Inter Milan moved a step closer to a 20th Serie A title with a 1-0 win over in-form Bologna on Saturday to extend their league lead to 18 points. Jan Bicek scored the only goal in a tight match with a 37th-minute header at the Renato Dalara Stadium as Inter prepare for Wednesday’s Champions League decider with Atletico Madrid in a positive manner be prepared. Germany defender Biesek’s second goal of the season extended Inter’s winning streak in all competitions since the turn of the year to 13 games and underlined that the league title is more a matter of when than if.

“This is one of the most difficult parts of the game… It’s not easy to beat Bologna. We gave everything,” Nicolo Barrera told DAZN.

“Who knows how long it will take us to win the league, it depends on the other teams. It will be difficult for those who are chasing us and hopefully it will continue to be difficult for them.”

Second-placed Juventus can close the huge gap on Inter Milan when they host Atalanta on Sunday.

However, with the title race effectively over and dusted, Atalanta will have more opportunities to compete with fourth-placed Bologna for a spot in next season’s revamped Champions League.

Bologna’s defeat ended a six-game winning streak and left a gap for other teams aiming to top four.

Atalanta are five points behind sixth-placed Bologna, while Roma will close one point behind Thiago Motta’s side with victory over Fiorentina on Sunday.

Bologna have been the surprise of the season, unbeaten in two league and cup games against Inter Milan before Saturday’s game.

Unstoppable Inter Milan

With the downpours in northern Italy having continued for weeks, Bologna dominated for long periods but could not find a way past Jan Sommer.

“You can’t concede goals like we did because once you go behind a team like Inter Milan, they know how to control the game,” Motta told DAZN.

“You can only congratulate Inter because they deserve everything they are getting.”

Bologna are seeking to qualify for the Champions League for the first time, although the seven-time Italian champions played just one round in the old European Cup in 1964, the same year they recently won the Scudetto.

Last season’s ninth-place finish was Bologna’s highest finish in Serie A in more than a decade, and they are still gunning for their best finish in years.

Inter now turn their attention to Atletico, who lost in La Liga on Saturday to lowly Cadiz, who led 1-0 in the first leg at the San Siro last month.

“It will be a great game, the Champions League is probably the best competition and we need to stay in it as long as possible,” Barella said.

Previously, Cagliari defeated bottom-placed Salernitana 4-2 in a thrilling manner to get out of the relegation zone, while Salernitana continued to slide towards the relegation zone.

Claudio Ranieri’s side have won two games in a row to climb up to 13th, while Salernitana’s winless run extends to 11 games.

Sassuolo beat Frosinone 1-0 in their first game under new coach Ballardini, but they remain in 19th place, one point behind their opponents just outside the bottom three. .