Rafa Benitez says that he is not surprised to see a title race between Napoli and Inter Milan in Serie A this season.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid, also formerly at Inter and Napoli, gave his thoughts in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

It is still very premature to suggest that only Inter Milan and Napoli are candidates for the Serie A title this season.

Atalanta are just three points behind the Nerazzurri at the top. And just two points behind Napoli.

Therefore, La Dea are certainly poised to take advantage of any result between Inter and Napoli tomorrow.

And then Juventus are not really all that far behind. And in Serie A they have momentum, even if they’ve bombed out of the Champions League and the Coppa Italia.

However, for much of the season it’s been Inter and Napoli who have really been vying for the title.

The Nerazzurri certainly would have expected this. They won last season’s title in dominant fashion.

On the other hand, Napoli have had to recover from a shambolic title defense of their own last time out.

Benitez: “Not Surprise To See Napoli Vs Inter Milan Title Race”

Tomorrow, Inter and Napoli go head-to-head directly at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples.

Rafa Benitez argued that at the outset of the season, “Inter were favourites, of course.”

Rafael Benitez
NORWICH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 15: Rafael Benitez, Manager of Everton reacts prior to the Premier League match between Norwich City and Everton at Carrow Road on January 15, 2022 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

“But at the same time, Napoli could also be right up there. One could have guessed that.”

“Bringing in Conte, you’ve already taken a decisive step to realize your ambitions,” Benitez argued.

Meanwhile, Benitez argued that it would be “premature” to call tomorrow’s match a title-decider.

“There will still be eleven matches to go,” the former Inter and Napoli coach noted. “And 33 points up for grabs.”

“There will also be some big head-to-head matches. Very high level ones, which you can hardly predict in advance.”

“No one would deny that it’s important,” Benitez said of tomorrow’s match. “But I’d discard the idea that it will be the be-all and end-all.”

As far as a favourite tomorrow, Benitez said that “If you’re thinking about the absolute quality of the team, you’d say Inter.”

“If you’re thinking about a month ago when they came back to beat Juventus, you’d say Napoli,” he continued.

“Then if you look at the quality of the players on the pitch, maybe you’d still say Napoli. But then you realize that Conte is missing Anguissa and Neres, big absences. So you’d say Inter.”

“It seems clear to me that it will be a balanced match,” said Benitez.

“As with the first meeting this season. As the table suggests, there’s just a point between them.”