Inter downed by Roma, AC Milan bounce back with victory in Venice

Inter’s defence of their Serie A title was hit with a setback on Sunday as they lost 1-0 at home to Roma, while AC Milan rebounded from their defeat by Atalanta last weekend with a 2-0 win over Venezia.

No fixtures were played on Friday or Saturday because of the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, meaning the full round of Serie A matches take place on Sunday and Monday.

Matias Soule’s first-half strike for Roma knocked Inter off top spot with new tabletoppers Napoli able to open up a three-point buffer when they host Torino later on Sunday.

“Three defeats in one week hurts, and we’re not used to such a run,” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.

“It was a very important game, but we lacked a clear head. We need to try and get our energy back, and we’ll go to Barcelona with a lot of respect for this team, but without fear.”

Argentinian Soule stunned the San Siro when he slotted home coolly as the ball ping-ponged around the Inter box in the 22nd minute.

The win moved Roma up to sixth place on 60 points, level with fourth-placed Bologna who occupy the final Champions League spot.

In another blow for Inter, they risk being without defender Benjamin Pavard for their upcoming Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona after the French international limped off in the 15th minute with an ankle issue.

Fiorentina kept their Champions League qualification hopes alive with a 2-1 victory against struggling Empoli.

Goals from Yacine Adli and Rolando Mandragora put the hosts in control inside the opening half-hour, before Jacopo Fazzini gave the 19th-placed side faint hopes of picking up some much-needed points in the 57th minute.

The Tuscany-based club sit in eighth place on 59 points, five ahead of Milan.

In Venice, Christian Pulisic opened the scoring for Milan in the fifth minute with Santiago Gimenez sealing the victory in the fifth minute of added time at the end of the game.

Milan, who qualified for the Italian Cup final on Wednesday by eliminating bitter city rivals Inter, remain in ninth place. 

Venezia stay third from bottom in the relegation zone, one point behind Lecce, who take on third-placed Atalanta on Sunday evening.

Brazilian forward Gabriel Strefezza scored the only goal as Como beat Genoa 1-0 in the duel between former Arsenal players-turned-coaches Cesc Fabregas and Patrick Vieira.