No jump to first place: Pedro spoils Inter's chances twice

Precise from the penalty spot: Lazio substitute Pedro scores confidently in a duel with Inter keeper Yann Sommer. IMAGO/Beautiful Sports

What this top match between reigning champions Inter and challenger Lazio was all about was evident to both teams from the first minute.

Both Simone Inzaghi 's Milan team, which had recently kept hopes of defending its Serie A title alive with a 2-0 win against Torino , and the guests from Rome were just feeling each other out for a long time.

Lazio coach Marco Baroni , who recently recorded a 1-1 draw with Juventus in their Champions League clash, had to acknowledge the more aggressive Inter players in the opening stages. However, the home side, without Lautaro Martinez (injured in the stands), didn't (yet) create a chance at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Ultimately, it took until the 28th minute before anything happened. It started with a blocked overhead kick from Thuram, then Dimarco's powerful shot from a tight angle was saved by goalkeeper Mandas (30th minute). At the other end, it took until the 42nd minute for the first strong move, but this should have been the 1-0 lead for the capital city team. But Isaksen, free after Dia's through ball, was denied by the expanding Sommer, who had had virtually nothing to do up to that point and made a keen save.

And thus, at the same time, laid the foundation for their own lead. Seconds before halftime, the Nerazurri took the lead, which was loudly celebrated by their own fans – through Bisseck, who received a blocked Dimarco shot, made a powerful finish, and effortlessly blasted it under the bar with his left foot like a seasoned striker (45'+2').

However, the goal led the home side to become overconfident after the restart, with the lead behind them. They suddenly only managed the game, which would come back to haunt them – even though Castellanos (60') and Dia (69') both missed. Then, a ball slipped through to Marusic in front of Sommer's goal, who, after a brief stumble, carefully laid it off to Lazio substitute Pedro. The now 37-year-old Spaniard slotted home (72').

This, in turn, woke up FC Internazionale, who immediately made it 2-1. The variation here: Calhanoglu's free-kick cross, Dumfries' header (79'). The Dutchman even went close to scoring twice shortly after, but missed (82') at the start of the frantic final minutes, which continued into the tenth minute of stoppage time...

The game continued with Bisseck, the scorer of the opening goal, committing a clear handball in a challenge with Castellanos (86'). The penalty, awarded after VAR intervention, was converted by Pedro, the 37-year-old double scorer, who precisely beat the 36-year-old Sommer, who dived into the right corner, to make it 2-2 (90'). But that wasn't enough: Milan almost took a third lead at the other end, but substitute Arnautovic missed the target (90'+4'). Barella and stand-in striker Acerbi also failed to get the ball in (90'+10').

1-0 Bisseck (45')

1:1 Pedro (72')