Serie A: Romelu Lukaku puts Inter Milan eight points clear with win over Bologna; Juventus, AC Milan held

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale celebrates with his team mates after scoring his goal ,during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on April 3, 2021 in Bologna, Italy.

Inter Milan went eight points clear at the top of Serie A thanks to Romelu Lukaku's first-half effort away to Bologna.

Lukaku tapped home in the 31st minute after his powerful header was initially kept out by keeper Federico Ravaglia.

Bologna offered little in response, while Inter's Lautaro Martinez struck the post after 50 minutes.

The win means Antonio Conte's take another step towards their first league title since 2009-10.

Elsewhere, title rivals Milan could only

rescue a late point against Sampdoria on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo salvaged a point for Juventus in their 2-2 draw with Torino on Saturday night - before missing a glorious chance to snatch all three.

Lukaku got his head to an Alessandro Bastoni cross after half an hour and bundled the ball over the line for his 20th league goal this season after Bologna's young goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia had pushed out the initial strike.

Lautaro Martinez missed a chance for a second five minutes after the break when he rattled the post.

Inter next play Sassuolo on Wednesday, a match postponed from before the international break because of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Milan club.

In Turin, Cristiano Ronaldo struck in the 79th minute but couldn't stop Juve dropping further points in their bid for a 10th consecutive league title.

Andrea Pirlo's side slip to fourth, 12 points behind Inter, and four points back from Milan, with a game in hand.

"We complicate these games all by ourselves," lamented Pirlo with his team's Champions League qualification also in the balance.

"We must push on, keep giving our all and try to secure our minimum target, which is qualifying for the Champions League," said captain Giorgio Chiellini.

"We have another important match on Wednesday and it's one we need to win," he added of their midweek postponed fixture against European rivals Napoli.

Federico Chiesa had given Juventus the advantage in the 13th minute, but an Antonio Sanabria brace looked set to give the relegation-threatened hosts their first derby win in six years.

The Paraguayan nodded in the leveller in the 27th minute after Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny had pushed out a long-range Rolando Mandragora effort.

Sanabria struck a second time just after the break when he intercepted a misplaced Dejan Kulusevksi back pass.

Ronaldo missed two chances before the Serie A top scorer finally got his 24th league goal this campaign following a VAR review when he nodded home Chiellini's cross from close range.

The Paraguayan nodded in the leveller in the 27th minute after Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny had pushed out a long-range Rolando Mandragora effort.

Sanabria struck a second time just after the break when he intercepted a misplaced Dejan Kulusevksi back pass.

Ronaldo missed two chances before the Serie A top scorer finally got his 24th league goal this campaign following a VAR review when he nodded home Chiellini's cross from close range.

'No excuses' for Milan

Milan's miserable recent form at the San Siro continued in their draw with Sampdoria.

A terrible Theo Hernandez pass across midfield in the 57th minute allowed Sampdoria veteran Fabio Quagliarella to pounce and send a long-range lob over Gianluigi Donnarumma to claim his 10th goal of the season.

Claudio Ranieri's mid-table side went a man down just after their goal with Adrien Silva sent off after picking up a second yellow card.

Substitute Jens Petter Hauge curled in the leveller three minutes from the end, with Franck Kessie denied a late winner after hitting the woodwork.

"There are no excuses," said coach Stefano Pioli, whose team's push for a first league title in a decade has been hampered by just two wins from eight home games in the league in 2021.

"Inter have the Scudetto (league title) in their hands. It's theirs to lose."

Atalanta are two points behind Milan in third after a 3-2 win over against Udinese which came thanks to a first-half Luis Muriel brace and Duvan Zapata adding a third after the hour mark in Bergamo.

Napoli claimed their fourth consecutive win, but not without a battle from bottom side Crotone who lost a dramatic contest 4-3.

Three goals in 33 minutes from Lorenzo Insigne, Victor Osimhen and Dries Mertens looked to have sealed victory early for Gennaro Gattuso's side.

However Crotone fought back to 3-3 largely thanks to a double from Nigerian Simy the 25th and 48th minutes.

But Giovanni Di Lorenzo made sure the home side did take the win with his 72nd-minute strike.

Roma stretched their winless run to a three matches with a 2-2 stalemate at Sassuolo.


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