Hope restored as Inter Milan has door open to Champions League

After Saturday’s 2-1 loss at home to Sassuolo, it seemed all was lost for Inter Milan’s dreams of playing in the Champions League next season.

But, former Inter goalkeeping star Walter Zenga didn’t let his old team down.

Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Zenga-led Crotone led 2-1 late and managed a 2-2 draw with Lazio, keeping the Nerazzurri in contention for the fourth and final Champions League spot.

Inter’s Saturday loss meant they needed relegation-threatened Crotone to either beat or draw Lazio for any hopes of the Champions League.

”It’s a big missed opportunity,” said Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Lulic, according to France24. “Now it’s all the play for on the last day against Inter.

”We can make it, but it’s a pity that we let in two goals today. We know what we have to do.

”Now we need to see whether any injured players come back. We deserve the Champions League, it would be a shame to throw it all away now.”

Now that a draw happened, Inter sit three points back of the capital club meaning next week’s season finale in Rome will decide it all.

A win and the Nerazzurri are in. A draw or loss and Lazio will join Juventus, Napoli and Roma in the Champions League while Inter will take the top spot from Serie A in the Europa League.

It sets the stage for an exciting final day of Serie A.

Beside the Lazio-Inter Milan battle for the Champions league, AC Milan can clinch the Europa league with a win against Fiorentina but Atalanta is one point back of Milan. Crotone are also in a battle to avoid relegation. They are currently tied with SPAL, but SPAL has the advantage on head-to-head matchup while Cagliari is also in the relegation mix.

Crotone will have to beat Napoli in Naples and hope that SPAL loses at home to Sampdoria while Cagliari will battle with Atalanta at home.

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