The standout clash of the Serie A round. Inter vs Napoli prediction
Inter and Napoli will meet on Saturday, 5 September, in the third round of the Italian Serie A. The match will be played at San Siro in Milan, with kick-off at 18:00 CET. My pick is on the goals market.
H2H and statistical facts
• Inter are unbeaten in their last 14 matches.
• The Milan club have not lost at home in Serie A since November last year.
• Napoli have kept clean sheets in their last three away matches.
• Both teams have scored in each of the last five meetings between these sides.
• Napoli have not beaten Inter in Milan in Serie A since 2017.
First real test
Inter began their title defence with an impressive 4-1 victory over Monza. Cristian Chivu's side showcased their attacking potential and completely took control after the break, scoring three times. Hakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring before Piotr Zielinski, Francesco Pio Esposito and Yann Bisseck also found the net.
In the second round, the Milan side won 1-0 away to Cagliari. Calhanoglu scored the only goal early in the match, finding the net for the second game in a row. Inter could have settled the contest much earlier, however, as they created plenty of chances but were let down by their finishing. The hosts had an opportunity to equalise late on, but the champions held on to their narrow advantage.
Inter underwent a major squad overhaul during the summer. The club parted ways with several experienced players but strengthened their defence with John Stones. Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram remain the key figures in attack, while the emergence of Pio Esposito gives the team another option up front. As a result, Inter currently look not only well prepared for the season but also balanced enough to compete on several fronts.
Allegri returns to Milan with a new team
Napoli also began the season with a win, although in far less convincing fashion. Away to Genoa, Massimiliano Allegri's side struggled for a long time to break down their opponents' defence, but the coach's changes after the interval helped turn the game around. Kevin De Bruyne and Antonio Vergara came off the bench and scored to secure a 2-0 victory.
Napoli then suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Como in the second round. The hosts recovered from conceding first thanks to Rasmus Højlund, but then made a defensive mistake that Tasos Douvikas punished. As a result, Allegri's side suffered their first defeat of the season and, after two rounds, fell three points behind the leaders.
Allegri's arrival also means a certain change in playing style. The coach is placing greater emphasis on a more organised and pragmatic approach, meaning the team still have to fully adapt to his demands. Despite the home defeat by Como, Napoli have enough quality to cause Inter serious problems. However, the trip to San Siro will require the visitors to be much more reliable without the ball, as Inter have shown in their opening two matches that they can create chances almost constantly.
Probable line-ups
- Inter: Martinez, Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni, Diouf, Dimarco, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Barella, Esposito, Lautaro Martinez.
- Napoli: Meret, Spinazzola, Marin, Rrahmani, Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, Anguissa, De Bruyne, Politano, Alisson Santos, Højlund.
What to bet on?
Inter have looked more convincing at the start of the season: two wins, seven goals scored and just one conceded. Napoli, by contrast, have already dropped points, at home, and do not yet look like a fully settled side. At the same time, the quality of the opposition and the presence of several top-class players in the Napoli squad mean the hosts cannot expect an easy game. I think this will be an entertaining contest, with Inter closer to victory. My pick is Inter over 1.5 goals on the team total.
