A clash of Calcio titans will bring together reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan and league leaders Napoli, as the teams convene at San Siro on Sunday.
The visitors sit one point clear of their hosts after a shocking home loss last week; meanwhile, Inter have just put together three straight wins, including an impressive result in the Champions League.
Match preview
Three days after Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive goal in Inter’s unconvincing 1-0 win over Venezia, Simone Inzaghi‘s side beat Arsenal by the same margin in Milan, taking them to within two points of top spot in the Champions League table.
On his first start since returning from injury, set-piece specialist Hakan Calhanoglu coolly converted a penalty on the stroke of half time to put the Nerazzurri in front; aided by the odd dash of fortune, Inter doggedly defended that advantage and secured another success.
With four clean sheets at the halfway stage, they are proving a tough nut to crack in Europe’s top club competition and seem set for a coveted top-eight finish – that would ensure a direct path through to the last 16.
Back on the domestic front, Napoli’s slip-up leaves Inter just one point behind Sunday’s opponents in the Serie A standings and still very much in contention to defend the Scudetto.
Inzaghi’s men have now won eight of their last nine matches in all competitions, the only exception being an incredible eight-goal Derby d’Italia draw with Juventus.
Having scored in 28 consecutive Serie A home games – the third-longest streak across Europe’s top five leagues – and lost just one of their last 10 top-flight meetings with Napoli, Inter can tackle their final fixture before the international break with confidence.
One week on from a chastening 3-0 defeat to Atalanta BC, Antonio Conte comes up against another of his former clubs, no doubt intent on leaving Milan with maximum points.
His previously unstoppable Napoli side had strung together a run of 10 league and cup games without losing before La Dea came to town, but Gian Piero Gasperini outsmarted Conte in terms of strategy at Stadio Maradona.
The Partenopei’s first setback since the opening day was only the second time Conte had ever lost at home by a three-goal margin, so while Inter have been occupied by European football, all thoughts have been focused on bouncing straight back.
Another defeat would cost Napoli top spot in the table, casting some doubt on their ability to stay the pace in what appears to be an open title race this season.
Inter’s immediate predecessors as Serie A champions can still boast a fine recent record on the road, though: including victory over AC Milan at San Siro, they have kept clean sheets in four consecutive away fixtures, picking up 10 points from a possible 12.
Inter Milan Serie A form:
Inter Milan form (all competitions):
Napoli Serie A form:
Team News
After surprising some with his team selection in midweek, Simone Inzaghi has plenty of scope to rotate Inter’s squad again, as only Carlos Augusto is unavailable due to injury.
Veteran centre-back Francesco Acerbi recently returned to full training and was an unused substitute against Arsenal, so he may even start this weekend.
Following his part-time role on Wednesday, Marcus Thuram should return to partner captain Lautaro Martinez. After scoring three goals in his first four league games against Napoli, the latter has only managed one in the next eight, failing to find the net in any of the last five.
Meanwhile, Napoli’s front line will be led by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – the visitors’ top scorer this season – and ex-Inter duo Romelu Lukaku and Matteo Politano.
As Stanislav Lobotka has recovered from a thigh strain, Billy Gilmour‘s place in midfield is at some risk despite turning Antonio Conte’s criticism into praise over the past few weeks.
Once again, Mathias Olivera and Leonardo Spinazzola will battle it out for selection at left-back, with skipper Giovanni Di Lorenzo starting on the right.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Kvaratskhelia; Lukaku