Kenan Yildiz inspired Juventus to an extraordinary 4-4 comeback draw against Inter Milan on Sunday, allowing Napoli to pull four points clear at the top of Serie A.
The 19-year-old Turkish talent entered the match with around 30 minutes left and netted two stunning goals in the final 20 minutes to bring third-placed Juve level at a roaring San Siro, which hosted over 70,000 fans. They had thought Denzel Dumfries’ goal in the 53rd minute would seal the win for Inter.
Although both teams trail Napoli, Inter—currently in second place—will likely feel the pain of the missed chances that followed Dumfries’ goal. First-half strikes from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and two Piotr Zielinski penalties initially put Inter two goals ahead, only for Yildiz to turn the game around in the final stages.
Inter had opportunities to secure the win through Federico Dimarco, Nicolo Barella, and Lautaro Martinez but were twice caught on the counter by Yildiz, marking his first goals of the season.
Juventus remain in third, one point further from the top, having displayed remarkable determination to salvage a valuable point from their bitter rivals.
Juve manager Thiago Motta, a former Inter player and Champions League winner with the “Nerazzurri,” capitalised on Inter’s weaknesses, while defensive lapses, particularly from Yann Bisseck, enabled Juve’s spirited comeback.
Elsewhere, Lazio remain fifth after a convincing 3-0 victory over Genoa in Rome. Lazio’s dominant display included goals from Tijjani Noslin, Pedro, and Matias Vecino, keeping Genoa mired in relegation danger after a seven-match winless run.
To address a severe injury crisis, Genoa is poised to sign Mario Balotelli, with sporting director Marco Ottolini confirming the move could be completed on Monday.
Balotelli, 34, returns to Serie A after four years, seeking to rejuvenate his career with Genoa. Despite being a talented striker who helped Italy reach the Euro 2012 final and won titles with Manchester City, his journey has been marked by off-field controversies and frequent racism incidents from fans in Italy. His upcoming transfer represents a final opportunity to shine on the big stage.