LECCE, Italy (AP) 鈥� Substitutes Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Manuel Akanji scored late for Inter Milan to stretch its Serie A lead to 10 points with an unspectacular 2-0 win at Lecce on Saturday.
Both players were sent on for the last half hour. Mkhitaryan was left unmarked at the far post to score from Federico Dimarco鈥檚 corner in the 75th minute, and Akanji headed in from another corner in the 82nd.
鈥淲e knew they would drop off physically in the second half, and we did well to keep pushing,鈥� Mkhitaryan said.
Dimarco thought he鈥檇 scored after the break but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check found Marcus Thuram was offside. Dimarco later had another effort to seal the win cleared off the line before he took the corner for Akanji’s goal.
Inter was without star players Lautaro Mart铆nez and Hakan 脟alhano臒lu.
鈥淪ometimes we produce our best in big matches, other times we don鈥檛,鈥� Akanji said. 鈥淏ut there aren鈥檛 two different versions of Inter. Yes, we lost to Bod酶/Glimt last time out in the Champions League, but we鈥檙e still the same team capable of great things.鈥�
Inter lost 3-1 to Bod酶/Glimt in the first leg of their Champions League playoff. The Norwegian tournament upstart visits Milan for the second leg on Tuesday.
Inter鈥檚 seventh consecutive league win moved it 10 points clear of AC Milan before its city rival hosts Parma on Sunday.
Juventus’ crisis continues
Juventus鈥� damaging week continued with a 2-0 loss at home to Como that dents the Italian power鈥檚 hopes of Champions League qualification.
The defeat comes days after the Bianconeri鈥檚 5-2 loss at Galatasaray in the in this season鈥檚 Champions League. Juventus welcomes the Turkish team for the second leg on Wednesday.
M毛rgim Vojvoda scored early for Como with a shot that Michele Di Gregorio should have saved after getting his arm to ball. The chance came about after Juventus鈥� Weston McKennie lost the ball in midfield.
There were whistles from frustrated Juve fans at the break, and it didn鈥檛 get any better for their team after the restart.
Lucas da Cunha broke through to set up Maxence Caqueret for Como鈥檚 second in the 61st.
It’s Juventus’ third straight defeat across all competitions and its fifth game in a row without a win.
鈥淲e made too many mistakes today. There were a number of moments where we created the problems for ourselves, and the pressure kicked in and affected us. The qualities we鈥檝e shown haven鈥檛 disappeared, but now we can鈥檛 recognize them,鈥� Juve coach Luciano Spalletti said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e lacking a bit of cohesion, a bit of tenacity. We need to take the initiative.鈥�
Spalletti’s team remained fifth, a point behind Roma before the capital club hosts Cremonese on Sunday. Como stayed sixth, a point behind Juve. Only the top four qualify for Europe鈥檚 premier competition.
Cagliari drew 0-0 with mid-table rival Lazio in the late game. Cagliari defender Yerry Mina was sent off late with his second yellow card for a tactical foul just outside the penalty area.
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