Napoli Coach To Go With Same Starting XI Vs Inter Milan As In AC Milan & Atalanta Clashes – Key Midfielder Only Fit For The Bench | OneFootball

Napoli will start with the same lineup against Inter Milan as they did against AC Milan and Atalanta, with Stanislav Lobotka on the bench.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Napoli are facing a massive test of their Serie A title credentials.

The Partenopei are top of the table. They have been for much of the season.

But Napoli are up against an Inter side who are now just one point behind them. Therefore, this evening’s match presents an opportunity for the Nerazzurri to overtake them at the top going into the international break.

But this is not the first big match that Napoli have had this season.

And in fact, the Campanian team have had a rather punishing sequence of three matches, with this evening’s match as the climactic fixture.

And so far the results have been distinctly mixed.

At the end of October, Napoli secured a convincing 2-0 victory away to AC Milan. That was certainly a statement of their title intentions.

But then last Sunday, the Partenopei suffered a major setback. They lost 0-3 at home to Atalanta.

Napoli To Go With Same Starting XI Vs Inter As Vs AC Milan & Atalanta – Lobotka On The Bench

Napoli coach Antonio Conte has developed a reputation for going with a tried-and-tested starting lineup once he has figured out a formula that works.

And that has certainly been the case over Napoli’s last few matches this season.

The Partenopei have been playing with a 4-3-3 shape and familiar personnel.

This worked perfectly against the Rossoneri, although Atalanta were able to cause problems for it.

In any event, Conte is not going to change things up against his former team Inter.

There is one area of the pitch where the Napoli coach would be sorely tempted.

Midfielder Stanislav Lobotka is back from a muscle injury he picked up during the October international break.

Lobotka is one of Napoli’s key players. And he had certainly been one of their outstanding performers under Conte this season prior to his injury.

Therefore, the 29-year-old’s return from injury is very welcome news for Conte. He could very well feature this evening.

But Lobotka is not yet ready to play from the start. Therefore, Billy Gilmour will keep his spot.