Inter Milan's Serie A woes continued with Sunday's 1-1 draw at lowly SPAL stretching their winless run to seven matches.
Alberto Paloschi's header in injury time salvaged a point for the home side, who started the match in 18th with only three wins from 21 all season. It cancelled out SPAL dedender Francesco Vicari's 48th minute own goal to leave Inter facing a fight to finish in the top four.
Luciano Spalletti's men entered the match without a win in six games following a miserable period between December and January that has seen their title hopes crumble. A desperate scrap for the top four and a Champions League place has ensued and although the Nerazzurri remain fourth, Roma could draw level with them on Sunday evening if they beat Sampdoria at home.
The visitors started in slack style, Pasquale Schiattarella finding space in the area but failing to work Inter keeper Samir Handanovic. As Inter toiled, it was enough for coach Spalletti to scream at his side to move the ball quicker as SPAL seemed content to sit back and stifle.
SPAL keeper Alex Meret, 20, made his first start of the season after overcoming injury but he was barely tested in what was a dire first half. Ivan Perisic shot wide from a difficult angle on the half hour and just before the break, both he and Milan Skriniar contrived to squander presentable opportunities, summing up a frustrating 45 minutes in which Mauro Icardi only touched the ball five times.
Antonio Candreva was removed for Eder at the break and three minutes after the restart, the visitors went ahead. A seemingly harmless cross from the left was somehow diverted past Meret by Vicari, much to the bemusement of the Stadio Paolo Mazza.
Meret was then called into action after Matias Vecino met Perisic's pass, but the SPAL youngster did well to keep the score at 1-0. As Inter looked to kill the game off, Marcelo Brozovic let fly from range but once again met fierce resistance in the home goal.
Jasmin Kurtic and Paloschi were both guilty of glaring misses in the latter stages as Inter struggled to deal with the home side's pressure but Paloschi's header made amends following his earlier miss and was just reward for SPAL's perseverance.