Wilt under pressure
Inter Milan lose ground with Torino stalemate
MILAN: Inter Milan, considered among the Serie A title challengers this season, lost further ground by letting a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Torino with Luciano Spalletti’s side collecting a single point from their first two games.
The northerners looked in control in the San Siro with their Argentine top scorer last season Mauro Icardi setting up Croatia World Cup finalist Ivan Perisic for the opener after six minutes with Stefan de Vrij heading the second after 32 minutes on Sunday.
But Spalletti’s side lost their way after an hour with Andrea Belotti pulling one back for Torino after a goalkeeping error by Samir Handanovic. New French signing Soualiho Metie earned the point on 68 minutes.
Salvatore Sirigu denied Perisic late on to give Torino their first point after last week’s 1-0 loss to Roma.
“It’s difficult to explain how we conceded those goals, but the reality is that the team is struggling with pressure,” said Spalletti.
Meanwhile, surprise package SPAL, playing their second season in the top flight, are also riding high after their second win, a 1-0 victory over promoted Parma.
A Mirco Antenucci volley four minutes after the break gave SPAL all the points against the former two-time UEFA Cup winners, who are back in the top flight after three consecutive promotions saw them climb back through the divisions when bankruptcy led to automatic relegation to Serie D.
Genoa beat Empoli 2-1 amid scenes of high emotion in their first match since the bridge tragedy in the city which killed 43 people two weeks ago.
Supporters observed 43 minutes of silence in memory of the victims
It’s difficult to explain how we conceded those goals, but the reality is that the team is struggling g with pressure. Luciano Spalletti
and the names of the victims were flashed up on large screens in the stadium as the crowd applauded at the 43-minute mark.
Fiorentina crushed Chievo 6-1 with Giovanni Simeone scoring the final goal three minutes into injury time with his father, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, watching from the stands. —