Since losing to fellow title rivals AC Milan in a home fixture, Inter Milan have stitched together a six-game winning run in the league, and the next test comes against Napoli. Those results have allowed the Nerazzurri to open up a three-point gap over the Rossoneri and four points over reigning champions Napoli, whom they meet at the San Siro on Sunday.
For starters, Cristian Chivu will want revenge for the loss in Naples earlier in the season, but more importantly, achieve the prospects of opening up a sizeable gap at the top. With Milan faltering in their own on Friday against Genoa at home, the Nerazzurri could open up a six-point advantage over their close rivals with a win over Napoli.
Skipper Lautaro Martinez has been a key performer, scoring in five of those six wins. However, in the most recent game against Parma, it was his strike partner Marcus Thuram and left wing-back Federico Dimarco who got on the scoresheet to secure another win. However, a big test lies ahead for Inter Milan, as they will want to overcome the threat posed by reigning champions Napoli.
Antonio Conte has been a big part of Napoli’s four-game unbeaten run against Inter Milan, whom they pipped for the title last season. The reigning champions lack a run of consistent results to show for their fight in the title race, which was clear when their game against Hellas Verona ended in a 2-2 draw the last time out.
Losing points at a valuable juncture of the season will come back to bite Napoli later in the campaign, as Inter Milan continues their winning streak. Conte is probably the best man in charge to stop the Nerazzurri in their tracks, as he will certainly want his side to record a stellar result to get closer to the league leaders on their own turf on Sunday.
Inter Milan’s injury issues have eased up as Denzel Dumfries is the only confirmed absentee as things stand. There are some doubts over Davide Frattesi’s fitness, which will likely keep the midfielder on the bench if he is selected in the matchday squad. However, Matteo Darmian and Andy Diouf have resumed full training, with the duo expected to feature on the Inter Milan bench on Sunday.
Cristian Chivu will have the luxury to name a strong lineup for Sunday, with Marcus Thuram, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nicolo Barela all in contention after being rested against Parma. Piotr Zielinski has been performing at the top level of late, and Chivu is likely to keep the former Napoli man in the starting lineup alongside Hakan Calhanoglu and Barella.
Once again, all eyes will be on Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez and whether he can regain his scoring form against Napoli after missing out on the scoresheet against Parma. At the back, Chivu will allow some of his recently injured defenders to ease into action, meaning a back three of Yann Bisseck, Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni is likely to take the field.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Antonio Conte will once again be without some of his key performers, such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and Billy Gilmour, for Napoli’s trip to San Siro to take on Inter Milan. On top of that, Brazilian winger David Neres is also a considerable doubt.
Wide man Pasquale Mazzocchi could return from a suspension. Noah Lang could be in contention to replace Neres, and Eljif Elmas could feature alongside the Dutchman in the front line, as Rasmus Hojlund leads the line for Napoli.
Conte will continue to go with a back three of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, and Alessandro Buongiorno. Matteo Politano and Leonardo Spinazzola are the wing-back options for Conte, with Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay set to keep their midfield berths.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Elmas, Lang; Hojlund
McTominay is yet to hit the heights with his performances from last season, and while he remains a key part of Antonio Conte’s ideas, the Napoli manager would want his star player to step up against Inter Milan. While the Scotsman has regained form over the last few games, the trip to San Siro is a big test of his character.
With Napoli missing several of their key stars this season, such as Kevin De Bruyne or Romelu Lukaku, the onus is on McTominay to get the team going. The clash against Inter Milan is key from every angle, and losing here would push Napoli further behind in the title race, while the Serie A MVP has the credentials to turn a game on its head, something Conte will hope happens on Sunday.
Napoli might have come into this clash with Inter Milan with a four-game unbeaten run against Inter Milan, but they are the underdogs here for many reasons. Injuries to key stars as well as their inconsistent form, coupled with Inter Milan’s six-game winning streak, point to the result heading in one direction.
The Nerazzurri are the slight favourites to take three points on Sunday, given their squad availability and current form. Cristian Chivu will want a win more so to create a statement of intent in the title race, and open up a sizeable gap at the top of the Serie A table, something they will be able to achieve against Napoli.
