In what was billed as an early title decider, Napoli defeated Inter Milan 3-1 in Naples to regain top spot in Serie A. Goals from Kevin De Bruyne (33rd minute), Scott McTominay (54th minute) and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (66th minute) sealed victory for Antonio Conte’s side, while Hakan Calhanoglu (59th minute) sealed victory. It briefly gave Inter hope. This victory ends Inter’s unbeaten run and sends a clear message in the race for the Scudetto.
Team: Lineup and missing players
Napoli lined up in a 4-1-4-1, led by Antonio Conte, with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in goal, defended by Di Lorenzo, Bongiorno, Juan Jesus and Spinazzola. Billy Gilmour anchored the midfield behind Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne and McTominay, with David Neres acting as a false nine.
Conte has had to deal with Romelu Lukaku, Rasmus Hjøjlund, Amir Rahmani and Stanislav Lobotka all missing out with injuries.
Inter, coached by Cristian Chivu, stuck to a 3-5-2 system with a back three of Jan Sommer, Acerbi, Bastoni and Akanji in goal, wing-backs Dumfries and Dimarco, and a midfield trio of Barella, Calhanoglu and Mkhitaryan. Up front, Lautaro Martínez teamed up with Ange Yoan Bony.
The visiting team was missing Marcus Thuram and Matteo Darmian, but otherwise had a strong eleven.
Match summary: penalties, power, accuracy
This matchup lived up to its hype as an early season title showdown. Inter started brightly, pressing high and forcing Napoli into early mistakes. Lautaro Martínez had the first chance in the 15th minute, heading in from Barella’s cross, but Vanja Milinkovic-Savic made a good save. Moments later, Çalhanoğlu showed Inter’s intentions by firing a shot wide of the target from long range.
Napoli weathered the storm and took the lead. In the 29th minute, Giovanni Di Lorenzo ran into the box but was denied by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and was awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Kevin De Bruyne scored with his trademark composure, guiding Somer the wrong way and making it 1-0. This goal turned the tide and Napoli finished the first half on a high note despite losing De Bruyne to a bruise before the end of the first half.
After halftime, Napoli increased their lead to two points in the 54th minute. A fluid move down the left saw Leonardo Spinazzola race home with Scott McTominay and score from close range. Inter responded quickly and in the 59th minute Lautaro’s header hit Alessandro Bongiorno’s outstretched arm and, after another VAR check, Calhanoglu converted the penalty to make it 2-1.
The Nerazzurri attacked with fresh legs in midfield and looked to equalize, but Napoli hit back again in the 66th minute. David Neres sent a deft pass to Frank Anguissa, who fired a low shot past Somer to make it 3-1. Inter had the most possession (56.5%) and had 11 shots on goal, but Napoli’s defensive resilience and clinical finishing proved decisive.
The late substitutes Luis Enrique and Francesco Pio Esposito’s efforts in the final stages sealed the victory for Conte’s team.
De Bruyne’s influence
At 34 years old, Kevin De Bruyne remains a key player for Napoli. His vision and composure under pressure was evident in his penalties and adjustments to midfield play. Conte’s gamble with last summer’s signing appears to be getting more and more inspired.
However, although the team managed to maintain their good form in this game, the Belgian maestro’s injury will be an added concern for Conte. It was quite an eerie sight to see De Bruyne join his teammates on the bench after the half-time break, on crutches.
McTominay’s Salvation
Scott McTominay has responded brilliantly after a tough tour of Europe. His goals showed timing and aggression, and his box-to-box energy disrupted Inter’s rhythm. He is becoming an integral part of Conte’s system.
Inter’s weak midfield
Inter’s midfield trio struggled against Napoli’s pressing. Mkhitaryan’s injury and relying on Çalhanoğlu for creativity left a hole that Napoli exploited. Chivu may need to make some tactical adjustments ahead of the match against Fiorentina in midweek.
Conte’s tactical master class
Despite the injury crisis, Conte’s compact 4-1-4-1 disabled Inter’s wing-backs and forced turnovers in key areas. His ability to adapt under pressure strengthens Napoli’s credentials as title contenders.
Conclusion: Napoli back in first place, Inter regrouping
Napoli’s victory increased their lead to 18 points, taking them back to the top of the table ahead of Inter and AC Milan. Inter remain on 15 points, with their unbeaten run ending and now three behind them.
Upcoming matches:
Napoli: Play against Lecce before hosting Como, then clash with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
Inter Milan: Next, they host Fiorentina and visit Hellas Verona before facing Khairat Almaty in the Champions League.
The race for the Scudetto is heating up and with both teams juggling European commitments, team depth and tactical flexibility will determine the coming weeks.