Inter Milan denied top spot after Pedro penalty in draw with Lazio

Inter Milan missed a golden opportunity to move to the top of the Serie A table ahead of the final matchday, as a dramatic 90th-minute penalty from Pedro secured a 2-2 draw for Lazio at San Siro.

With league leaders Napoli held to a goalless draw at Parma, Simone Inzaghi’s side looked set to leapfrog them by a point when Denzel Dumfries struck in the 79th minute to restore Inter’s lead.

However, substitute Pedro—already on the scoresheet—converted from the spot in the dying moments after a shot by Valentin Castellanos struck the arm of Yann Bisseck in the box. The equalizer denied Inter the full three points in a tense clash.

It was Bisseck who had initially broken the deadlock just before half-time, reacting quickest to a rebound after Federico Dimarco’s shot was blocked by Alessio Romagnoli. But Lazio responded early in the second half, with Pedro slotting home to level the score.

Now, heading into the final day, Inter—last season’s Champions League finalists—will travel to face 10th-placed Como, led by former Spain international Cesc Fàbregas. To retain their Serie A title, Inter must win and hope Napoli slip up against 14th-placed Cagliari.

Inter had closed the gap on Napoli to just one point the previous weekend with a 2-0 win over Torino, while Napoli dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Facing a determined Lazio side currently sitting fifth in the table, Inter struggled to break through early on. Their first real chance came after 30 minutes when Dimarco forced a fine save from Christos Mandas. Penalty appeals for a push on Bisseck by Nicolo Rovella were waved away by referee Daniele Chiffi.

At the other end, Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer kept the score level with a crucial stop against Gustav Isaksen, who had been played through by Matteo Guendouzi just before half-time.

The San Siro crowd finally erupted in stoppage time of the first half as Bisseck found the net, but despite Dumfries’ late goal, Inter couldn’t hold on, leaving their title hopes hanging in the balance.