MILAN, ITALY — Scott McTominay's heroic late equalizer ensured the Serie A title race remains electrifyingly tight as Napoli fought back to secure a pulsating 2-2 draw with league leaders Internazionale at the iconic San Siro. The result keeps Inter at the summit with 37 points, but third-placed Napoli closed the gap to just two points with a performance that emphatically showcased their championship mettle.
The evening began with Federico Dimarco announcing his intentions in spectacular fashion. Just nine minutes had elapsed when the Inter left-back unleashed a thunderous left-footed drive from the edge of the box that arrowed into the bottom right corner, assisted by Marcus Thuram's clever lay-off. The San Siro erupted as the Nerazzurri seized an early, commanding stranglehold on proceedings.
Napoli's response was swift and emphatic. McTominay, the former Manchester United midfielder who has become integral to Antonio Conte's tactical revolution in Naples, leveled the contest in the 26th minute with a predatory finish. Eljif Elmas whipped in a dangerous cross from the right flank, and McTominay was perfectly positioned at the far post to sweep home a left-footed effort that nestled beautifully in the bottom left corner.
The tactical battle intensified as both sides sought midfield supremacy. The teams shared possession almost equally at 50%-50%, but Inter created the more dangerous opportunities, registering 13 shots to Napoli's seven. Yann Sommer in the Inter goal was challenged sparingly, while his counterpart Vanja Milinkovic-Savic remained alert, making crucial interventions to keep his side competitive.
A pivotal moment arrived in the 68th minute when VAR intervened to award Inter a penalty. Henrikh Mkhitaryan's powerful surge into the box was halted by Amir Rrahmani's clumsy challenge, and after a lengthy review, referee Daniele Chiffi pointed decisively to the spot. Hakan Çalhanoglu stepped up with characteristic composure, sending Milinkovic-Savic the wrong way as his right-footed effort found the bottom right corner.
Inter appeared to have weathered Napoli's challenge as the clock ticked toward the 80th minute, but McTominay had other ideas. The Scottish international's second goal of the evening came courtesy of excellent work from substitute Noa Lang, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes. Lang's precise through ball found McTominay in space, and the midfielder made no mistake with a right-footed finish that flew past Sommer into the center of the goal.
The statistical narrative told the story of Inter's territorial dominance, with the home side managing four shots on target compared to Napoli's three. Inter also enjoyed a significant advantage in set pieces, winning four corners to Napoli's solitary flag kick. However, the visitors' clinical finishing and McTominay's individual brilliance ensured they left Milan with a valuable point.
The final stages saw both teams push desperately for a winner, with Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny introduced by Simone Inzaghi as Inter sought fresh attacking impetus. Napoli's Juan Jesus picked up a yellow card in the dying moments for a cynical foul, but Conte's men held firm to secure a result that keeps their title ambitions vibrantly alive.
The atmosphere at San Siro reflected the encounter's immense significance, with both sets of supporters creating a thunderous cauldron of noise that befitted a clash between two genuine title contenders. The draw maintains the razor-thin competitive balance at the top of Serie A, with just two points separating these heavyweight rivals.
Looking ahead, Internazionale will host Lecce on January 14, while Napoli welcome Parma to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on the same date, promising further drama in this captivating title race.