Inter Milan vs Napoli – Match preview and team news

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·11 de janeiro de 2026

Inter Milan vs Napoli – Match preview and team news

Inter Milan and Napoli go head-to-head in a crucial Serie A title showdown at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday.

Antonio Conte’s side are looking to close the gap to the league leaders to one point with victory on the road, while the Nerazzurri can deal a killer blow to one of their main rivals in what promises to be a fiery encounter.

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Inter Milan vs Napoli – Match preview and team news

Date: Sunday, 11th January
Kick-off: 7:45pm BST
Venue: San Siro, Milan
Referee: Maurizio Mariani
Last meeting: Napoli 3-1 Inter Milan, Serie A, 25 October 2025

Inter Milan team news

Inter have relatively few absentees heading into the match, with Denzel Dumfries ruled out for a prolonged period following ankle surgery. The Dutch wing-back underwent an operation on his left ankle and is expected to return around early March 2026.

Davide Frattesi might miss the clash against Napoli due to muscle fatigue and remains a doubt for the remainder of the week. Matteo Darmian and Andy Diouf have both resumed full training but are unlikely to feature in the starting lineup.

Key attacking figures Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, and playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu are all expected to feature prominently in Cristian Chivu’s setup. Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella have returned to full training and are poised to start, having been rested in the previous fixture against Parma. Piotr Zielinski, the ex-Napoli midfielder, could also feature in the Nerazzurri’s engine room.

Napoli team news

Napoli continue to grapple with a significant injury crisis. Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgian superstar, remains sidelined with a high-grade biceps femoris tear and is expected to return to Naples after mid-January for athletic reconditioning. Billy Gilmour underwent surgery in November for a groin injury and is working his way back to fitness, with his return still several weeks away.

Frank Zambo Anguissa, who represents Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, continues his absence for the Partenopei. Romelu Lukaku, the ex-Inter striker, remains unavailable with a thigh injury.

However, there is positive news regarding David Neres. The Brazilian winger, who suffered a right ankle sprain, is showing promising signs of recovery and has resumed field training. He remains in contention to feature at San Siro, though Napoli’s medical team is carefully assessing his condition. If Neres receives clearance, it would significantly bolster Napoli’s attacking options.

Conte is expected to have Matteo Politano and Rasmus Hojlund available, with the latter continuing his impressive resurgence at the club. Pasquale Mazzocchi is set to return following completion of his suspension.

Form

Inter Milan

Cristian Chivu’s side has been in extraordinary form, winning their last six Serie A matches. The Nerazzurri demonstrated their dominance with a 2-0 victory away at Parma on Wednesday, with Marcus Thuram scoring and Federico Dimarco also finding the net. The Milan side sits atop the Serie A standings with 42 points from 18 matches and boasts the league’s most prolific attack, having scored 40 goals. Inter’s home record is particularly impressive, with 21 points from nine games (7 wins) and an outstanding goal difference of 26:9.

Napoli

Antonio Conte’s Napoli claimed the Supercoppa Italiana before the winter break and has shown resilience despite their injury woes. The Partenopei recently defeated Lazio 2-0 at home, with Leonardo Spinazzola and Amir Rrahmani scoring. However, their most recent outing saw them held to a 2-2 draw by Verona, a result that somewhat disrupted their momentum. Napoli sit third in the league standings with 38 points, trailing Inter by four points but level on matches played. They have a proven away record, having won consecutive 2-0 victories against Cremonese and Lazio recently.