The Giallorossi (6th) were caught ten minutes from the end at the Olimpico by Sampdoria (1-1), after opening the scoring.

Reverse scenario but identical result for Viola (7th) in Verona against Hellas (1-1).

Inter, it does not weaken and has provisionally seven points ahead of its co-dolphins, Naples and Milan, who play in the evening: at home against La Spezia (17th) for the Partenopei, traveling to Empoli (9th ) for the Rossoneri.

Faced with a combative Torino, the Nerazzurri played at a small trot but secured the three points thanks to a goal in the first period from Denzel Dumfries with a precise strike (30th).

The "Toro" pushed to equalize in the second half, without succeeding in bending this Inter in full confidence, whose defense has not taken a goal in its last six matches in the Italian league.

"We played an important game, we conceded few chances," said Simone Inzaghi on DAZN.

Roma "bad game"

"Today it's probably easy to say that Inter are favorites, but I recall that at the end of July, beginning of August, that was not the case, the players worked very well," added the coach nerazzurro, who has succeeded perfectly in further growing the team taken to the top of Serie A last season by Antonio Conte.

Roma coach Jose Mourinho during the match against Sampdoria on December 22, 2021 at the Olympic stadium in Rome Filippo MONTEFORTE AFP

In the other meetings, Roma and Fiorentina each dropped two important points, losing contact with Juventus Turin now only 5th four points behind Atalanta (4th).

The Giallorossi, who lost Tammy Abraham to injury at the start of the second half, had made the most difficult by opening the scoring by Eldor Shomurodov (72nd), scorer five minutes after coming into play. But they were surprised by the man in the form of the "Samp", striker Manolo Gabbiadini, author of his fifth goal in five league matches (80th).

Much to the chagrin of their coach José Mourinho: "It was a bad game. We would have deserved to win I think given the chances, but we did not play well," he said.

At Fiorentina, the series of Dusan Vlahovic, scorer in his last ten Serie A matches, has stopped.

This time it was Gaetano Castrovilli who emerged from the head (81st) to avoid a defeat in Verona, who had taken the lead thanks to Kevin Lasagna (17th).

© 2021 AFP