THE GREAT DIVIDE: INTER MILAN PULL 10 POINTS CLEAR AS JUVENTUS FACE TOP-FOUR COLLAPSE
Inter Milan is running away with it! Discover how they moved 10 points clear while Juventus suffered a historic home loss to Como.
Inter Milan didn’t need to be flashy on Saturday. Two late goals from substitutes Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Manuel Akanji were enough for a 2-0 win at Lecce, and with that, Inter stretched its Serie A lead to 10 points.
Both guys only came on for the final half hour. Mkhitaryan found himself wide open at the back post and tucked away Federico Dimarco’s corner in the 75th minute. Akanji finished the job, heading in from another corner just seven minutes later.
“We knew they’d run out of gas in the second half, so we kept pushing,” Mkhitaryan said.
Dimarco thought he’d scored right after halftime, but VAR wiped it out. Marcus Thuram was offside. He almost scored again, only for Lecce to clear his shot off the line. But in the end, he set up Akanji’s goal from the corner.
Inter had to make do without Lautaro Martínez and Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
“Sometimes we’re brilliant in big games, and sometimes not,” Akanji said afterwards. “But there’s only one Inter. Sure, we lost to Bodø/Glimt last time in the Champions League, but we’re still the same team, and we can do great things.”
That 3-1 defeat to Bodø/Glimt hangs over them, with the Norwegian underdogs coming to Milan for the second leg on Tuesday.
Saturday’s win makes it seven in a row in the league for Inter, now 10 points ahead of AC Milan, who play Parma on Sunday.
Juventus’ rough patch continues.
Things just keep getting worse for Juventus. After a 5-2 hammering at Galatasaray in the Champions League playoffs, they lost again, this time 2-0 at home to Como, and their Champions League hopes are fading fast.
Como took the lead early. Mërgim Vojvoda scored with a shot Michele Di Gregorio really should’ve kept out, after Weston McKennie lost the ball in midfield. The home crowd let Juve know how they felt with whistles at halftime, and it didn’t get any better after the break.
Lucas da Cunha broke through and teed up Maxence Caqueret for Como’s second in the 61st minute.
That’s three straight losses for Juventus in all competitions. They haven’t won in five games.
“We made too many mistakes, and most of our problems were our own doing,” coach Luciano Spalletti admitted. “The pressure got to us. The quality’s still there, but right now, we’re not showing it. We’re missing a bit of unity, a bit of grit. We need to step up.”
Juve stays fifth, a point behind Roma, who face Cremonese on Sunday. Como sits sixth, just a point behind Juventus. Only the top four teams get a Champions League spot.
In Saturday’s late game, Cagliari and Lazio played out a goalless draw. Cagliari’s Yerry Mina picked up a second yellow late on for a tactical foul just outside the box.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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