Inter falter in Scudetto chase as Parma rally for surprising equaliser

Parma celebrated their milestone 1,001st Serie A match with an unforgettable performance, making a stunning second-half comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against league frontrunners Inter Milan, adding an unexpected twist to the title race.

Having gained some momentum in their battle for survival with three consecutive draws, Parma didn’t have the best start in this game.

The visitors, aiming for their third league title in five years, began brightly, setting the pace and generating some early scoring opportunities.

Inter’s early pressure brought rewards as they opened the scoring after just 15 minutes. Federico Dimarco’s pass across the goal found Matteo Darmian at the far post, where the defender coolly executed a first-time finish.

Despite trailing, Parma created their own chances, with Yann Sommer required to make a low save from Dennis Man midway through the half.

As the half drew to a close, Inter extended their lead in the 45th minute.

The Parma defence was undone by a simple pass from Darmian, sending Henrikh Mkhitaryan through on goal. The Armenian squared the ball for Marcus Thuram, whose initial shot appeared to go over but instead found the back of the net.

Cristian Chivu, the Parma head coach and a former Inter player, made three substitutions at half-time.

This change in personnel ignited a shift in momentum, with one of the substitutes, Adrian Bernabe, making an immediate impact by collecting the ball at the edge of the box and firing a low shot into the bottom corner.

Minutes later, another substitute, Jacob Ondrejka, completed the comeback for the Crusaders, driving at the Inter defence before his deflected shot looped over Sommer.

Facing the prospect of relinquishing a two-goal advantage, Simone Inzaghi’s Inter sought to regain control and restore their lead, but Parma held firm to secure what could be a crucial point in their fight against relegation.

This fourth consecutive draw for Chivu’s squad places them four points clear of the relegation zone, although they have played one more match than the teams directly below them.

Meanwhile, Inter’s slip provides Napoli with the chance to close the gap to just one point at the top of the table when they face Bologna on Monday.