Inter 2-2 Lazio: Pedro brace denies hosts top spot
Inter twice had the lead against Lazio, but failed to hold onto it, seeing the chance to leapfrog Napoli in the Serie A table go begging.
Inter's title hopes suffered a blow as substitute Pedro's late penalty earned Lazio a 2-2 draw at San Siro on Sunday, denying their hosts top spot.
The title race will go down to the final matchday, though it is now out of Inter's hands, as Napoli also drew - 0-0 with Parma - leaving Antonio Conte's side in the driver's seat.
There was little to split the sides in the first half, with Federico Dimarco and Gustav Isaksen seeing shots saved at either end before Inter took control.
Yann Bisseck opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, picking out the top-left corner after profiting from Dimarco's blocked shot.
Lazio then drew level through Pedro in the 72nd minute, with the goal confirmed following a VAR check that saw Matias Vecino was onside. But Denzel Dumfries put Inter back in front with 11 minutes left, sending them back to the top of Serie A with a thumping header.
Bisseck then went from hero to villain as he conceded a late penalty, with both Marco Baroni and Simone Inzaghi sent off in the aftermath for dissent.
Pedro then coolly converted from the spot in the 90th minute to break Inter hearts, while keeping Lazio in the fight for a Champions League place.
There would be one last twist, though, as Inter saw a stoppage-time goal ruled out for offside when Marko Arnautovic fired home after a deflection off Carlos Augusto.
Inter, who now need to better Napoli's result next Sunday, are on 78 points, with Como away on the final day. Napoli are on 79 and host Cagliari. Should the sides finish level on points, the title will be decided by a playoff.
Data Debrief: Super-sub to the rescue
Pedro came on in the 53rd minute, but made the biggest impact on the pitch, ensuring Lazio are only two points behind Juventus in the race for fourth place.
He is the second player to score at least nine goals after coming off the bench in a Serie A season (three points per win era), after Luis Muriel (11 in 2019-20).
In fact, no player has scored more goals than Pedro as a substitute this season in the big 5 European leagues (nine, level with Alexander Sorloth).
Inter, meanwhile, have failed to win two of the last three Serie A home games (a defeat against Roma and a draw against Lazio), after a run of six consecutive home victories.