Antonio Conte pleased with 'important response' as Inter Milan go top of Serie A with win over Verona

Nicolo Barella scored his first Inter Milan goal to seal a 2-1 win over Verona to send Antonio Conte's side back to the top of Serie A, while Napoli players were booed off the pitch after being held to a stalemate at home by Genoa. The former Cagliari midfielder Barella's curling effort seven minutes from time after Matias Vecino had cancelled out Valerrio Verre's 19th-minute opener. The win allowed Inter to leapfrog defending champions Juventus, who face AC Milan in Turin on Sunday where a 10th league win of the season will see them reclaim top spot. But Serie A runners-up Napoli saw their winless league run extended to four games, and are stuck in seventh position, 12 points behind Inter. Napoli fans were furious with the point against their northern rivals who are 17th in the league, days after the team's Champions League last-16 progress was stalled with a 1-1 draw against Salzburg. Inter coach Antonio Conte had also been furious after his side threw away a two-goal lead to fall to a 3-2 Champions League defeat at Borussia Dortmund in midweek. But the former Juventus and Chelsea manager was happy with the way his team hit back. "I saw an important response after Dortmund," the Italian said. "The lads are doing something important - 31 points in 12 games is a nice haul. "Now there is a [international] break and we're going to rest after a victory that gives us enthusiasm and the knowledge that we're on the right path." Verre put Verona ahead from the spot on 19 minutes after Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic tripped Mattia Zaccagni. Goalkeeper Marco Silvestri and the Verona defence held off Inter at the San Siro before Matias Vecino broke through, heading home a Valentino Lazaro cross on 65 minutes. Barella completed the comeback late on, whipping off his jersey as he celebrated wildly with his teammates. It was his second goal since joining Inter last summer having scored the equaliser in a 1-1 Champions League draw with Slavia Prague. "We wanted to win at all costs, despite the fatigue from the recent matches," said Barella. "Now it's time for the national team and I'm already focused on that," he added of Italy's upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.