NAPOLI vs. INTER: THE TRUE TEST OF THE SEASON
The Maradona is ready to shine for the big match of Serie A Enilive Matchday 8: Napoli and Inter arrive level on points, but with very different moods.
Form and tactics of both Napoli and Inter
Antonio Conte’s Napoli enter this match after a difficult week: a league defeat to Torino followed by a heavy 6-2 loss to PSV in Europe – the biggest defeat ever suffered by an Italian coach in the Champions League and the heaviest defeat for Napoli since 1997. Their once-solid defensive base, the key to their title-winning campaign, now looks fragile: the team has conceded in seven straight games. Conte’s new, more attacking setup and higher defensive line carry risk, especially against Inter, quick to counter. To contain them, Napoli will need discipline in the central areas and a more careful approach in possession.
Inter, meanwhile, look confident and cohesive after their initial difficulties. Fresh from a 4–0 Champions League win over Union Saint-Gilloise, Chivu’s side have now won seven consecutive games across all competitions. Defensively, they’re back to elite levels: since conceding six goals across games with Udinese and Juventus, they’ve let in only two (against Sassuolo and Cremonese). Chivu’s Inter thrive on a balance of high pressing, quick transitions, and width on the flanks, all of which will be crucial again in Naples. The numbers underline it: Inter lead Serie A in both shots per game (14) and goals scored from high recoveries (3), a reflection of their aggressive, front-foot mentality. A dynamic balance, able to alternate spells of possession with quick vertical plays, always with the goal of making the most of the wingers and forcing the opposition to open up.
New arrivals and their impact
One of the key differences between the two sides is how well new signings have integrated this season. At Napoli, the process is still ongoing. Rasmus Højlund (4 goals, 2 assists) and Kevin De Bruyne (3 goals – all from set pieces – and 2 assists) have been the main contributors, but Noa Lang, Lucca, Elmas, and Gutiérrez are yet to find rhythm. Beukema and Marianucci are also still adapting to their new set up, complicated by the injuries of Buongiorno and Rrahmani. De Bruyne’s arrival has also pushed Conte to tweak his system from a 3-5-2 to a four-man midfield, with McTominay unusually deployed on the left.
The Scot was Napoli’s standout performer in Eindhoven, scoring his first European brace, and will again be key alongside Politano in trying to stretch Inter’s back line. De Bruyne, meanwhile, has history on his side: from the two goals scored for Wolfsburg in the Europa League Round of 16 more than 10 years ago, to the 2023 Champions League final with Manchester City, he has never lost against Inter in four encounters. Inter’s new faces, on the other hand, have made an instant impact, especially in attack.
Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny have both stepped up impressively. The academy graduate (2 goals, 1 assist) has shown surprising maturity in his first season in Serie A, proving comfortable alongside Lautaro Martínez in the role of target man; Bonny (3 goals, 4 assists in 7 appearances) has had an overwhelming impact, directly involved in Inter’s last five goals.
At the back, Akanji has replaced Pavard with composure, and Sučić is becoming a key midfield option. The rest of Chivu’s core remains unchanged – nine of eleven starters from this fixture last season – giving the team continuity and chemistry heading into this major test.
The Maradona test
Last season’s two meetings both finished 1–1, helping Conte’s Napoli maintain the distance between the two title contenders. Tactical, hard-fought games: in the first, McTominay and Çalhanoğlu traded goals before the Turkish midfielder missed a late penalty; in the return leg, Dimarco’s opener was cancelled out by a late strike from Billing. For Inter, winning in Naples (after triumphing in Rome) would mark a definitive statement of maturity, burying the struggles of last season’s big games. For the reigning champions, however, this is an opportunity to reverse the trend: against their most direct rivals for the title, a chance to regain belief and defensive solidity amid the challenges of juggling domestic and European fixtures. The Maradona remains a fortress – unbeaten in Serie A since 8 December 2024 (0–1 vs Lazio) – with 11 wins in the last 14 home games and three out of three so far this season. Another victory would mean four straight home wins to start a campaign for the second consecutive year, a feat only previously achieved in the 1965–66 and 1966–67 seasons. (Photo Getty Images)