The standout fixture of Serie A Matchday 12 pits defending champions Inter and present leaders Napoli towards one another on Sunday evening. Giuseppe Meazza varieties the backdrop for this early Scudetto six-pointer, with solely some extent separating the 2 Italian giants forward of the kick-off.
Regardless of blowing cold and warm within the early stage of their Serie A title protection, Inter may enter November’s worldwide break because the league leaders with a win right here. Simone Inzaghi’s troops pounced on Napoli’s disastrous 3-0 residence defeat to Atalanta final weekend to whittle down the hole.
Lautaro Martinez’s first residence purpose in Serie A this season impressed Inter to a slender 1-0 residence triumph towards newcomers Venezia. Nonetheless, they needed to survive a last-minute VAR drama to safe three factors. .
Hakan Calhanoglu scored from the spot on the stroke of halftime to set his workforce up completely for this mouth-watering conflict. With Inter and Juventus respiratory down their necks, Napoli head into proceedings determined for a fast rebound after struggling their second three-goal margin loss this season.
Antonio Conte’s slipped to a 3-0 reverse at Hellas Verona on matchday one. However that they had since hit a purple patch earlier than Atalanta gave them a harsh actuality verify final Sunday. What higher strategy to reaffirm their Scudetto credentials than beating the reigning holders of their yard?
Match Preview
Inter
Latest historical past closely favors Inter. Inzaghi’s males have gotten the higher of Napoli in six of their final ten conferences in Serie A (D3, L1). Nonetheless, this corresponding fixture in 2024/25 ended 1-1, ending Inter’s dominant five-game profitable residence league streak towards the Partenopei.
Low scoring has been a standard theme on this match-up. Eight of the final 9 top-flight encounters between Inter and Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza have featured below 2.5 targets, highlighting the potential for a cagey affair. However the hosts needs to be assured of troubling the scoreboard.
Boasting one of many longest scoring runs in Europe’s top-five leagues, Inter have discovered the web of their final 28 residence outings in Serie A. Regardless of their formidable scoring type, Inzaghi’s males have blown cold and warm throughout their 4 most up-to-date league matches (W2, D1, L1).
But, they’ve hit the bottom operating since a 2-1 Derby della Madonnina loss to Milan in September, racking up an attention-grabbing nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions (W9, D1).
Napoli
Napoli had loved the same run earlier than Atalanta ran riot at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, profitable six consecutive video games in home motion, together with a 2-0 triumph towards Milan at this stadium. Certainly, Conte’s males have gone from power to power on the highway after a day-one fiasco at Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.
They arrive into this conflict unbeaten on their final 4 Serie A travels (W3, D1). Napoli remarkably saved a clear sheet on every event, suggesting they might knock Inter down from their outrageous scoring spree at Meazza. With Juventus and Milan among the many sides they saved at bay throughout that sequence, it’s exhausting to place it previous the Partenopei to close out their hosts.
Nonetheless, if issues go south, Napoli may undergo back-to-back league defeats for the primary time since December 2023. The guests can’t afford a gradual begin, although that’s been a recurring theme on their latest visits to Inter.
5 of the final six Serie A showdowns between Inter and Napoli on this floor have seen the visiting aspect concede the opening purpose.
Crew Information
With Francesco Acerbi and Calhanoglu again from accidents, Inter could have nearly a complete squad match for this blockbuster. Carlos Augusto is the one particular absentee, however there’s an opportunity Kristjan Asllani may skip this fixture resulting from a minor health downside.
As for Napoli, Mario Rui is the one lacking first-team participant. Star midfielder Stanislav Lobotka has recovered from a thigh pressure and may dislodge Billy Gilmour from the beginning line-up. With Leonardo Spinazzola not totally match but, Mathias Olivera will most likely begin at left-back.
Inter vs Napoli Potential Beginning Line-ups
Inter (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez.
Napoli (4-2-3-1): Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Alessandro Buongiorno, Mathias Olivera; Andre- Frank Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka; Matteo Politano, Scott McTominay, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia; Romelu Lukaku.
Inter vs Napoli Prediction
Regardless of Napoli’s excellent away type, Inter once more appear like a workforce that strolled to the Scudetto final season, particularly on the again.
Inzaghi’s males have registered 5 shutouts of their final six aggressive matches. Although we wouldn’t wager towards Romelu Lukaku and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Inter ought to take three factors right here and leapfrog Napoli into the summit.