Scottish midfielders Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour throughout Napoli’s win over Empoli (CARLO HERMANN)
Napoli are sizzling on Inter Milan’s heels because the Serie A title race heads right into a packed Easter weekend with Antonio Conte’s crew at rock-bottom Monza on Saturday and able to pounce.
Three factors separate Napoli from reigning champions Inter and a second Scudetto in three seasons is an actual risk with a simple run-in and no commitments past the league.
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Inter are on a excessive and gunning for the treble after reaching the Champion League semi-finals however have a crammed schedule with the second leg of their Italian Cup semi-final with AC Milan arising after Sunday’s robust fixture at Bologna.
Conte has a terrific probability to grab the title from the membership he and in-form striker Romelu Lukaku took to the Scudetto in 2021, after starting the season with the crew in full disarray.
The 55-year-old took cost final summer time with Napoli reeling from the worst Serie A title defence in historical past and the celebrities of that triumph — Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — on the lookout for a approach out.
Conte has moulded Napoli in his picture, with Lukaku and Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay his stand-out gamers after arriving from Chelsea and Manchester United in August.
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“We’re there, three factors behind Inter which was unthinkable (firstly of the season). Our goal was to create a disturbance, and that is what we’re doing,” mentioned Conte after Monday’s 3-0 win over Empoli.
“Napoli needs to be thanked for holding this title race alive.”
Napoli have already swept apart one relegation-threatened crew this week and Monza needs to be even simpler pickings with the drop a close to certainty for the crew owned by the Berlusconi household.
Monza have picked up simply 5 factors for the reason that flip of the 12 months and have misplaced their final three, a dismal run of outcomes which has left Alessandro Nesta’s crew 12 factors from security with six matches remaining.
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After Easter Napoli face one crew within the prime half of the desk — Tenth-placed Torino — whereas Inter additionally tackle Roma and Lazio within the remaining weeks of a marketing campaign which may turn out to be one of many best of their historical past.
Barcelona stand in Inter’s approach of reaching the Champions League remaining in Munich after an exciting 4-3 combination win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
“I am fortunate sufficient to have a squad which has extra than simply nice gamers, they’re additionally nice males,” mentioned Inzaghi after the Bayern win.
The brief Easter Sunday journey to Bologna may additionally have an effect on the battle for a top-four end, with Atalanta at Milan making an attempt to consolidate third place.
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Bologna are fifth, two factors behind Juventus who sit fourth and full the Easter fixtures at Parma on Monday. They’re 4 behind Atalanta after shedding 2-0 in Bergamo final weekend.
Participant to observe: Scott McTominay
Scotland midfielder McTominay has settled in brilliantly in Naples since arriving from United and is on target to hit double figures in objectives in his first season in Italy.
McTominay is on 9 objectives in all competitions this time period after rattling in an outstanding double with the assistance of Lukaku on Monday.
And he may effectively prime his finest tally of 10 from his penultimate season within the Premier League with Napoli taking over 4 groups battling relegation of their final six matches of the marketing campaign.
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Key stats
3 – Napoli path Inter by three factors with six video games remaining
8 – McTominay’s Serie A aim tally this season
Fixtures (instances GMT)
Saturday
Lecce v Como (1300), Monza v Napoli (1600), Roma v Verona (1845)
Sunday
Empoli v Venezia (1300), Bologna v Inter (1600), AC Milan v Atalanta (1845)
Monday
Torino v Udinese (1030), Cagliari v Fiorentina (1300), Genoa v Lazio (1600), Parma v Juventus (1845)
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