Saturday’s match between Napoli and Inter Milan promises to be the climax to three months of toxicity in the Serie A title race.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews.

Saturday will see the two teams at the summit of the Serie A table face off directly.

Inter go into the match one point ahead of Napoli at the top of the table. They overtook the Partenopei last weekend, beating Genoa whilst their title rivals lost against Como.

There is a real feeling that this weekend could see the fate of the Serie A title decided. Meanwhile, Atalanta will also certainly be closely following Saturday’s match.

“Toxic Title Race” Between Napoli & Inter Milan Heading Towards Climax

The shape of the title race between Napoli and Inter has been clear for weeks now. Months, even.

The two teams marked themselves out as the most credible contenders for the Scudetto, along with Atalanta, all the way back in the autumn.

Antonio Conte
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 29: Antonio Conte, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

And it was in November that Inter and Napoli first met in Serie A this season.

That match ended in a 1-1 draw. But there was a sense that it could have been more, as Inter were awarded a second half penalty.

However, under the immense pressure, Hakan Calhanoglu missed from the spot for the first and to date only time in a Nerazzurri shirt.

But even though the penalty was not decisive in the end, it still caused Napoli coach Antonio Conte to rage after the match.

The always outspoken former Inter, Chelsea, and Juventus coach fumed about VAR after that match.

And that really set the tone for a title race that, in the view of Tuttosport, has turned outright toxic.

Antonio Conte is no stranger to controversy and mind games. And his preferred tactic in this particular title race has been to pile pressure on Inter.

The Napoli coach has insisted at every opportunity that the Nerazzurri are clear favourites for the title.

For their part, Inter have aimed to keep a low profile and brush off these suggestions.

But this weekend, things can really boil over on the pitch.