Despite the midweek Coppa win against Roma, Inter still need to bounce back in the league from last week’s derby loss.
Traveling south to Naples to face a resurgent Napoli is hardly the best of circumstances to stage a rebound. Match tonight Saturday at 18:00 CET.
Hosts Napoli have been in red hot form recently, they’re unbeaten in the new year and are currently on a four match winning streak.
The title challengers know that they’re facing the champions in near-perfect circumstances; Inter are currenly in the midst of an 8 week torrid run of tough matches and have just lost the Milan derby last weekend.
Napoli coach (and ex-Inter coach) Luciano Spaletti will really fancy his side’s chances.
Not only are the Nerazzurri coming off a painful derby loss, but they had to play a midweek Coppa Italia match against Roma, limiting their chances to rest and recuperate ahead of the the top-of-the-table clash in Naples.
With Alessandro Bastoni out injured, expect Simone Inzaghi to be less adventurous with his defenders’ attacking form the back.
Perhaps Danilo D’Ambrosio’s slated start will mean that the Neapolitan defender will assume Bastoni’s dual defensive/offensive responsibilities from the opposite flank, mixing it up for Inter and potentially confusing the hosts.
Inzaghi knows that his side’s biggest deficiency is profligacy in attack. The Nerazzurri almost always create far more chances than their opponents, it is their inability to convert said chances that ends up biting them in the rear.
Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez must be at their clinical best if Inter are going to take anything away from this game.
This will be a true top of the table clash.
Team News
Inter will be without the services of Joaquin Correa, Alessandro Bastoni and the yet-to-debut Robin Gosens. Of the trio, Bastoni’s absence will probably be felt the most, particularly seeing how the young defender has become a vital component in Inzaghi’s plans.
Probable Inter line-up (3-5-2): Handanovic (C); Skriniar, De Vrij, D’Ambrosio; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Perisic; Dzeko, Lautaro.
Stats
Last Season: Napoli 1 – 1 Inter
Last 10 Head to Head: Trips to the Diego Maradona are no longer as daunting as they might have seemed a few seasons ago. Inter hold a tight but substantial lead over the visitors with five wins to Napoli’s pair of victories.
Keep An Eye On
Danilo D’Ambrosio: Santo Danilo has been Inter’s savior in countless occasions. Expect the makeshift central defender to come good for his team when playing in his home-town.
Officials:
Referee: Daniele Doveri.
Assistant referees: Costanzo and Bindoni.
Fourth Official: Cosso.
VAR: Di Paolo and Valeriani.
Prediction & Concluding Remarks
Prediction & scorers: Napoli 1 – 2 Inter; Dzeko and D’Ambrosio to score.
Concluding remarks: This will be a tough match. There’s no doubting Napoli’s credentials and firepower, but expect Inter to find that extra gear and nick the game by the slightest of margins.