Serie A: Inter, Napoli Share Points After Controversial Penalty Call

Napoli holds Inter to draw despite penalty controversy

The breakthrough came from a Napoli set piece. Amir Rrahmani...

Hakan Calhanoglu's shocking penalty miss seals Inter's 1-1 draw with Napoli, despite dominating the second half.

Hakan Calhanoglu's thunderous long-range strike equalized for Inter, canceling out Scott McTominay's opener, but he later missed a penalty, hitting the post.

Napoli secured a valuable point at San Siro, leaving the teams level.

Going into the match, only one point separated Inter and Napoli, with Atalanta, Lazio, and Fiorentina joining Napoli at the top.

Inter Milan made minimal changes despite midweek Champions League rotation.

Carlos Augusto remained sidelined, while Francesco Acerbi made his first start since October 20.

Stanislav Lobotka returned to the bench after a month out.

Billy Gilmour retained his spot.

Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku faced their former club.

Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Inter's Nicolò Barella tested each other's keepers early on.

The breakthrough came from a Napoli set piece. Amir Rrahmani flicked the corner at the near post, and Scott McTominay tapped in.

Hakan Calhanoglu's errant pass nearly gifted Napoli another goal, but Francesco Acerbi's desperate tackle thwarted Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Acerbi almost leveled for Inter with an angled drive, but Alex Meret blocked it.

Just before halftime, Calhanoglu unleashed a powerful, swerving strike from distance.

The ferocious shot flew into the far top corner.

The second half commenced with Lautaro Martinez's inventive back-heel attempt, blocked by Matias Olivera.

Federico Dimarco's long-range shot grazed the outside of the post.

Stanislav Lobotka made his return from injury.

Inter gained momentum, with Dimarco testing Alex Meret.

A penalty was awarded when Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa made minimal contact with Denzel Dumfries.

Despite VAR review, the penalty stood.

However, Hakan Calhanoglu's spot-kick struck the base of the upright.

Calhanoglu's miss marked his first penalty failure in 18 attempts for Inter.

Nicolò Barella's clever dummy sent two defenders crashing, allowing him to unleash a powerful left-footed shot that tested Alex Meret's reflexes.

Meret denied Lautaro Martinez's header, though it wouldn't have counted due to an earlier offside.

In the game's final moments, Cyril Ngonge beat Matteo Darmian and pulled back from the by-line.

Giovanni Simeone, however, squandered the chance, firing over from 12 yards.

The draw keeps Napoli atop Serie A.

However, their lead shrinks to one point.

Inter, Atalanta, Lazio, and Fiorentina now closely pursue Napoli.