🔥 Napoli chase top spot, Pisa test next, Tudor hits back, Milan, Inter watch | OneFootball

With Juventus drawing 1-1 away at Hellas Verona, Napoli approaches Monday night's late match at the Maradona against Pisa with the awareness that they could already become the first sole leader of this season after just 4 matchdays.

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The reigning Scudetto holders can immediately capitalize on their excellent start in Serie A, helped by a not-too-difficult schedule, and claim the status of favorites in this championship as well.

Milan, signs of a big team

However, competition will not be lacking. A clear example is Milan, whose journey with Massimiliano Allegri on the bench seems similar to that of Antonio Conte's men last year. After the surprise defeat in the opener against Cremonese, they have racked up 3 consecutive wins.

The latest, against Udinese, was truly convincing. Luka Modric is still sparkling, Fofana provides great balance, and Adrien Rabiot completes a dream midfield with his running, reading of the game, forward runs, and quality. This trio is and will be the foundation of Max's 3-5-2, who, without European cups, wants to be the party crasher in the title race.

The next round will see the Rossoneri face Napoli at San Siro, giving an early indication of competitiveness at the top. That matchday will also see the return of Rafa Leao, who will be used for the first time as a center forward, providing an extra weapon.

Inter restarts from the left and bets on Pio

Federico Dimarco first, Carlos Augusto next. Inter moves up to 6 points by beating Sassuolo 2-1 and, with 2 wins in 4 days, tries to forget the previous double zero in the league. Cristian Chivu's team played a match similar to the one against Ajax, producing plenty of play but struggling more than necessary to find the net.

Once again, Pio Esposito made an excellent impact. This time, the twenty-year-old striker, starting from the first minute, made a few more mistakes but showed flashes of dazzling talent and power. The coach is betting heavily on him, and the gamble is truly intriguing. However, it's worth noting the late suffering caused by yet another avoidable goal conceded. Locking down the defense will be crucial for a season fighting for the highest goals.

Juve, draw and controversy

The Bianconeri's misstep was marked by the decidedly polemical tones of Igor Tudor, which partly overshadowed a performance below expectations from a team that appeared very tired after their Champions League commitments. In addition to the protest—harsh in form but understandable in content—over unfavorable refereeing decisions, there was criticism of the decision to have Napoli play on Monday. Was shifting the attention the intended goal?

Napoli, you can't fail

The scenario facing the Neapolitan team is extremely favorable, but nothing should be taken for granted. The defeat against Manchester City, their first since February 23 against Como, did not take away their certainties—if anything, it increased them. In a match that became impossible due to being a man down from the 20th minute, their defensive solidity and mental consistency were impressive.

However, their energy expenditure will need to be measured. The double commitment is a new challenge and has often caused complications in Antonio Conte's career plans. Some lineup changes are expected, and the impact of the second-string players will need to be weighed, given the negative approach of the substitutes against Fiorentina.

This is the most classic maturity test, the first of the season. It doesn't come in impossible conditions—far from it—but it will require the same mentality shown at the Etihad Stadium. Napoli's ambitions, clearly, will depend on their mindset and their bench.

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

📸 ALBERTO PIZZOLI - AFP or licensors