Milan: Inter Milan’s bid for a long-awaited return to the Champions League has moved “further” away after a 2-2 draw with Torino that rang “like a defeat” on Saturday, coach Stefano Pioli said.
Inter travelled to the Stadio Olimpico looking for a precious win as they bid to maintain their drive for a return to Europe’s premier club event for the first time since 2012.
But in a match that saw England ‘keeper Joe Hart endure a topsy-turvy night, Torino held on to snatch a point and hold Inter to just their fourth draw of the campaign.
It left Stefano Pioli’s men in fifth, five points off Napoli in third before a trip by the southerners to Empoli on Sunday that is expected to see Maurizio Sarri’s men move eight points ahead of Inter — and closer to securing the third and last Champions League spot.
Lamenting the errors that saw Italy international Eder and Croatia midfielder Ivan Perisic, three times, fail to make the most of late chances, Pioli admitted Inter’s European bid is now compromised.
“It’s further away, yes, because the teams in front of us are strong and are winning a lot,” Pioli said when asked about their top three chances.
It was Inter’s last league fixture before the international break, and Pioli added: “Now we have to recover some energy, we’ve had quite a demanding period in both physical and mental terms.
“Today I expected more lucidity, but now we have to ready for the final dash.”
Hart had been on a charm offensive in midweek when he hinted he could prolong his stay at Torino having joined last summer on a season loan deal from Manchester City.
But the England ‘keeper had fans on their seats on more than one occasion, and not always for the right reason.
He was to blame for poor control when a shot by French midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, which he had stopped, somehow slipped under his hand in the 27th minute to give Inter the lead.
Daniele Baselli’s crouching header levelled for Torino just six minutes later, and Torino looked on their way to an upset when Afriyie Acquah beat Samir Handanovic in the Inter net with a superb strike from distance on the hour.
Hart then seriously misjudged Cristian Ansaldi’s cross from deep on the left when he came out to try and parry it to safety.
As the ‘keeper scrambled to get back into position, Antonio Candreva pounced from the right side of the area to fire inside the far post.
Hart and Handanovic both went on to make a series of crucial saves during six minutes of added-on time as the sides played to a draw which left Torino in 10th place.
In Paris, Mario Balotelli endured a frustrating afternoon as Nice dropped two vital points in the French title race with a 1-1 draw at mid-table Nantes.
Nice had plenty of the ball but Balotelli was well shackled by the home defence — not always fairly — and the maverick Italian striker won his side a series of free-kicks in dangerous areas that they failed to make the most of.
The draw means Nice stay third, a point behind Paris Saint-Germain and four off leaders Monaco, but both have a game in hand in a three-way tussle for the title.
Argentine forward Emiliano Sala put Nantes ahead on 22 minutes when his strike was too hot to handle for Nice goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale.
Jean Michael Seri equalised with a cracker from the edge of the box six minutes later, rifling home into the top corner.
“It is a good point,” said Nice boss Lucien Favre, whose side were the pacesetters in Ligue 1 but have been usurped at the top and only drew 2-2 home to struggling Caen last week.
