Inter edge Verona 1-0 to stay close to leaders Napoli

MILAN, Italy :Inter Milan maintained their flickering Serie A title hopes with a 1-0 home win over Hellas Verona on Saturday, courtesy of an early penalty by Kristjan Asllani, as they rested players ahead of their Champions League clash with Barcelona next week.

The result keeps the Scudetto race ticking over, with Inter on 74 points, three behind leaders Napoli, who earlier won 1-0 at Lecce, as the final three rounds await. Verona are 15th.

With Inter's semi-final return leg at home to Barca on Tuesday, following a 3-3 draw in Spain, defender Yann Bisseck was the only player to keep his place from the previous match.

Simone Inzaghi's Inter side made a strong start and scored after nine minutes, with Asllani converting a penalty following handball by Nicolas Valentini to give the hosts the lead.

However, their intensity waned in the second half, with the match becoming a midfield battle littered with lost possession and attacks that came to nothing as Inter held on for the win.