European football: Inter edge Lecce to stretch lead, Bayern earn comeback win | European club football

Francesco Pio Esposito was the hero for Inter, the substitute’s 78th-minute aim incomes a 1-0 residence win over lowly Lecce to spice up their title hopes.

The Serie A leaders laboured towards cussed opposition earlier than Esposito scored from a rebound with 12 minutes remaining. Inter transfer six factors away from Milan and Napoli with victory in what may very well be a serious turning level on this season’s title race.

Ange-Yoan Bonny, in for the rested Lautaro Martínez, created an early likelihood with a run and shot that was parried away by Wladimiro Falcone. Bonny then thought he had gained a penalty, however a VAR examine dominated that Danilo Veiga had performed the ball.

Falcone punched away a Nicolò Barella header from shut vary shortly after the break, then gathered a shot from Andy Diouf because the hosts continued to battle to open up a dogged Lecce defence. Esposito changed Bonny and Martínez was additionally launched from the bench as Cristian Chivu’s aspect chased an elusive winner.

Martínez had a volleyed effort parried away by Falcone and Esposito was quickest to react. The 20-year-old striker slammed residence the rebound to the aid of the San Siro residence crowd. “A fantastic workforce victory – even the gamers who don’t play as a lot are at all times prepared to assist the workforce,” the Inter midfielder Carlos Augusto informed Dazn.

Milan face a tough journey to sixth-placed Como on Thursday, whereas Napoli had been held to a expensive 0-0 draw at residence by Parma earlier on Wednesday.

The primary likelihood of the sport fell to Scott McTominay, who scored each objectives in Sunday’s 2-2 draw towards Inter. His half-volley deflected into the aspect netting, and though McTominay had the ball within the internet minutes later, the aim was dominated out after a VAR examine for an offside within the buildup.

Parma keeper Filippo Rinaldi, making his senior membership debut, pulled off a point-blank save from Alessandro Buongiorno’s header, then parried away Rasmus Højlund’s shot on the flip. Højlund then did not get his shot away after Rinaldi spilled the ball early within the second half as Napoli drew for the third league sport in a row.

“These are the kind of video games the place it is advisable rating as shortly as potential, open the match up, after which it turns into fully completely different,” the Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani informed reporters. “We undoubtedly must be faster, extra decisive, carry extra high quality to our play going ahead – not at all times two touches, typically only one.”

The Bundesliga leaders, Bayern Munich, fought again to beat hosts Cologne 3-1 and file the most effective first half of a season within the league’s historical past.

Bayern demolished Wolfsburg 8-1 on Sunday however Cologne didn’t seem intimidated within the first half, and took a deserved Forty first-minute lead with Linton Maina’s spectacular solo run and very good end to beat Manuel Neuer. Serge Gnabry managed to stage simply earlier than the break, flicking the ball into the web off the crossbar from a good angle.

Neuer parried away Jakub Kaminski’s low drive simply earlier than the hour, and Bayern went on to take the lead within the 71st minute, as Hiroki Ito headed on a deep cross and Kim Min-jae nodded in. {The teenager} Lennart Karl made certain of the three factors within the 84th minute when he slotted residence from Luis Díaz’s move.

Vincent Kompany’s aspect are 11 factors away from Dortmund on the high of the desk, with 47 factors and a aim distinction of +53. The earlier greatest mark after 17 matches belonged to Pep Guardiola’s Bayern in 2013-14, additionally with 47 factors however a aim distinction of +35.

“I did congratulate the lads however that shall be passed by tomorrow, and of completely no precedence for me, that we now have this file,” stated Kompany afterwards. “We’re in the midst of the season and haven’t gained any title but. From tomorrow, we begin the second half and the whole lot begins from zero.”

Wolfsburg bounced again from their heavy defeat by Bayern with a 2-1 residence win over struggling St Pauli, sealed by Dzenan Pejcinovic’s 88th-minute header. RB Leipzig are as much as third after a 2-0 residence win over Freiburg, whereas Andrej Kramaric’s hat-trick headlined fifth-placed Hoffenheim’s 5-1 rout of Mönchengladbach.

Within the Dutch Cup, Ajax suffered an embarrassing 6-0 defeat away to AZ Alkmaar of their last-16 tie. Troy Parrott opened the scoring for the hosts within the second minute, then doubled their benefit half-hour later, with Peer Koopmeiners including a 3rd simply earlier than half-time.

Teenage midfielder Kees Smit made it 4-0 quickly after the restart, earlier than Ajax defender Owen Wijndal was proven a straight purple card. Parrott accomplished his hat-trick 10 minutes from time, after which arrange Ibrahim Sadiq to finish the guests’ humiliation.