Serie A: Inter Milan's Lead at the Top Preserved After 1-1 Draw at Napoli

Inter Milan's lead at the top of Serie A remains intact after a 1-1 draw at Napoli, with Billing's late equalizer denying the Nerazzurri all three points.

Napoli secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Inter Milan, thanks to Philip Billing's dramatic late equalizer in the 87th minute. This result extended Inter's winless away run in Serie A to four matches, with two draws and two losses.

As the top two teams in Serie A clashed, Inter Milan traveled to Napoli with a slim one-point lead at the top of the table. A win would have given the Nerazzurri a significant advantage in the title race, but ultimately, they had to settle for a share of the points.

What a game! 🔥#NapoliInter ends level! ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/cc7JjjcDqP

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 1, 2025

The match began cautiously, with both teams feeling each other out in the opening 20 minutes. However, Inter broke the deadlock midway through the first half, courtesy of Federico Dimarco's sublime free-kick, which curled into the top corner for his fourth goal of the season.

Napoli, winless in their last four league games, needed a positive response, and Romelu Lukaku almost provided it with a sharp volley that drifted narrowly wide of the near post. As half-time approached, the hosts continued to push for an equalizer, but Alessandro Bastoni's brilliant block denied Lukaku a tap-in inside the six-yard box.

Stanislav Lobotka is the Panini Player of the Match for #NapoliInter 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ymMJfJrHGv

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 1, 2025

Napoli continued to dictate the pace of the game after the restart, with Giacomo Raspadori's close-range effort blocked and Stanislav Lobotka firing over from the edge of the box. Despite dominating possession, Antonio Conte's Inter Milan struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Scott McTominay's powerful drive comfortably saved by Josep Martinez.

As the game entered its final quarter-hour, Napoli intensified their pursuit of an equalizer, and their pressure finally paid off with just three minutes remaining. Lobotka played a clever pass to substitute Philip Billing, who saw his initial strike saved by Martinez before slotting the rebound into the bottom corner to level the score.

The late equalizer set up a thrilling finale, but despite a late surge from Napoli, neither team could find a winner, and the match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw. As a result, Inter Milan maintained their slender lead at the top of the table, while Napoli remained in close pursuit.