Tonight’s duel between Napoli and Inter is not decisive for the Scudetto because there are still 11 rounds to be played after it, with 33 points up for grabs. Plus, for the first time since 2002, three teams are competing for the Scudetto, separated by just three points. Therefore, the clash between the Azzurri and the Nerazzurri is not like the one in 1988 between Napoli and Milan, which took place just three rounds before the end of the championship. So, while this match is important—crucially important—it is not decisive, even if Inter wins.🚨 Last 𝟭𝟮 matches between Inter vs Napoli:🤝 Draw🤝 Draw🔵 Inter win🔵 Inter win⚪ Napoli win🔵 Inter win🤝 Draw🔵 Inter win🤝 Draw🔵 Inter win🔵 Inter win🤝 DrawDOMINATION! ⚔️💪 pic.twitter.com/0bp9xP0P4M— Nerazzurri Society (@nerazzurriSoci_) February 28, 2025 Napoli and Inter are not in good shape, neither literally (considering a series of injured or out-of-form players) nor in terms of results. Antonio Conte’s team has collected just three points in their last four matches, while Simone Inzaghi’s squad has earned only seven out of a possible 15 in their last five games. A big question is whether Inter’s qualification for the Coppa Italia semifinals is good or bad news. Everything would be different if their opponent were not Milan and if the national cup matches weren’t being played at a time when both the championship title and a place in the Champions League semifinals are at stake, as it is believed that Inter will not slip up against Feyenoord like their city rivals did.Antonio Conte knows better than anyone how to take advantage of not playing in cup competitions. That’s how he won his first Serie A title with Juventus after the Calciopoli scandal, how he triumphed with Chelsea in the Premier League, and how he led Inter to the Scudetto after an 11-year drought—each time exiting cup competitions early. Conte has followed the same approach with Napoli, deliberately bowing out of the Coppa Italia early by allowing Lazio to progress without much resistance. Napoli’s coach intended to change his tactical setup against Inter, returning to a 4-3-3 formation after the 3-5-2 system failed to deliver the desired results in recent matches. However, Anguissa’s injury forced Conte to reconsider and alter his plans. The Azzurri’s head coach wanted to revert to the previous formation because he is aware that Inter’s 3-5-2 is much more refined than his own and that a “mirror match” would be far riskier for Napoli.##EDITORS_CHOICE##The only expected change from the lineup that started against Como is Gilmour replacing Billing. The Scotsman is technically superior to the Dane, and since Inter’s midfield is not particularly robust, Billing’s physicality and height are not as necessary. Additionally, Gilmour could have the same role at the “Maradona” stadium as he did at San Siro last autumn—shadowing Çalhanoğlu. Olivera has recovered from injury but is not in peak condition, so it is highly likely that Conte will trust Spinazzola, while the Uruguayan could be used as a wildcard in the second half.For Inter, there is only one lineup dilemma—choosing between Pavard and Bisseck. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t even be a question, as the Frenchman would be a guaranteed starter. However, with all backup wing-backs injured (Darmian, Carlos Augusto, and the recently arrived Zalewski), Inzaghi wants to have a substitute option for Dumfries and Dimarco on the bench. The only remaining player in the squad who can cover the flanks is Pavard, which is why Bisseck might start the match. Additionally, having Pavard available in the second half would allow Inzaghi to switch to a 4-4-2 formation if needed.Lazio’s black & blue nightmare continues – Inter knock them out of the CupBig Rom is in a deep slump. Not only has he stopped scoring—his last goal came from the penalty spot against Juventus—but he has also disappeared on the pitch. Against Como, he had only eight touches before Conte substituted him earlier than usual. The Belgian has scored just nine goals this season, only three of them at the “Maradona” stadium. However, one statistic works in Lukaku’s favor: every time he has scored against Napoli, his team has won—nine goals, nine victories. Lautaro Martínez has scored only ten goals in this Serie A campaign. Over the past two months, he has slightly improved his scoring rate, netting four goals in eight matches, but in the previous 18 games, he had only six. The numbers are telling—last season, the Argentine scored a goal every 111 minutes, while this season, he finds the net only once every 200 minutes.Napoli plan to deal with Osimhen ‘as soon as possible‘Inter has lost just one of their last 11 Serie A encounters against Napoli, with six wins and four draws. When looking at matches played in Naples over the past five years, Inter has the upper hand: two wins, two draws, and one defeat. However, Napoli has one historical advantage. In the past decade, Inter and Napoli have faced each other five times while leading the Serie A table. The Azzurri have won one of those encounters, while the other three ended in draws.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 27Friday Fiorentina – Lecce 1-0 (1-0)/Gosens 9/Saturday 17.00: (1.22) Atalanta (6.50) Venezia (13.0)20.00: (3.15) Napoli (3.35) Inter (2.45)22.45: (1.80) Udinese (3.60) Parma (4.60)Sunday 14.30: (4.10) Monza (3.45) Torino (2.05)17.00: (1.58) Bologna (3.80) Cagliari (6.50)17.00: (1.95) Genoa (3.35) Empoli (4.20)20.00: (1.93) Roma (3.45) Como (4.10)22.45: (2.10) Milan (3.50) Lazio (3.80)Monday 22.45: (1.30) Juventus (5.20) Verona (11.0)***odds are subject to change***
