Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku secured another career milestone while his side was dealt a shock defeat to Bologna in Sunday's Serie A encounter. The 24-year-old Belgian forward was on target but his goal only proved to be a consolation as the Nerazzuri lost grip on their Scudetto charge against their handicapped visitors.
A win would have put Antonio Conte's men within eight points of table-toppers Juventus and one behind second-placed Lazio and Romelu Lukaku's 22nd-minute strike gave the hosts much optimism. This, coupled with the fact that Bologna had Roberto Soriano sent-off in the 57th minute should have significantly boosted the chances of the men in blue and black but a different reality emerged within the final 16 minutes of the clash.
Prior to Musa Juwara's equalizer in the 74th minute Lautuaro Martinez had thrown away the opportunity to put Inter two goals ahead by missing a spot-kick. In the 77th-minute, Alessandro Bastoni was sent off after receiving a second yellow card before Musa Barrow buried Conte's dream of a last-minute title challenge with the game's winner for Bologna in the 80th minute.
With eight matches left to play, third-placed Inter Milan now sit 11 points behind first-placed Juventus. The propect of the Nerazzuri finishing in fourth is also looking glaring as Atalanta is now with a point of their spot.
For Romelu Lukaku, the goal in the Matchday 30 fixture took his tally in Serie A to 20 in all competitions. In effect, he became the first player in blue and black colors to score 20 or more goals in his first 30 Serie A games since Ronaldo Nazario in 1998.
So far, he has scored 20 or more league goals for only the second time in his senior career. The first during the 2016/2017 season where he bagged 25 goals for Everton.
Only three players have netted 20 goals in Serie A this season:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 5, 2020
❍ Ciro Immobile (29)
❍ Cristiano Ronaldo (25)
❍ Romelu Lukaku (20)
A formidable trio. pic.twitter.com/hXZ7NDZLgK