It seems like October’s international break just wrapped up, yet here we are with November’s international break around the corner, which will halt club football festivities for another fortnight. But before the hiatus hits, fans will witness a clash of titans in Serie A, as reigning Italian champions Inter Milan face league-leaders Napoli on Sunday.
Both Inter Milan and Napoli have kicked off the 2024/25 season in electrifying form. Last season’s champions, Inter, are picking up right where they left off—steamrolling opponents and racking up points at an unmatchable clip. The Nerazzurri have already accumulated 24 points from 12 Serie A games. Despite this, they aren’t the ones sitting atop the Serie A standings at the moment. That honor belongs to Napoli, who have surprised fans by seizing the top spot earlier than anyone predicted.
Having said that, Napoli have a plethora of talented players who are managed by one of the best tacticians in the world, Antonio Conte. The Italian manager has garnered a reputation for extracting the most out of a squad, and he’s doing exactly that in Naples. But with just one point separating Inter from Napoli at the top of the table, Sunday’s clash is a real title-defining six-pointer.
Napoli’s revival under Antonio Conte has been one of the most captivating stories in Italian football this season. After a disastrous title defense that saw them finish 10th with just 53 points last term, the Partenopei have turned things around dramatically. With the arrival of Conte and some fresh faces, Napoli have shaken off the disappointment of last season and are now eyeing a brighter future. Since their opening day defeat to Hellas Verona, Napoli hadn’t lost a match until last weekend. After securing 11 wins on the bounce, Conte’s men were confident of getting another positive result against Atalanta at Stadio Maradona.
However, Gian Piero Gasperini schooled Conte with his tactical setup, as La Dea cruised to a 3-0 win thanks to a brace by Ademola Lookman and a goal by Mateo Retegui. That humbling loss would have dented Napoli’s confidence a little bit. However, they still top the Serie A table, and a win on Sunday would give them a comfortable four-point lead over the Nerazzurri. But it’s worth noting that Napoli has struggled against Inter in recent years, winning just once in their last 10 league encounters. Antonio Conte will be determined to end Napoli’s lackluster run of results against Inter, and with the title race wide open, a victory on Sunday could be the catalyst Napoli need to push on. A win could give them the momentum and belief to take control of the race and potentially secure their second Scudetto in just three years.
Having said that, Inter Milan have been absolutely unstoppable lately. The Nerazzurri are riding high on a nine-game unbeaten streak that dates back to September’s Derby Della Madonnina loss to AC Milan. What’s even more impressive is their flawless Champions League run – Inter have yet to concede a goal in four UCL matches! Their rock-solid defense has laid the foundation for a commanding 10 points in the competition. Most recently, they shut down Arsenal, who couldn’t find the back of the net despite firing off 20 shots. A first-half stoppage time penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu sealed a 1-0 win at San Siro. With eight wins in their last nine games, Inter head into Sunday’s showdown with immense confidence – and with the San Siro crowd backing them, they’re looking like the favorites to take all three points.
Simone Inzaghi has kept everyone guessing with his squad choices recently, and he’s got plenty of room to rotate once again, with only Carlos Augusto sidelined through injury. Veteran defender Francesco Acerbi has returned to full training and was an unused substitute against Arsenal, so he could feature from the start this weekend. After a more limited role midweek, Marcus Thuram is likely to be back alongside captain Lautaro Martinez up front. The Argentine has been in a goal drought, with only one goal in his last eight league games after a blistering start to the season with three goals in his first four matches against Napoli.
For Napoli, all eyes will be on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, their top scorer, who will lead the charge in attack alongside ex-Inter players Romelu Lukaku and Matteo Politano. Midfield sees Stanislav Lobotka returning from a thigh injury, which puts Billy Gilmour’s spot at risk despite the Scot’s recent performances earning praise from Antonio Conte. On the left, Mathias Olivera and Leonardo Spinazzola will battle for the starting role, while Giovanni Di Lorenzo will continue on the right.
The game is scheduled to take place on 11th November 2024 (Monday) at San Siro in Milan. The match will kick off at 1:15 AM (Indian Standard Time).
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