Inter will face a direct rival in the Serie A table when they host Napoli this weekend, and they will see the match as an opportunity to finally prove their credentials in a head-to-head clash.
This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, who highlight the Nerazzurri’s struggles in the biggest matches so far this campaign and suggest that beating the Partenopei would be a major statement at this stage.
Inter have failed to win any of their matches against serious rivals in the Champions League places this season, with draws against the likes of Atalanta, Juventus, and AC Milan and their solitary loss of the campaign against Lazio inflicting damage on their Scudetto defense.
In truth, the Nerazzurri’s performances in these matches have not been overly problematic, but the missed penalties against La Dei and the Rossoneri suggest that the clinical edge in the most decisive moments has been absent.
Against the Bianconeri, meanwhile, Inter looked close to seeing out a slender advantage for a massive win before a controversial late penalty was awarded by VAR and they once again dropped points.
The Biancocelesti got a measure of revenge on former coach Simone Inzaghi when they came back from a goal down to beat Inter 3-1, yet again demonstrating Inzaghi’s team’s inability to put in a complete performance in a clash with a direct rival so far this season.
However, given the quality of the Nerazzurri’s play in these matches they will feel that they have every chance of taking three points from the Partenopei.
This will not be an easy task against a side who have dropped only four points from their opening twelve Serie A matches, but this would only make a win all the more significant.
Even a few more points in the standings from the matches against direct rivals would see Inter much closer to Napoli and AC Milan at the top of the table, but a victory against Napoli would also go a long way to rectifying this situation.
