Inter Milan Survives Wild Finish, Secures Champions League Berth

In its infinite wisdom, UEFA has decreed Italy as one of the nations that receive four entries into next season's top club competition.

Three spots had been earned prior to the final week of Serie A play, and it turned out that the fourth would be decided in a barnburner.

That's because the two combatants would be facing each other to decide who's No 4.

All Lazio needed was a home draw against Internazionale to claim it.

 

Lazio and Internazionale kept fans at the Stadio Olimpico on edge from opening kickoff to final whistle, which was blown after three minutes of time added on.

Le Aquile -- the Eagles -- got off to the start they wanted, putting them in strong position to gain the draw they needed. Just nine minutes into the proceedings, Adam Marusic fired what hockey fans call a bean shot. Ivan Perišić was hardly amused and even less so when he saw where the ricochet went:

 

 

20 minutes later, the draw was in play when Danilo D’Ambrosio scored the equalizer after from Marcelo Brozović's corner:

 

Safe to say, fans and viewers were being duly entertained, and this match was only getting started.

In a brilliant counter in the 41st minute, Felipe Anderson did the Route 1 thing overland and gave Samir Handanović no chance to make a play:

 

Lazio was ahead once again, but dudes couldn't live with prosperity.

All hell broke lose in the final quarter hour when Luciano Spalletti’s side made the sorta charge required to gain the three points they needed to jump Lazio and earn that all-important fourth slot afforded to Italy in the Champions League.

Let's pause here for a cultural moment. Dutch, like many European languages, uses the letter J to give the vowel before it a long sound. It's called a half-diphthong. Thus, Stefan de Vrij's surname is pronounced de Vr(eye). You're welcome.

 

Anyway, that came into the narrative because Inter's pressure paid off in the 78th minute when dude brought down Mauro Icardi.

The Argentine had just signed a contract with the Nerazzurri and paid immediate dividends from the spot:

 

Two minutes later, Inter was on the board again.

A header from Matías Vecino, who positioned himself on the business end of another corner from Brozović, made it 2-3.

The visitor’s side of the stadium burst into happiness, while the home supporters were trying to hold back tears.

 

Serie A breaks ties in the standings by head-to-head results.

Inter and Lazio played to a scoreless draw in December, so this season ender gave fourth place to the Nerazzurri:

Despite not qualifying for the UCL next season, Lazio will still play in the Europa League.

And, after a seven-year absence, Internazionale can finally say they're back in the Champions League again.