Serie A | Napoli 1-1 Inter: Billing keeps Scudetto battle open | OneFootball

Philip Billing made a huge impact off the bench to keep Napoli in the Scudetto race, cancelling out the magnificent Federico Dimarco free kick and holding leaders Inter.

There was just one point separating the sides going into this game, as the Partenopei were leapfrogged after just three draws in their last four rounds. Both sides missed key players, as Billy Gilmour stepped in for Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, with David Neres and Pasquale Mazzocchi also injured. The Nerazzurri were without Matteo Darmian, Yann Sommer, Carlos Augusto and Nicola Zalewski, but Marcus Thuram returned to the starting XI.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Scott McTominay at full stretch only managed to prod the Romelu Lukaku assist into the arms of Josep Martinez, while the Scottish midfielder ran a risk when crashing into Denzel Dumfries as they went for the Federico Dimarco cross.

Inter broke the deadlock with a moment of real skill from Dimarco, who bent a wonderful free kick over the wall and into the far top corner, leaving Alex Meret rooted to the spot. Remarkably, it was Inter’s first direct free kick goal in Serie A since November 2022 against Bologna, which was again from Dimarco.

Giacomo Raspadori’s acrobatic bicycle-kick was charged down by Alessandro Bastoni, with Dumfries blocking the Leonardo Spinazzola rebound too and handball appeals rejected.

Napoli poured forward, as Romelu Lukaku’s left-foot volley hit the side-netting and Raspadori’s first touch let him down on an Amir Rrahmani through ball.

epa11932821 Inter�s defender Federico Dimarco scores a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs Inter FC at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 01 March 2025. EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO

Lukaku came sliding in to meet the Raspadori assist, denied by a desperate and extraordinary Bastoni block from six yards.

Alessandro Buongiorno also threw himself in the path of Dimarco’s finish at the near post, but Inter lost Dimarco and Hakan Calhanoglu to knocks.

Stanislav Lobotka ballooned over from the edge of the area after combining with Lukaku, then McTominay’s scorcher from the edge of the area stung Josep Martinez’s gloves.

Bastoni made another decisive block on Matteo Politano inside the area and the siege finally paid off at the 87th minute with a January signing.

Lobotka combined with McTominay to break into the box and roll across for Billing, whose first attempt was parried by an outstretched Josep Martinez boot, but the ex-Bournemouth man was able to bundle the rebound over the line from close range.

Napoli had the momentum in added time and threatened to win it, as Cyril Ngonge’s effort skimmed Francesco Acerbi and Dumfries on the way through to Josep Martinez’s gloves.

Dimarco 22 (I), Billing 87 (N)