Inter Milan beat Como 2-0 at San Siro on Sunday to move within one point of Serie A leaders Lazio, ending the visitors’ six-match winning run and reigniting the Nerazzurri’s title challenge.
Francesco Pio Esposito broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, converting a precise cross from Djed Spence, and Marcus Thuram doubled the lead in the 19th minute as Inter struck twice in the opening 20 minutes, according to AFP via Dawn and Sportradar. Como, whose winning run had included a 9-1 Champions League demolition of Lens in midweek, were outclassed in defeat.
Inter, who suffered their first league defeat of the season to rivals AC Milan a week ago, jumped back into second — and the title race in Italy is now a three-team contest separated by two points.
A clinical start
Inter’s opening was devastating. Esposito’s 12th-minute goal, from Spence’s cross, set the tone, and Thuram’s strike seven minutes later effectively ended the game as a contest. Como, who had won six in a row and arrived at San Siro full of confidence, had no answer to Inter’s intensity.
Cesc Fabregas’ side did hit the crossbar late on through Nico Paz, but by then the game was gone. Inter controlled the second half, protected their lead, and saw out a win that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
For Inter, the response to the derby defeat could not have been better. A week after losing to Milan, they have beaten one of the form teams in Europe and closed the gap on the leaders to a single point.
Lazio drop points
Inter’s win mattered even more because of what happened in Naples. Leaders Lazio were held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli, dropping points for only the second time this season, and their lead at the top is now just one point over Inter and two over Roma.
Lazio remain top on 29 points, with Inter on 28 and Roma on 27 — the tightest title race in Europe’s top five leagues heading into the international break.
What comes next
Inter go into the break second, one point behind the leaders and with momentum restored. Como, whose remarkable run has finally ended, remain in the European conversation despite the defeat. When Serie A resumes, the top three are separated by two points — and every game between now and Christmas will matter.
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