The Serie A title race took another dramatic turn as Inter Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Lazio at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium, missing a crucial opportunity to gain ground on leaders Napoli in the penultimate round of fixtures.
With both championship contenders seemingly reluctant to take control of the title race in recent weeks, this matchday presented Simone Inzaghi's men with a chance to overtake Napoli before the season finale. However, a resilient Lazio side, still harboring Champions League ambitions, had other plans.
After a cautious first half marked more by physical confrontations than quality chances, Inter broke the deadlock deep into first-half stoppage time. Hakan Calhanoglu's corner kick found its way to the far post where Bisseck capitalized on a blocked Dimarco attempt to fire home beneath the crossbar.
Lazio manager Marco Baroni's tactical substitutions paid dividends when veteran Pedro, introduced in the 52nd minute, equalized in the 71st minute. The Spaniard calmly finished after Hysaj's cross from the left flank was controlled by Vecino in the penalty area.
With news filtering through that Napoli were also being held to a draw by Parma, Inter regained the lead when Denzel Dumfries headed home another Calhanoglu set-piece delivery in the 80th minute, seemingly putting Inzaghi's side back on track.
According to an analysis from Statbet, Inter have converted more set-piece opportunities than any other team in Serie A this season, highlighting a significant strength in their championship campaign.
However, Inter's title aspirations suffered a major setback when Bisseck, from hero to villain, handled the ball while attempting to block Castellanos in the penalty area as regular time concluded. Pedro stepped up to convert the spot-kick with experienced precision, sending the ball into the bottom left corner.
Despite late drama including a glaring miss by substitute Arnautovic and a disallowed goal for offside, Inter couldn't find a winner. The draw leaves their championship hopes hanging in the balance heading into the final matchday, where they will visit Como while Lazio return home to face Lecce.
With Napoli also dropping points, the title race remains alive heading into a tension-filled final weekend of Serie A action.
