Inter Milan and Napoli go head-to-head at a sold-out San Siro this evening with first place in Serie A firmly at stake and Marcus Thuram returns to Cristian Chivu’s starting XI.
Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 CET, with both sides knowing the result could significantly shape the Scudetto race.
After the measured rotation in Parma midweek, Cristian Chivu has reverted to Inter’s most reliable and in-form XI for the visit of Antonio Conte’s Napoli.
The Nerazzurri coach has opted for continuity, experience and balance in a fixture loaded with tension following the controversies of the reverse meeting.
Inter vs Napoli – Chivu Restores Thuram & Zielinski After Parma Rotation
As expected, several key figures return to the starting lineup.
Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella, Piotr Zielinski and Marcus Thuram are all back from the first minute, underlining the importance of the occasion.
In defence, Manuel Akanji is once again trusted as the central pillar of the back three, flanked by Yann Bisseck on the right and Bastoni on the left.
Our 1️⃣1️⃣⚫🔵 for #InterNapoli ⚔️
Forza Inter 💪@play_eFootball pic.twitter.com/4byPMGFSfU— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) January 11, 2026
Francesco Acerbi starts on the bench despite being available, while Matteo Darmian is not included in the squad.
On the right flank, Luis Henrique continues as the emergency solution in the absence of Denzel Dumfries, with Federico Dimarco confirmed on the left.
Zielinski is preferred to Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Sucic in midfield alongside Barella, while Hakan Calhanoglu anchors play in the regista role.
Up front, Chivu puts his faith in the established Thu-La partnership of Thuram and Lautaro Martinez.
Indeed, with both Ange-Yoan Bonny and Francesco Pio Esposito available to change the game from the bench.
Josep Martinez misses out with an ankle sprain.
Napoli Forced Into Changes As Conte Loses Neres
Napoli arrive in Milan significantly depleted.
David Neres has failed to recover from his ankle problem, forcing Conte into a reshuffle.
Leonardo Spinazzola is pushed higher up the pitch, with Eljif Elmas operating between the lines.
Several key absences remain, including Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, leaving Napoli short on experience and physical presence.
Inter vs Napoli – Official Starting Lineups
INTER (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro.
Bench: Calligaris, Taho, De Vrij, Acerbi, Carlos Augusto, Cinquegrano, Cocchi, Mkhitaryan, Sucic, Frattesi, Diouf, Bonny, Esposito.
Coach: Cristian Chivu
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Di Gennaro, Palacios, Dumfries, Darmian, Josep Martinez
NAPOLI (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus; Spinazzola, Lobotka, McTominay, Di Lorenzo; Elmas, Politano; Hojlund.
Bench: Meret, Contini, Buongiorno, Marianucci, Gutierrez, Mazzocchi, Vergara, Lang, Lucca.
Coach: Antonio Conte
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Lukaku, De Bruyne, Anguissa, Neres, Ambrosino, Gilmour
Referee: Doveri
Assistants: Alassio, Colarossi
Fourth official: Colombo
VAR: Di Bello
AVAR: Di Paolo
How on earth anyone could blame Luis Henrique for anything is beyond me. Those two goals came from nothing and I think he had a solid display. Whoever says others is too emotional and looks for a someone to blame where ever they can. Good game from Inter overall. Napoli is a top team with a top manager who knows how to win league games. Forza Chivu!! Forza Inter!!!
Chivu did well but Henrique is there just to make it 11 vs 11 he adds nothing on both ends that has been clear for a while now. At Inter ok is simply not enough and that’s why a replacement must be found or Chivu should be brave and try Diouf again to win matches. Key point Henrique is not going to win you matches but the fact that Darmian, Carlos, and Dumfries can do so even Diouf based on his recent matches. Numbers don’t lie Henrique has been and will continue to be mediocre at best there’s hiding from that fact and trying to defend him
I don’t know if our management is watching the same game as we are.. reading our comments here, it is so obvious to ‘even’ us who are not trained, that we need a pacy dribbler, a proper RWB, a proper defender, a new gk. and our fellas, are wanting to get fiores dodo! seriously, don’t know what these guys smoking!
They are not smoking, they just don’t have the money.
come on.. u know we do.. we had the money to pay 20-30 mils for dioif and henrique each!! while napoli got MC tominay for the same cash.. we just need good ideas.
Diouf and Henrique are young players with immense potential, can’t say the same for Mc Tominay. Stop thinking on emotion and think with clarity and foresight. We are top of the table if you didn’t notice so the board knows something we don’t, apparently.
we are at the top of the league because we are out performing our ability.. not bcoz something our management has done. we can see the grit and determination every single match day in each of our players.. henrique, dioif are young I agree.. but honestly u cannot believe no matter how optimistic that these two are going to be the next big things! that said, I hope I am wrong..but we really need good players! we are inter for f sake…
Diouf yes Henrique nope. He’s mediocre at best. Remember even Darmian while playing that position would produce a moment of brilliance more consistently. But for Henrique despite playing that many matches he can only claim once he made a difference. The guys gets in good position so many times and he just look back and pass back when he can go in and cause damage
They got they “pay out”, taking their chance on a flop… as we did with Lukaku. Perhaps the massage is – grab any Man U flop? lol
let’s get mainoo… ! 😉
Yeah…lets buy wins…ur team is wearing black and white
u ok mate? forgot ur meds?
FUUUUUUUCk this shiiit with “your comment is awaiting moderation”. Haven’t wrote any curse word or anything ffs.
Team has no idea what to do with the ball and it goes back to Chivu. You have a better starting eleven, better subs, play at home and still can’t win against this injured Conte’s Napoli, where he substitutes only one player in 90 minutes, because he has amateur subs.
This goes to show how strong this Inter is for nowadays Serie A, where a rookie coach who plays clueless Luis Henrique week in week out can still be top of the table.
Not a bad result given the fact that we played with 10 players. Henrique does not count, he is the RWB version of Asllani.
Given our inability to win big games, it will be a great achievement if we reach the last 16 in the UCL.
Henrique was either too tired or lost his confidence in this match. Not a single attack from the right side. Where is Diouf or if he is still injured just put Bony or Augusto there. Nothing happened on the right and he is there all 90 min.
Luis Henrique is a non factor. He may not make mistakes; however, he offers nothing going forward; a ghost of some sorts.
True. maybe too afraid to take a risk or make mistake in such a big game. He seems to be better in smaller matches.
This RWB position has been problematic for quite a bit now.
He, as you said, doesn’t take risks. You can’t be this passive as a wingback; the position dictates you to take some risks. He won’t last here for long, unless he has some dirt on Chivu, like Gagliardini did with Conte and Spaletti.
By instruction or lack of confindence? Maybe Chivu isn’t the best to teach a WB how to go forward – as he never or rarely did in his active playing career… What would Guardiola say? Trust yourself, and go go go go!!
Again Henrique is there to make it 11 vs 11 the coach knows it and as long as he doesn’t make defensive mistakes he’s going to continue starting the only hope is if Diouf shows something in training to Chivu so he trusts him to start him in that position
Bruh..we did what we can..doveri is a bish…we got this..FORZA INTER BRUH….WE GOT THIS
C.unte and. Scott who hasn’t paid a price handed Chivu his first draw.May Scott’s days be filled with misery and setbacks,
Something is genuinely wrong with you. You wish bad on a player for doing his job?
who cares, wish he never score goals
Sock it bish…ur not an inter fan davide…gobble bish
Your name should be Nikotator because you are an
1) instigator 2) agitator and 3) dictator!
The Iranians have. been chanting in Farsi “”Marg bar Dīktator”” You can figure out what it means
lol or in French mdr
And we will be fighting relegation as you told us all multiple times. We all know that!
Just a sweet remeinder so you could say that your views remain unchanged.
Yes I am not changing my views unlike you. 18 more matches to go then you can talk. I am sure you a c.unte boy fan
18 more matches and we will be fighting relegation??? “Chivu will be out till december”, I can still remember you said that as well, as you also said Moratti is “a looser”.
How could Inter be fighiting relegation, how can you still saying this stupid thing? And keep telling that your views are unchanged, so this means that after all will be fighting relegation this season.
There is something terribly wrong with your brain, that is why I am sure you are a complete idiot. Where did you read anything about my views? I was and will continue to be positive, no matter what, because I love this team and there were so many, many bad times(years) with no good football, no Champions League but I continued to support, because this is what fans do. It is so easy to trow mud, so easy to speak about other teams that are doing (not) so great…so easy to come here and speak your nonsense.
This will be the last message for you, boy. Maybe after you repair your multiple brain malfunctions…let’s say – 18 more years to go till you grow up a little and maybe than we can talk.
Conte is just a small part of Inter history, a coach that won the title, nothing more. He did a good job – not a great job – see his UCL matches, but now he is not at Inter. Coaches and players come and go, this is football.
Chivu is now the coach and I support him, as I suported other coaches as well. Chivu is also part of Inter history – more than Conte, because Chivu as a player is a hero of the great Inter team that won the TREBLE, along with so many great players under a great coach!
Forza Inter!
I’m waisting pretious time explaining this to you, idiot! You should knew all of this
chill mate.. u r a doctor? yet u wish bad for a player!?! come on mate. credit where due, tominay was good.
Fok i bruh…waiting for my team to slip…fok u lil shitface…go cheer your rube mthfkr
Team has no idea what to do with the ball and it goes back to Chivu. You have a superior starting eleven, better subs, play at home and still can’t win against this battered, injured Conte’s Napoli, where he substitutes only one player in 90 minutes, because he has amateur subs.
This goes to show how strong this Inter is for nowadays Serie A, where a rookie coach who plays clueless Luis Henrique week in week out can still be top of the table.
Defense was shaky today. Maybe should consider to switch to 4 defenders after leading and play a more balance 4-4-2.
Or being more of an offensive threat – as a form of defense? We gave them too much space, where we ended up allowing them to overload our box.
I think they had max 4 dangerous attacks and 2 turned into goals.
Our attack was very one sided with the right side basically doing nothing. Bisseck seemed to be more threatening than Henrique today.
Bisseck is more successful having a more defensive minded RWB working with him? Barella, when successful manages to balance those playing more defensively on the right side – but today he was “just too late”, watching McTominay finding space inside our box. Still, they overloaded our right side – and got space centrally following those moves in our right channel…
Barella is bad in terms reading the threat so when inter are winning especially against big teams keeping him defending is a liability.
Hmmm, i haven’t thought of it that way. So him not getting exposed too much, can be credited to DD and others working together on the right side – has become more exposed due to lack of attacking threat – with our current starters – rather than the player setup on our right side being less experienced in defensive phases?
2 times we were ahead. 🙁 I expected loss but with some optimism I wanted draw, but this is painful draw.
In the end, the positive is we have point against rival. Still at top. If Inter can keep winning against middle and low table teams. Milan losing points from low teams and that’s why we are first.
Forza Inter. Now Lecce if we are not too tired.,
Team has no idea what to do with the ball and it goes back to Chivu. You have a superior starting eleven, better subs, play at home and still can’t win against this battered, injured Conte’s Napoli, where he substitutes only one player in 90 minutes, because he has trash subs.
This goes to show how strong this Inter is for nowadays Serie A, where a rookie coach who plays clueless Luis Henrique week in week out can still be top of the table.
Credit to Chivu he did everything he could and Napoli had to score out of nothing. It’s not his fault Inter defence switch off when it matters most. Napoli will continue to worry against small teams and Inter should continue keep winning against small teams Napoli won’t play at the same intensity
No, Chivu did not do everything he could. He should have removed one between Lautaro and Thuram at around the 50th minute, as both of them had already become sterile in attack.
True but he showed that players can fight for him. Taking off the captain doesn’t look well mentally for the team. Lautaro has scored out of nothing
And replace them with who?? Our unproven strikers?! Man what is wrong with some of you???
I didn’t watch this match.
Only read comments here.
Before blaming Chivu or Lautaro, remember those old days, when Icardi always scored against our direct rival even won against them, but in the end we won nothing
Napoli were hanging on to luck while Inter created so much if only the defence was aware and just defended with determination then Inter gets 3 points. Chivu did well Lautaro was off but he’s someone who can change the match
I’ll give you a counter argument.
It shows how strong this Inter team is that a rookie coach, who encourages his players to aimlessly pass the ball in opponent’s half, also who plays Henrique week in week out can still be number one in the league.
Trust me if it was Conte or Allegri at Inter it could’ve been way way worse. Henrique starting every match is just something that I’ve accepted that you can’t have a perfect anything in life so Inter play 10 vs 11 at times and that’s a fact.
With Conte, his antics aside, this Inter would have been top of the table with 10 points to spare. I agree with you on Allegri though.
That just shows how golden years of present Inter are being wasted not winning the Scudetto. Inzaghi could only do it once as well. Gifted one to Milan and Napoli.
Nope Conte is a one tournament coach and his victim mentality is truly toxic if it doesn’t work out. But the biggest difference is that he’s not a long term project coach. Napoli wish they were out of other competitions and last season when Inzaghi completely lost the plot he managed to win by a single point and all of the sudden he’s a great coach. Chivu isn’t a great coach at all but he has shown signs of a coach that can be at a top team and that is being able to impose yourself onto other teams and seek for the win not hope for it based on lucky moments. This is the main reason Napoli will drop more points
nice game.. atleast we didn’t lose against a top 5 team. that said, credit where due… this mctominay lad is a ghost!!! always at the right place at the right time..!
No just Inter defence is very weak when it comes to marking and awareness. A cross that should’ve been a cross and a pass that could’ve easily defended. I think that’s why Mikhi was introduced but on the right side it wasn’t enough because Barella, Henrique and Bisseck are not good enough to hold onto a lead when a team is attacking them. After the goal Chivu not realising that was a mistake. I was against Acerbi starting the match but after the goal it would’ve been a perfect sub to lock the defence and stay deep. It’s not a perfect match but Chivu started the match to win it and any other day he does but the players are fully behind him which gives Inter the edge over others
no.. no matter what mistakes our defence do, mc tominay need to be there at the right place and the right time to capitalize. give credit where due..
Absolutely pathetic, another big game another no win. When will it end. Defense in shambles, can’t even mark McTominay who only shows up in Inter games. We have no right side, i don’t get when henrique is playing a full 90. Just WIN A BIG GAME!
Just be patient!
Well…daniela…we did good. FORZA INTER
Shit, no luck!
At least we didn’t lose against “big teams” this time around. Our defense reminds me too much of when everybody shouted for the booting of Inzaghi – before we suddenly found ourself in a CL final.
Hopefully Chivu will find an answer to this “detail”, that will make us into a big team-killer – again!
Another big game missed by Lautaro.
Seriously?!
Have a day off!!
He’s our only decent striker, leagues top scorer and 4th ever for inter.
Our captain and does so much more off the ball..
But yeah why don’t you have a dig at him when again players like bisseck, Henrique cost us points
Scapegoat much?!!
Shut. Daniela
Such a bish move to start a thing when we’re already in trouble…lil rubentina..sock my dong
Adolf…fok i mofo…come at me and i’ll wreck u lil fokface
Blaming Henrique?! What a joke. Rather the blame should hit Akanji today, but not really the two goals almost impossible to defend. McTominay i one of the best in this league no doubt about that.
I cannot understand fan Henrique is playing well tonight.
Sommer it’s ur time, get out
The 1st is totally on him.
sommer can be so useless sometimes. come and get the damn ball
Where’s frattesi when you need him for a late goal ?!
Notice no Napoli subs. They are so trash or injured, starting eleven will have to do.
Bisseck and L. Henrique make mistakes. The board doesn’t seem to want to sign another right-back and a center-back, and this happens. Unless it’s for free. And even then, it will be difficult. Cancelo himself preferred Barcelona. Another big game where Chivu’s team stumbles.
three attacks two goals what a disgrace
Team forgot what makes them great in the first place: solid defending.
That McTominay isn’t too bad though…
Indeed.
As I said before 3 CB’s not one of them can clear an aerial ball.
Bisseck went to challenge and missed it completely as he always does, “some” of you defend him cos he’s scores the odd goal, but he’s a terrible defender
Our lack of man-marking inside the box is scary!
Exactly. Every Napoli attack is dangerous, whereas Inter is content with passing the ball back and forth in Napoli’s half.
Only Toro working in attack, I don’t mind having attackers doing defensive work – but we shouldn’t have Toro ALONE vs the entire Napoli defense at a too early stage…
Now hope for draw. Absolutely nothing more.
Too bloody defensive. Lautaro under his standard today.
Lack of concentration with this team in ending minutes is a regular occurence now.
goal out of nothing again
You gotta be kidding me
they just can’t do it in big games
CLEAR THE BALL
You gotta be fkin kidding meeeeee
i’m tired of this team.
clear the damn ball
Was that Palombo speaking to Pio? He is in the coaching team as well?
I’m all lost at this point bruh…toi much adrenaline…tell me if u get it sorted out
Pioooooooooo
how can the napoli players complain about that penalty when they cheated one in the reverse fixture, its absurd…
Fok thiz guyz bruh…puzi eiez z
..we’re actually trying to play the game..unlike thiz cunz…
FORZA INTER
Conte clearly not used to getting pens called against him in big matches.
Yeah…he’s a lil bish
Suck it conte you hoe
Is it possible to keep this result. Please, don’t blow it. Let us win one big match.
Duuuuude…stay possitive bruh…we got this
can’t lie…won’t believe it till the final whistle
Not.
TAKE THAT C*NTEEEE
Hahahahahahahahahahahha
Fok em bro…forza Inter. What a night
Forza interrrrr brooo 😀
Black…blue…black…blue…we got this bruh
UNSAVABLE PEN THAT ONE……
Fok yeah bro
WHAT A PEN!!!!!
Finally learned how to wreck them
Faaaaaak yeeeeeAahhhhh
HAKAAAAAAAAAAN
Gooooooooooooool
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes inteeeeeeer
heart almost dropped but GOAL!!!
Imagine if we had 2-3 players with dribbling skills.
We have a so called “dribbler” Henrique who hasn’t done a single attacking play.
Cry more Conte hahahaha
Fok yeah bruh. Fok em
Conte gtfo
please Hakan
where is the “soft penalty” ref? you b*st4r* hypocrites
That’s penalty reff!!!
This must be a penalty. Instant impact Mkho!!!
Penalty
What Chivu is looking on Mkki?
It’s games like this I wish we’d got Lookman over the line..
We’ve lost all control and the CB’s had decided to let every ball bounce, signs they’re scared.
Go head the ball clear ffs
We need bonny
Barella wth
That was hands ball on jesus
i think its better to put bisseck in rwb position than henrique
Get rid of L. Henrique immediately. Besides not creating anything on the right side, he’s also very poor at marking. He’s the team’s weak point.
Why?
Um ankanji
2nd half coming…all support our team..we can do this. No negative thoughts..no whining…we need to win this
FORZA INTER
Cbs dudes say zeli is the best of the half. I’m out for a smoke…be burning my diploma. Wtf. Daniela..daniela..lil hore
Once again the ref kills our momentum
U got that right brother…i thoughts i’m going all crazy…but daniela is a bish
Funny things though
There is some rubentino calling himself daniele…that c u n t is nowhere to be seen when the game is actually on…make sure to wreck him if you see that viola beoch plastic fan
Napoli played the last match with 7 minutes extra time and they had to work hard just to hold onto a 1-1 hoping they get lucky Inter keep missing and they score a goal out of nothing. Their key players will start to get tired and Inter must punish them. They know they don’t deserve a goal and they’ll try. to slow the match down but it’ll suit Inter more if the same intensity keeps going because they have no answer. Thuram 1 vs 1 will pay off today he just need to believe he can do it Juan is reckless and wants a card hopefully it’ll be a red one
There are things that are not fair. But we’re inter fans. Thats life. We play vs the system. FORZA INTER
The crazy thing is there’s not even a yellow card with the most obvious dangerous play ever recorded.
Too bad they scored too soon.
lautaro how are u gonna beat the allegations if u are saving the ball for them.
Thuram has completely lost it.
He’s so much slower than he used to be
if that push was from basto or bisseck, 90% refs would check for penalty. unfortunately it came from one of lovely people in the eyes of refs
My prediction tonight…confront daniela…wreck them and pick a red..and then win with a man down. And claim the title i. Round 20
Lautaro awareness is 00.1%
We need Diouf, Henrique always back passes, i’m so tired of it
kinda like darmian but with even less confidence and not as good defensively
Darmian was so dependable.
Especially games like this- hardly a threat but so versatile and always 7/10
Bro Darmian was better because he had the ability to understands what to do in certain moments of the match. Henrique is just there to make it 11 vs 11
Bruh…even hakan does it
the right side is clearly the weak one for us
We miss Dumfries
With Henrique nothing happens
indeed
Well thats life bruh….are we some puzzzi team ot internazionale
we always outplay them but can’t win.
Not…always…not…today
Today…we win
Forza Inter
sommer… oh sommer… only if u were taller and had faster reaction time
Fck…
goal out of nothing wtf
Daniela held us at 1 till the clowns get their lucky goal
This is more scandalous than souza with the choke on pio
chest kick And not even a foul….Serie A refs and VAR strikes again
Di bello in team with daniela..we gotta score 3 min
Daniela is such a rubentina
Ref come on that’s red card!!
100%
His shirt is ripped. What a clown daniela
Shoe to the chest
Jesus…thats a red
Dimarcooooooooo. 4 goals and 6 assists. Record.
Zielinski working hard
We’re killin them bro…they cant breathe with our pressure or the fanmass
That is straight red card
I wish my brother…marcus made the foul. But i would have still call it red. Anyway doveri is somewhat of a rubentina employee
If it was the other way round red card
How is that not a red????
nvm thuram stop flopping
A bit…i would have given a red and play deaf 🙂
Perfect goal.. One of the best worked goals inter has scored this season to me…
FORZAAAAAAA
so glad dimarco is back on form. He’s so good.
Napoli were playing dangerously and Inter punished them now they must even commit even more
1-0 inter
cheaters ac milan
great Fiorentina
Forza inter lets kick some conte balls and see what else he got to say
We all know Inter disappears against direct rivals. I’d be happy with draw. Although draw would be best for Milan. Anyway wins against Atalanta, Bologna, Como and Lazio gave me some hope. Anyway, after any result we’ll be still st top of the table.
Tonight…we win.
FORZA INTER ⚫️
Di bello, doveri …omg
Full steam we go against the odds
Headfirst we go against the grain
Bulldozer feeds upon the weaker as they fall
Bulldozer crushes all
Forza Inter
Forza Inter lets do it
Forza ragazzi, lets gooo!!
We are winning the league with a rookie couch