Rampaging Inter hot on leaders’ heels

MILAN: Inter Milan moved to within one point of the Serie A summit on Saturday thanks to a 2-0 win over Venezia, while Duvan Zapata piled on the misery for Juventus who are reeling from a probe into their accounts.

Hakan Calhanoglu continued his fine recent form in the 34th minute when he collected the ball and fizzed the opening goal through a crowd of players, and Lautaro Martinez added the second from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time.

Inter have won seven of their last nine matches in all competitions — drawing the other two — and are on a high after ensuring passage to the Champions League last 16 after a decade away midweek.

“The only negative thing was that we should have scored the second goal earlier,” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.

It was another composed display from the champions which puts them right on the heels of league leaders Napoli and AC Milan, who are level on 32 points and both were to play last night, Thai time.

Inter only had one real scare when Samir Handanovic, who saved Inter with a miracle save in last weekend’s win over Napoli, had to be at full stretch to tip over Mattia Aramu’s longrange drive.

ZAPATA SINKS JUVENTUS

Atalanta strengthened their hold on fourth place and Serie A’s final Champions League spot thanks to Colombian Zapata’s seventh goal in as many games in all competitions in the 28th minute in Turin.

Atalanta are six points ahead of their closest rivals for fourth spot Roma, who were to host Torino last night, Thai time, while Juve sit a further point back in eighth after the latest uninspiring display which led to them being whistled off by furious fans who watched their team lose for the fifth time this league season.

Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve have only scored 18 goals in their 14 league matches and they rarely looked like pegging back Atalanta until Paulo Dybala clipped a free-kick off the crossbar in stoppage time.

“We need to be realistic. If we’re in this position after 14 matches it means that for now that’s how good we are,” said Allegri.