The first third of the Italian championship wraps up with a fireworks-like clash between Inter and Napoli, the only two Serie A teams led by coaches who know how to win the Scudetto: Simone Inzaghi and Antonio Conte. In Milan, this is the so-called “second derby” since there is a large Neapolitan community in the Lombardy capital. Despite a ban on ticket sales, for security reasons, to residents of Naples and the Campania region, the section designated for visiting fans will be packed with Azzurri supporters. The city of Milan is on high alert, not only due to the ugly scenes seen before the Juventus-Torino derby but also because of the historical animosity between the organized fan groups of Inter and Napoli. Mass street brawls in the Lombardy capital are not out of the question, as these are not only “fan” groups but also criminal organizations vying for territory control.Un match al sapore di 𝟏° 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨! 🤤🤤🤤 👉 Chi vince #InterNapoli? pic.twitter.com/OhRnExc3zT— Lega Serie A (@SerieA) November 10, 2024 The two teams come to this evening’s showdown with different spirits. Inter is full of confidence after their Champions League victory over Arsenal, while Napoli is still reeling from the Atalanta train that swept through the Maradona Stadium last week. Inzaghi and Conte will have all their key players available. Francesco Acerbi will be back in Inter’s starting lineup after an injury, while there’s a chance Stanislav Lobotka will take his place in Napoli’s starting formation. The Slovak has recovered from injury, but it’s uncertain if Conte will immediately throw him into the fray. Both coaches intend to field their strongest lineups. Inzaghi has carefully managed minutes across the last three Serie A and Champions League matches, so Napoli won’t have a significant advantage despite not being involved in international competitions.UCL: The best defence in Europe stops the Gunners salvo!The stakes are high; going into the break with a win and sitting atop the table is vastly different from entering with a loss. By the end of this round, Inter could be in first place or drop out of the Champions League zone, ending up tied for fifth with Juventus if they suffer a second slip-up at San Siro after the derby loss to AC Milan. For Antonio Conte and Lele Oriali, tonight’s game has special significance. Conte returns to San Siro for the first time as an opponent after winning the Scudetto, while for Oriali, a legend of the Nerazzurri, this is his first-ever experience as an Inter rival.The list goes on and on: Another disappointed Ballon d’Or nomineeInter, along with Atalanta, boasts the most prolific attack in Serie A, while Napoli has the second-best defense. Had they not conceded three goals to Atalanta last round, they’d have the most impenetrable defense. The Nerazzurri, despite keeping clean sheets in five of their last six Serie A and Champions League games, still allow opponents too much space, leading to chances and shots on goal for Yann Sommer. The Azzurri, on the other hand, have struggled to score lately, netting only four goals across their last four matches, which has caused Napoli to slip to sixth in Serie A for goals scored.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Napoli holds the record for the most Serie A wins over Inter at San Siro: 51 wins, 18 draws, and only nine losses. Also, the Nerazzurri have lost just one of their last ten Serie A encounters with Napoli, with six wins and three draws. Over the past six years, Inter has been Napoli’s toughest opponent in the league. The Nerazzurri are on a streak of scoring in 28 consecutive home games in Serie A at the Meazza. In Europe’s top five leagues, only Barcelona and Lille have longer streaks, with 29 and 30 games, respectively. On the other side, Napoli has not conceded in their last four away league matches, with Conte’s team keeping clean sheets on the road since the initial defeat at Bentegodi. Lautaro Martinez has scored four times against Napoli, but he has only found the net once in their last eight encounters.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 12ThursdayGenoa – Como 1-1 (0-1)/Vogliacco 90+1 – Cunha 17/FridayLecce – Empoli 1-1 (0-1)/Pierotti 77 – Pellegri 33/SaturdayVenezia – Parma 1-2 (1-1)/Caviglia 5 – Valeri 17, Bonny 68/Cagliari – AC Milan 3-3 (1-2)/Zortea 2, Zappa 53, 89 – Leao 15, 40, Abraham 69/Juventus – Torino 2-0 (1-0)/Weah 18, Yildiz 84/Sunday14:30: (1.40) Atalanta (5.25) Udinese (8.00)17:00: (1.45) Fiorentina (4.40) Verona (7.50)17:00: (2.15) Roma (3.35) Bologna (3.80)20:00: (4.50) Monza (3.50) Lazio (1.83)22:45: (1.95) Inter (3.60) Napoli (4.20)***odds are subject to change***
