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Lega Serie A Matchweek 29 round-up: Inter increase gap as Milan and Juve tie against Sampdoria and Torino

Lukaku reaches 20 goals again as Nerazzurri tighten grip on top spot (0-1)

Leaders Inter extended their advantage at the Serie A summit to eight points on Saturday, Romelu Lukaku scoring the only goal in a hard-fought 1-0 triumph away at Bologna.

With second-placed Milan only able to draw at home to Sampdoria upon the resumption of the season following the international break, Antonio Conte's side were gifted the chance to tighten their grip on top spot.

They duly seized on the opportunity with a ninth successive league win, producing a solid display on the road to move a step closer to a first league title since the 2009-10 season.

Both teams had strong penalty claims prior to Lukaku's goal in the 31st minute, the striker on hand to tap in the rebound having seen his initial header kept out by a combination of goalkeeper and crossbar.

Federico Ravaglia reacted superbly to parry the attempt up into the air, only to see it loop onto the bar and then drop kindly for Lukaku to prod across the line for his 20th league goal of the season.

Andrea Ranocchia and Lautaro Martinez went close to adding to the advantage prior to the interval, while the latter hit the foot of Ravaglia's left-hand post with a curling effort from just outside the penalty area in the early stages of the second half.

Bologna made sure Inter never felt too comfortable so long as the lead remained at one, though too often the hosts failed to work Samir Handanovic when well positioned to do so.

The Inter captain had been fortunate to see an attempt from Jerdy Schouten go over the top after slipping from his grasp in the opening half, but he was only called on to make two saves throughout the contest.

While the visitors were wasteful themselves at times, managing to get just three of their 14 attempts on target, Lukaku could hardly have missed when presented with the opportunity from which he secured three more vital points for his side.

Milan fail to win again at San Siro (2-2)

After Saturday's draw with Sampdoria, AC Milan are now winless in their last four Serie A home matches.

If we also include the Europa League, Stefano Pioli's side are on a run of six games without a win at the San Siro.

Sampdoria made the breakthrough almost at the hour mark thanks to a gift from Theo Hernandez, when Fabio Quagliarella did brilliantly to capitalise on his poor pass and lobbed Gianluigi Donarumma with a first-time shot.

Just two minutes later the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Adrien Silva saw a second yellow for a late tackle on former Villarreal winger Samu Castillejo.

Milan began to turn up the pressure and finally made their advantage count with an equaliser in the 87th minute when substitute Jens Petter Hauge was played in by Franck Kessie and then cut back and curled a shot into the far corner.

Kessie himself would later hit the post as the home side chased a winner but three home points were once again to prove elusive for the Rossoneri.

Milan remain second in Serie A, five points behind rivals Inter who have two games in hand.

Ronaldo salvages derby draw after Sanabria double (2-2)

Cristiano Ronaldo salvaged a 2-2 Serie A draw for Juventus after Antonio Sanabria's double threatened to secure a shock derby win for struggling Torino.

Federico Chiesa's 13th goal of the season put the champions in front, but Sanabria equalised before the break and struck again just 15 seconds into the second half at Olimpico Grande Torino.

Ronaldo denied Torino when he levelled 11 minutes from time with a goal that was initially ruled out, but a VAR checked showed he was onside.

Rodrigo Bentancur struck the post as fourth-placed Juve slipped up again following their shock loss to Benevento and they will be 12 points adrift of leaders Inter if Antonio Conte's side beat Bologna later on Saturday.

Salvatore Sirigu spread himself to keep out Alvaro Morata's scuffed shot before Chiesa fired over the crossbar in a strong start from Juve.

Torino thought they should have had a penalty for Matthijs de Ligt's challenge on Andrea Belotti and they were behind when Chiesa struck in the 13th minute.

The Italy winger played a one-two with Morata and fired home with his left foot after bursting into the penalty area at full tilt.

Torino responded well to going behind and were deservedly level after 27 minutes, when Rolando Mandragora's rasping long-range drive was saved by Wojciech Szczesny but Sanabria reacted first to nod home the loose ball.

Sanabria was celebrating again when he put Juve in front in the first minute of the second half, with Szczesny at fault as he was beaten at his near post by a left-foot strike from the Paraguay forward after Dejan Kulusevski gave the ball away with a sloppy pass.

Sirigu produced a fine fingertip save to keep out Ronaldo's towering header before the Portugal forward failed to hit the target when he got on the end of an inviting cross from Danilo.

Ronaldo somehow failed to finish from close range when Juan Cuadrado fired across the face of the goal as Torino appeared poised to hang on for a precious win.

But Ronaldo finally nodded in when a Giorgio Chiellini volley came into his path, racing back to the centre circle with the ball after VAR ruled he was just onside, and Bentancur almost put Juve in front with a shot that deflected against the woodwork in the 84th minute.

Sanabria came close to a hat-trick in the closing stages with a header that was saved by Szczesny and the Juve goalkeeper palmed away Daniele Baselli's free-kick in a frantic finale.

Source: Marca - Perform / Andrew McDougall

Photo Credit: FC Internazionale Milano