Inter’s CL hopes dashed
Third placed Roma are now assured of ticket
Rome, May 13: Inter Milan crashed to a 1- 2 defeat to Sassuolo at the San Siro on Saturday which ensured that Roma get to play Champions League football next season.
Matteo Politano and Domenico Berardi scored in either half with Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli proving heroic for the visitors to severely undermine Inter’s slim hopes of elite European action.
The defeat means thirdplaced Roma — coached by former Sassuolo boss Eusebio di Francesco — are sure to finish in the top four and return to the Champions League after losing in the semi- finals to Liverpool this month.
Roma host champions Juventus with the Turin giants needing just a point to seal a seventh- straight Scudetto.
Inter are two points behind fourth- placed Lazio who can rubber stamp their ticket to the Champions League if they beat lowly Crotone on Sunday.
If not, both Lazio and Inter go head- to- head next week in the Stadio Olimpico.
Coach Luciano Spalletti lamented a “messy and confused” performance which failed to reflect Inter’s dominance.
Politano found the way to goal after 25 minutes with a clevery- taken freekick under the wall.
Inter star Mauro Icardi’s goal was ruled offside, with Ivan Perisic then setting up the Argentine ace only for Consigli to again clear.
And Berardi blasted in the second after 72 minutes before Rafinha pulled one back eight minutes later for Inter.
Consigli’s heroics continued deep into injury time to leave Inter stuck fifth and looking at Europa League football again next season.