Serie A Preview: Inter vs Napoli – Team News, Lineups & Prediction | OneFootball

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza forms the backdrop for a high-stakes Serie A showdown between direct Scudetto rivals Inter and Napoli. Much more than just bragging rights will be at stake in Sunday’s mouth-watering encounter at one of the most iconic European stadiums.

There was plenty of skepticism when Inter decided to hand over the managerial reins to Cristian Chivu in the summer. The Nerazzurri took a leap of faith with the 45-year-old manager, who only had 13 top-flight matches under his belt at Parma last season.

However, Chivu has defied his lack of experience, steering the 20-time Italian champions to the top of the Serie A standings at the halfway point of the campaign. Goals from Federico Dimarco and Marcus Thuram on either side of halftime propelled Inter to a 2-0 win at Parma in midweek.

With Milan and Napoli dropping points, Chivu’s men have opened up a three-point cushion at the summit. The Partenopei hauled back a two-goal deficit to grind out a 2-2 home draw against relegation-threatened Hellas Verona, just days after seeing off Lazio at the Olimpico.

As a result, they headed into the weekend trailing Inter by four points, knowing that anything other than a positive result at San Siro could deal a significant blow to their Scudetto aspirations. Antonio Conte guided Napoli to their fourth Serie A title last season and could become the first manager to go back-to-back with the southern giants.

Match Preview

Inter

Conte beat his former club to the Scudetto in one of the most dramatic Scudetto races in recent memory, so there will be no shortage of motivation for Inter today. Furthermore, the Nerazzurri slumped to a controversial 3-1 defeat in October’s reverse fixture, a result they will be desperate to avenge in front of their home crowd.

There’s plenty of reason for optimism here, as Inter have won six consecutive league games ahead of this revenge-poised clash, including a 3-1 rout of Bologna in their first home outing of 2026. That was the fourth time in their last six league matches at the San Siro that they scored at least three goals, underscoring their unparalleled scoring prowess.

Indeed, Chivu’s men have been firing on all cylinders this season, netting a league-high 40 goals – at least 11 more than any other Serie A side so far. However, Inter would be wise not to fall into a false sense of security, considering that three of their four top-flight defeats this season came against fellow Scudetto rivals.

Napoli

Napoli already bested Inter in a direct clash this term, securing an opportunity to complete their first league double over the Nerazzurri since the 2016/17 season. That could prove easier said than done, considering Conte’s charges have only won two of their last 14 meetings with this opposition (D6, L6).

Yet, Napoli should travel north in high spirits after hoisting the Supercoppa Italiana trophy last month, courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 win over Bologna in the grand final. That victory formed part of a four-game winning streak in all competitions, which ended against Verona on Wednesday.

Consistency has recently been a rare commodity for Napoli, as they’ve dropped points in four of their last nine league games (W5, D2, L2). It’s also worth noting that they’ve suffered four defeats on their eight most recent road trips in Serie A (W4). That sequence ominously started at this venue with a 2-1 loss to Milan in September.

Team News

Backup goalkeepers Raffaele Di Gennaro and Josep Martinez have joined long-term absentees Denzel Dumfries and Matteo Darmian on the sidelines. However, the rest of the Inter squad is fit and ready, including Ange-Yoan Bonny and Andy Diouf, who have recently struggled with injuries.

As for Napoli, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and Billy Gilmour are all out. On the bright side, David Neres could start on the bench after missing Wednesday’s clash against Verona due to a minor ankle problem.

Inter vs Napoli Potential Starting Lineups

Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez.

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Elmas, Lang; Hojlund.

Inter vs Napoli Prediction

Disappointing results in high-profile matches have been a common theme for Inter this season, and this could be their chance to turn the corner. They haven’t lost a home league match against Napoli since April 2017, which should be the ultimate confidence boost for the hosts.

With momentum firmly on their side, the Nerazzurri will fancy their chances of extending that dominant run and claiming a statement victory in the Scudetto race.