Inter 2 Empoli 1: Keita, Nainggolan secure Champions League berth in thriller

Keita Balde Diao and Radja Nainggolan were on target to ensure Inter will play Champions League football next season.

Inter secured its place in next season's Champions League and condemned Empoli to relegation as Radja Nainggolan's late goal sealed a 2-1 win in a dramatic game on the final day of the Serie A season.

Luciano Spalletti — whose position continues to be the subject of intense scrutiny – said earlier in the week that he wanted his players to treat the game as a "cup final" and they duly responded in the early stages, with only the brilliance of Empoli goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski preventing them from putting the game to bed before half-time.

Keita Balde Diao's introduction at the interval proved a masterstroke as the 24-year-old superbly whipped past Dragowski from outside the penalty area to open the scoring.

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Empoli took full advantage of Mauro Icardi's penalty miss soon after, though, to level in the 76th minute through Hamed Junior Traore.

However, Nainggolan slotted home nine minutes from time and a hectic finish saw Inter defender Danilo D'Ambrosio clear against his own crossbar before Marcelo Brozovic had a goal ruled out by VAR after Keita fouled Dragowski – rushing back to his own goal from a corner – to earn the forward a second yellow and consequent red card.

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Inter finishes a point above city rivals AC Milan in fourth, while Empoli makes an immediate return to Serie B after Genoa's 0-0 draw away at Fiorentina.

Inter started on the front foot and was denied an opener after 10 minutes when Dragowski superbly tipped Ivan Perisic's 20-yard drive wide.

Key Opta facts: Inter has gained qualification for the Champions League in two Serie A campaigns in a row for the first time since 2010-11. Keita Balde Diao has scored for the first time since last December, when he found the net against Empoli. The Inter forward has scored three goals against Empoli, against no other side he has done better in Serie A. Mauro Icardi has failed to score a penalty attempt for the first time since December 2017 in Serie A (versus Sassuolo). The striker has scored 11 goals in this competition, his worst amount of goals since 2013-14 (9).

 

Keita was introduced at the break and the Senegal international made an immediate impact, curling into Dragowski's bottom-right corner from 20 yards in the 51st minute.

Icardi then had the chance to double Inter's advantage shortly after the hour-mark when referee Luca Banti – after a VAR review – deemed Dragowski to have brought him down inside the penalty area. The Argentina international's weak spot-kick was comfortably kept out by the Empoli goalkeeper, however.

The visiting team took full advantage of that reprieve when Traore ghosted in at the back post to tap in Salih Ucan's low cross.

Inter came roaring back, though, and Nainggolan slotted into an empty net after Matias Vecino's shot had cannoned back off the post.

Empoli came agonisingly close to denying Inter – and preserving their Serie A status – in the closing stages, D'Ambrosio striking his own crossbar from just five yards out and Samir Handanovic thwarting Ucan from close range.

Brozovic thought he had scored a third deep into stoppage time but his effort from the halfway line was ruled out by VAR after Keita had pulled down the backtracking Dragowski.

The Inter forward received a second yellow card for the offence, while Empoli's substitute goalkeeper Filippo Perucchini was dismissed for his remonstrations from the bench, but it will do little to detract from a precious win for the Nerazzurri.

What does it mean? Inter stumbles into the Champions League

With Antonio Conte apparently waiting in the wings to claim the Inter throne, Spalletti might not be in the mood to celebrate his side's Champions League qualification. In truth, it should have wrapped up a top-four finish weeks ago but a run of one win in its five previous games prior to the visit of Empoli means its qualification for European football's showpiece event feels more than a little underwhelming.

Empoli down despite Dragowski's best efforts

The Poland Under-21 international made headlines last month when he made an incredible 17 saves in a 0-0 draw with Atalanta and he was in equally outstanding form against Inter. He made a string of wonderful stops and can consider himself unlucky to have been on the losing side.

Icardi fails to deliver

The Argentinian has endured a controversial season and did himself no favours with an insipid second-half penalty. He was hauled off by Spalletti soon after in what could well be his last game for the club.

What's next?

Spalletti faces a nervous wait to see if he will be dismissed in order for Conte to take over the reins, while Empoli boss Aurelio Andreazzoli will hope to mastermind an immediate return to the top flight.