NEARLY A LATE LEVELLER!! Farias gets his head to the ball but Handanovic plucks it out of the air. That was the Empoli striker's big moment!
90' +7
K. Baldé gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
Keita is shown a second yellow card for that pull on Dragowski's top and is sent off! Just to clarify, it is still 2-1 and Inter are down to 10 men for the remaining seconds. There's still time left for a late, late twist!
90' +6
D. D'Ambrosio gets yellow.
The referee, in his final match before retirement, has lost control. D'Ambrosio is the latest player to be cautioned.
90' +5
F. Caputo gets yellow.
F. Perucchini goes off after a red card!
Caputo is shown a yellow card, seemingly for dissent.
Amid all the celebrations, Empoli substitute Perucchini is shown a red card. It was presumably for something he said to the referee.
87'
The ball trickles out of play and Handanovic takes an age over the goal kick. Inter are having to waste time here to get the job done.
86'
Empoli, who are back in the relegation zone after conceding that second goal, are the side asking all of the questions. The visitors are refusing to go down without a fight.
85'
Traore is given about 10 yards of space to charge into. He carries the ball towards the edge of the opposition box but miscues his shot into the stands.
84'
D'Ambrosio fouls Farias 23 yards from the Inter goal. It is hearts in mouths time for the home fans but Ucan can only pick out the wall from the free kick - what a let down!
83'
What a final day this has been in the Italian top flight - we have had a bit of everything! All eyes are on San Siro now as Empoli have already showed they have a goal in them. Should the visitors strike again for a second time that will surely end Inter's Champions League aspirations.
Minute
Description
81'
R. Nainggolan has scored a goal for Inter Milan!
GOOOOOAAAALLL!!! INTER 2-1 EMPOLI! Inter bail themselves out! Vecino drives forward with the ball and unleashes a brilliant shot that comes back off the base of the post. Nainggolan is in the right place at the right time to send the rebound past Dragowski from 10 yards. Inter are back into the top four!
79'
Politano shoots wide of the target as Inter look to make an instant response. Empoli, who are a point above the relegation zone, are now aiming to hold on and see out the remaining 11 minutes.
77'
INTER DOWN IN FIFTH! Atalanta, AC Milan and Roma are all winning elsewhere on the final day, meaning that Inter will finish fifth as things stand. Spalletti's side need a goal and they are running out of time to score it.
76'
H. Traorè has scored a goal for Empoli! Assist by S. Uçan.
Ucan, only on the field for five minutes, showed good movement to get in behind and then had the presence of mind to tee up Traore for a simple finish.
GOOOOOAAAALLL!!! INTER 1-1 EMPOLI! This is incredible - a goal that changes everything at both ends of the table! Ucan is played in behind and he sends the ball towards the back post, where Empoli have a couple of players waiting to pounce inside the six-yard box. Traore is one of those left unmarked and he has the simple task of converting into an empty net.
74'
Dalbert enters the game and replaces I. Perišić.
The match has become incredibly stop-start over the last 10 minutes, which is probably Spalletti's plan. Perisic, booked a couple of minutes ago for his challenge on Brighi, is replaced by Dalbert for the final 15 minutes or so.
72'
I. Perišić gets yellow.
Perisic shows a little bit of his studs when going in on Brighi and receives a yellow card.
71'
M. Brighi enters the game and replaces A. Acquah.
S. Uçan enters the game and replaces D. Maietta.
L. Martínez enters the game and replaces M. Icardi.
Empoli make a double change. Brighi replaces Acquah in the first of Andreazzoli's subs.
Maietta makes way for Ucan in the second of Empoli's alterations.
Icardi bows out of San Siro for the final time this season - and possibly the last time as an Inter player. On in his place is Martinez.
68'
Inter are knocking the ball around, aiming to run down the clock without any scares. Spalletti needs to use his next sub wisely because this match is far from over at this stage.
66'
UPDATE! Atalanta lead Sassuolo 3-1 and AC Milan are now 3-2 ahead against SPAL. All Inter have to do is hold on for another 25 minutes or so and fourth place is theirs.
65'
SHOT! Keita, who has been Inter's biggest attacking threat since coming off the bench, has a snapshot from distance kept out by Dragowski.
64'
M. Pajač gets yellow.
Pajac is booked for a challenge on Skriniar, which did not go down well.
63'
The pressure remains on Inter following that penalty miss. Empoli had every right to feel aggrieved that the spot kick was awarded and justice was done as Dragowski maintained his good form by making the save. Could there be another twist at San Siro? There is still plenty of time to go.
61'
Penalty saved by B. Drągowski!
PENALTY SAVED!! Justice is done as Dragowski, who has been phenomenal today, uses his full frame to keep out Icardi's penalty with his legs.
Icardi had the chance to all but secure a top-four finish for Inter but he could not pick out the corner of the net from 12 yards and Dragowski kept it out. The rebound could have gone anywhere but thankfully for the Empoli keeper fortune was on his side.
56'
Keita tries to pick out the run of Icardi but the striker, possibly playing his last game for Inter today, is flagged for offside. Empoli are still looking threatening when they get on the ball, but Inter are reluctant to give them possession.
54'
UPDATE! It is all happening now as Atalanta are 2-1 up against Sassuolo and AC Milan have been pegged back at 2-2 by SPAL. Those scores, combined with Keita's goal for Inter, means that Spalletti's men are back into the top four.
52'
K. Baldé gets yellow.
Keita is shown a yellow card by the referee for taking off his shirt when celebrating that crucial opening goal.
51'
K. Baldé has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by M. Politano.
GOOOOOOOAAALLL!!! INTER 1-0 EMPOLI! What a huge, huge goal this is for Inter - and it comes from the half-time substitute! Keita uses the decoy run of Icardi to his advantage by shifting the ball to his right and picking out the far bottom corner of the net with a superb strike from 22 yards.
Politano is credited with the assist, but this goal was all about the quality of Keita's strike and the decoy run of Icardi.
50'
Empoli may be at the bottom end of the division, but they have won three matches in a row and they are playing like a side full of confidence. Right wing-back Di Lorenzo carries the ball high up the pitch and puts a dangerous cross into the middle, which causes some panic before being cleared.
49'
Perisic attempts to clip the ball towards the back post but it is blocked by Di Lorenzo. The Inter attacker is adamant that it is handball, but Di Lorenzo's hands were behind his back - no chance was the referee going to point to the spot.
47'
With around 20 seconds of the second half played, half-time substitute Keita is effectively through on goal. Rather than shooting, though, he tries to square the ball to a team-mate and it is cut out for a corner.
46'
K. Baldé enters the game and replaces K. Asamoah.
RESTART! Empoli, who are doing enough to ensure that their status as a Serie A side will remain intact an hour from now, get us back underway at San Siro!
Keita replaces Asamoah for the start of the second half. Spalletti takes decisive action with his side in need of a goal.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: INTER 0-0 EMPOLI
42'
Inter win a corner and Empoli just about scramble it clear. Skriniar could not adjust his feet quickly enough to get a shot away inside the six-yard box.
41'
Asamoah squares the ball to Nainggolan, who sticks out a boot to divert the ball towards goal. There are a few groans around San Siro as the home fans know that things are not panning out as expected. Remember, Inter will miss out on a place in the top four if things stay this way.
39'
Empoli look threatening whenever they come forward. Traore uses De Vrij as a wall but is unable to get enough curl on his shot, which goes out for a goal kick. Up the other end of the field, a poor touch from Politano lets Dragowski off the hook.
37'
UPDATE! Lorenzo Pellegrini has put Roma in front at home to Parma and Duvan Zapata has equalised for Atalanta against Sassuolo. As things stand, Inter are in fifth place - they need to score.
36'
Inter are enjoying plenty of possession in the final third, and they will argue that they have done enough to warrant the lead, but Empoli have also created a brilliant opportunity that Caputo failed to take. Traore catches D'Ambrosio to give away a free kick.
33'
ANOTHER DRAGOWSKI SAVE! This match has been pretty relentless so far - brilliant viewing for the neutral, it must be said! Nainggolan volleys the ball goalwards with a superb technique from 22 yards, but again it is near enough right at Dragowski.
28'
GOOD SAVE! Brozovic is encouraged to shoot from 25 yards and he does exactly that. The ball has plenty of power behind it but not enough bend, giving Dragowski the chance to push it behind for a corner kick.
27'
Inter's link-up play on the edge of the box has been superb. Their crossing has been poor, though, and that is where their best route through on goal looks likely to come from. AC Milan are now two goals in front against SPAL so they are on course to completing their half of the bargain, so to speak.
25'
Replays show that the referee Luca Banti got that penalty decision spot on - Pajac's challenge on D'Ambrosio was a good one.
24'
PENALTY SHOUT! Asamoah's crossing is letting him down, with this latest attempted pass once again being overhit. Inter come forward again and, just as D'Ambrosio is about to pull the trigger, his feet appear to be taken from under him by Pajac. The referee waves play on.
22'
CLOSE! Asamoah slips the ball towards Perisic, who dummies it for Icardi. The striker turns brilliantly and gets a shot away, which flies narrowly wide of the target with Dragowski looking a little worried.
20'
UPDATE! Domenico Berardi has put Sassuolo in front against Atalanta so Inter, having dropped down to fifth, move back into fourth! We are goalless at San Siro but there is plenty of drama on this final day in Serie A.
19'
UPDATE! AC Milan have taken the lead against SPAL through a Hakan Calhanoglu strike. That goal could prove massive as Inter have now dropped down to fifth place in the Serie A standings.
18'
The ball is switched to Asamoah, who is being given far too much room down the left. The full-back is not quite making the most of the space, though, as this latest attack fizzles out.
17'
Farias goes on a positive run and wins a corner out of D'Ambrosio. Inter initially struggle to clear the danger, but a loose ball is pounced on by Nainggolan and Empoli's rare attack comes to an end.
15'
GREAT BLOCK! Icardi nods the ball down for Politano, who gets plenty of power behind his volley from 10 yards. Silvestre jumps in the way of the shot to block it, though, preventing what could well have been the opening goal.
13'
SAVES! Another couple of half-chances come and go for Inter. Vecino attempts to find a way through with a back-heeled flick, which Dragowski is equal to. D'Ambrosio also has a headed attempt kept out by the Empoli keeper.
9'
Dragowski is under little pressure but elects to punch the ball rather than grabbing it, immediately putting his side back under pressure. Inter are having plenty of joy in the wide areas early on, which they are looking to capitalise on.
7'
Pajac covers well to prevent Vecino from getting a shot away. Inter claim that there was contact made in the box during that move but the referee disagrees.
5'
Borini shoots into the side-netting at one end and, moments later, Caputo is unable to pick out Acquah at the end of a swift Empoli counter. We have an open match on our hands!
4'
SAVE! A good first touch sets Nainggolan for the shot, which is aimed pretty much right at Dragowski in the Empoli goal. This has been a bright start for the home side.
3'
Politano cuts inside from the right but opts against taking on the shot from 20 yards. Instead the ball is worked to Asamoah, who overhits it straight behind for a goal kick.
2'
The hosts win a corner with exactly a minute on the clock. Politano takes it but there is far too much pace on the ball and it sails straight through the box.
1'
KICK-OFF! Inter, who will be assured of a place in the Champions League next season if they pick up victory, get us up and running in Milan!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Serie A meeting between Inter and Empoli at San Siro.
Both sides have plenty to play for on the final day of the season as the battle for a top-four finish and Serie A survival intersect. Inter were stuffed 4-1 by Napoli last weekend and have collected just six points from the last 15 on offer, potentially leaving them needing a victory in this final outing of the campaign. Luciano Spalletti's side are level on points with third-place Atalanta and occupy the final Champions League qualifying berth, but they can still be caught by both AC Milan and Roma.
As for Empoli, they have won three matches in a row - against Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Torino - to leave themselves on the brink of safety. Aurelio Andreazzoli's men are locked in a four-team battle to dodge the third and final relegation spot, currently sitting one point better off than 18th-place Genoa, who travel to Fiorentina in the final round of fixtures. Plenty can happen over the next couple of hours, but rest assured we will have all bases covered.
INTER (4-2-3-1): Samir Handanovic (c); Danilo D'Ambrosio, Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Kwadwo Asamoah; Marcelo Brozovic, Matias Vecino; Matteo Politano, Radja Nainggolan, Ivan Perisic; Mauro Icardi.
Inter subs: Dalbert, Andrea Ranocchia, Miranda, Daniele Padelli, Cedric Soares, Borja Valero, Keita, Lautaro Martinez, Roberto Gagliardini, Antonio Candreva, Joao Mario.
EMPOLI (3-5-2): Bartlomiej Dragowski; Matias Silvestre, Cristian Dell'Orco, Domenico Maietta (c); Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Afriyie Acquah, Hamed Junior Traore, Ismael Bennacer, Marko Pajac; Francesco Caputo, Diego Farias.
Empoli subs: Ivan Provedel, Dimitri Oberlin, Levan Mchedlidze, Jacob Rasmussen, Filippo Perucchini, Manuel Pasqual, Leonardo Capezzi, Salih Ucan, Dimitris Nikolaou, Matteo Brighi, Frederic Veseli.
The two teams are now out on the field at San Siro and we are moments away from kick-off.
Spalletti will have mixed feelings on the back of that first half. Inter created plenty of openings and, if not for some inspired goalkeeping from Dragowski, they could easily be a couple of goals to the good. The bottom line, though, is that his side did not score, and now the pressure is only going to increase as results elsewhere are not going their way. That could well see Spalletti turn to his bench at the interval, with Martinez an option to come on in attack.
Thanks for joining our coverage today. Until next time, goodbye!
Spalletti may not even be in the San Siro dugout to lead Inter into the Champions League next season, but he did at least achieve his mission in finishing fourth. As for Empoli, this cruel defeat means they go down along with Chievo and Frosinone.
Commentary
More…