Dimarco caps Serie A MVP honor with a stunning free kick in Inter Milan’s finale

By: Daniella Matar, The Associated Press Posted: 1:07 PM CDT Saturday, May. 23, 2026 Last Modified: 3:53 PM CDT Saturday, May. 23, 2026

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MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan midfielder Federico Dimarco celebrated his Serie A MVP award by scoring against Bologna as a much-changed Nerazzurri drew their final match of the season 3-3 on Saturday.

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MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan midfielder Federico Dimarco celebrated his Serie A MVP award by scoring against Bologna as a much-changed Nerazzurri drew their final match of the season 3-3 on Saturday.

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MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan midfielder Federico Dimarco celebrated his Serie A MVP award by scoring against Bologna as a much-changed Nerazzurri drew their final match of the season 3-3 on Saturday.

The match mattered little as Inter already owned the league title — and the Italian Cup — while Bologna had no chance of qualifying for Europe.

Inter coach Cristian Chivu gave players going to the World Cup an extra week off — namely Hakan Calhanoglu, Manuel Akanji, Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries — but captain Lautaro Martínez started as the Argentina forward had only recently come back from injury and needed more playing time.

Inter's Federico Dimarco celebrates scoring, during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Inter Milan, in Bologna, Italy, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Dimarco, who was presented with his award just before the match, scored the opener with a stunning 25-yard free kick into the top right corner.

Federico Bernardeschi leveled just three minutes later and Bologna took the lead shortly before halftime when Tommaso Pobega’s volley took a double deflection.

Bologna lost half of its previous home matches this season but it appeared as if it was on course for victory at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara when Inter midfielder Piotr Zieliński turned a cross into his own net early in the second half.

But Pio Esposito reduced the deficit in the 64th when he tapped in a rebound after Andy Diouf’s effort bounced off the post. Diouf got on the scoresheet himself in the 86th.

Pedro’s farewell

Pedro bid farewell to Lazio with the winning goal in a 2-1 comeback victory at home against already-relegated Pisa.

The 38-year-old winger is leaving Lazio after five years with the capital club. Pedro previously played for Barcelona, Chelsea and Roma and won a sackful of trophies, including the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and the European Championship two years later.

Lazio players wore a special commemorative patch on their shirts for his final match.

Stefano Moreo headed Pisa in front but its lead didn’t last long and Lazio turned the match around with two goals in as many minutes from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Pedro.

Most of the rest of the final round of Serie A takes place on Sunday night, with four teams battling for the final two Champions League places and two teams fighting against relegation.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer