Napoli at a crossroads: defeat means crisis, victory changes all | OneFootball

The pink newspaper describes the Serie A big match between Napoli and Inter as a true turning point for the season of the Italian champions. After Milan’s misstep, in fact, the match at the Maradona becomes a decisive opportunity for the top spot in the standings: whoever wins overtakes and temporarily takes the lead.

La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli at a crossroads: “If they lose, it will be a crisis, but if they win, everything turns upside down”

The newspaper highlights how, on paper, the favorite was Antonio Conte, bolstered by a Napoli strengthened with prestigious signings like De Bruyne, against Chivu, coming off the shock of the final and two initial defeats. However, reality says that Inter has strung together seven consecutive wins, while Napoli, after a positive start, has reversed the trend:

“Literally on the verge of a nervous breakdown after two defeats in a row and the six goals conceded against PSV that hurt badly. Meanwhile, Milan is stopped by Pisa, encouraging the chasers to attempt the unthinkable overtake. Can Chivu deliver the coup de grâce? But have you ever seen Conte out of the running in October? With a paradox: Napoli between collapse and the top. The important thing is to withstand the slippery game of the strongest, which changes every week.”

La Gazzetta emphasizes how the pressure is enormous for both teams: “Conte could bounce back, as could Chivu, but unlike Inter, there has been no reaction from Napoli in the dark moments. Eight matchdays are nothing, but if Napoli loses, it will be hard to avoid the word crisis. If they win, another psychological upheaval.”

In short, tonight’s match is not just a clash between two in-form teams, but a real psychological and strategic test to see who can lead Serie A in the coming weeks.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.