The Serie A title race heats up this Saturday as Napoli host league leaders Inter Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. With both sides battling for supremacy, this fixture carries massive implications in the race for the Scudetto.
Inter reclaimed top spot last weekend while Napoli’s winless streak continued, making this a crucial game for Antonio Conte’s men.
Can the Partenopei bounce back, or will the Nerazzurri strengthen their grip at the summit?
Inter Milan: In Control but Not Unstoppable
Inter Milan enter this fixture as Serie A’s front-runners, bouncing back from their Derby d’Italia defeat to Juventus with a narrow 1-0 win over Genoa. Their momentum continued midweek, securing a place in the Coppa Italia semi-finals with a clinical victory over Lazio.
Simone Inzaghi’s side boasts the league’s best defense and one of the most potent attacks, led by the prolific Lautaro Martinez and his strike partner Marcus Thuram. However, despite their dominance, the Nerazzurri must be wary—Napoli remain a dangerous opponent, especially at home.
Inter’s recent record against Napoli is encouraging, having won eight of their last 11 league meetings. They have also been tough to break down on the road, with their solid backline of Pavard, Acerbi, and Bastoni proving difficult to breach.
Napoli: A Slipping Contender in Need of a Response
Napoli, on the other hand, are in desperate need of a turnaround. The reigning champions have failed to win any of their last four league matches, drawing three before a damaging 2-1 loss at Como last weekend. That defeat saw them surrender first place, putting their title defense in serious jeopardy.
Antonio Conte will demand a response, especially against his former club. The Italian tactician’s switch to a 3-5-2 system has helped structurally, but the team’s inconsistency remains a concern. While Napoli have found the net in their last six home games, their defensive frailties have been costly, conceding five goals in their last four league outings.
Romelu Lukaku, facing his old employers, will be the focal point in attack alongside Giacomo Raspadori. The Belgian has experience on his side but will need service from midfield creators like Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay. With Frank Anguissa ruled out, Bournemouth loanee Philip Billing is expected to start in a vital holding role.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Both teams face injury setbacks heading into the clash. Napoli will be without Anguissa, David Neres, and Pasquale Mazzocchi, while Inter are missing Matteo Darmian, Carlos Augusto, Nicola Zalewski, and first-choice goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Napoli Predicted XI (3-5-2):
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Billing, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Raspadori, Lukaku
Inter Milan Predicted XI (3-5-2):
J. Martinez; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, L. Martinez
