When he entered the game with a slender lead of one point at the top of Serie A, the Nerazzurri traveled to their nearest challengers, knowing that a victory would see them take a gigantic step to keep the title.
Given the size of the game, a Cagey was opened for 20 minutes, but it was Inter that took the lead halfway through the first half when Federico Dimarco curled a sublime free kick in the upper corner for his fourth goal of the season.
Winless On their last four league games (D3, L1), Napoli knew that a positive reaction was needed and Romelu Lukaku came close to a Levley when his sharp volley ran closely wide from the nearby pole.
The hosts continued to investigate a route back to the competition with the peace, but Alessandro Bastoni was determined in the intersection and produced a brilliant block to deny Lukaku to tap home in the six-year box.
Napoli remained on the front foot after the restart, where Giacomo Raspadori saw a close-range attempt blocked and Stanislav Lobotka shot over the edge of the box.
Despite seeing many of the ball, clear opportunities came to a premium for the men of Antonio Conte, because the powerful urge of Scott McTominay was comfortably divested by Josep Martinez in the visitors' goal.
Picking up in the last quarter, Napoli watched the Ante when the equalizer and their pressure finally paid dividends for three minutes.
Lobotka screwed a smart pass in the path of replacement invoicing, and after Martinez saved his first strike, the Danish midfielder intervened the lower corner to restore parity.
That goal set up a fascinating final, but despite some late pressure from the hosts, both parties eventually had to settle for a part of the loot, because Inter maintained their slender lead on top.
Flash score Man of the match: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)
View all match statistics with flash score.
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