvaged the victory. Marko Arnautović, introduced as a late substitute, scuffed a close-range shot in added time, a miss that drew groans from the crowd. Moments later, Arnautović thought he had delivered a dramatic winner, bundling the ball into the net to spark wild celebrations. However, VAR intervened, ruling the goal out for offside, a decision that left Inter’s players and fans crestfallen. The final whistle confirmed the 2-2 draw, a result that felt like a defeat for Inter given the context of the title race. With 78 points, they now trail Napoli by one, their fate no longer entirely in their hands as they prepare for a challenging trip to Como. Napoli, hosting Cagliari, will know that a victory secures the Scudetto, while Inter must win and hope for a slip-up from their rivals. Lazio, meanwhile, can take pride in their resilience, their sixth-place standing and European ambitions intact after a hard-fought point at one of Serie A’s most intimidating venues. As the San Siro emptied, the Inter players lingered, their heads bowed but their resolve unbroken, knowing that the fight for the title would go down to the wire. The match, a microcosm of the drama and unpredictability of Serie A, left fans on both sides breathless, with the final chapter of the season promising yet more twists in a race that has captivated Italy.
