Prediction: Inter Milan vs Napoli

Verdict: Inter Milan win

Best Odds: 4/7

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

With all eyes falling on the San Siro this weekend, Inter Milan will welcome defending champions Napoli to town on Sunday night.

Inter Milan

As for the visitors, suffering a Champions League collapse earlier in the week as they watched their European adventure come to an end at the hands of Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan must dust themselves down quickly. However, although the Nerrazzuri might have come under some real scrutiny on Wednesday night, Simone Inzaghi’s men are enjoying a history-making domestic romp this season. Turning their attention back to Serie A duties holding a remarkable 16-point buffer at the top of the table, the former Lazio boss has seen his squad gain a string of praise from across Italy’s elite. In fact, despite their Champions League heartbreak in midweek, Inter Milan have won all of their other 13 appearances across all competitions. Cruising their way to another domestic crown in 2024, Sunday’s hosts will be desperate to claim an immediate response here.

Team News

Still dealing with a long-term Achilles tendon injury and not making a single appearance since the middle of December, Inter Milan will once again be without former Juventus defender Juan Cuadrado. Likewise, missing out in midweek through a recent thigh issue, Austrian international Mark Arnautovic remains a real doubt here.

Notching 23 strikes in his 25 Serie A appearances this season, attacking talisman Lautaro Martinez will certainly have a leading role to play on Sunday night. With Inzaghi potentially looking to make a handful of changes here, one-time Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian could be handed a recall.

Napoli

As for the visitors, while Napoli might have made real history last season as they got their hands on a first domestic crown since 1990, the Azzurri have drastically come crashing back down to earth this time around. Watching their own Champions League adventure come to an end in midweek as they fell to a 4-2 aggregate defeat against Barcelona, new boss Francesco Calzona appears to have a major job on his hands. Facing a major uphill battle in their bid to punch any kind of European spot in 2024, Sunday’s guests have won just a trio of their previous 11 appearances across all competitions. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat a staggering 31 points adrift of Inter Milan, the Naples-based outfit have also continued to gain a reputation for their glaring defensive issues. In fact, Calzona’s men have recorded just a single Serie A clean sheet since opening the New Year.

Team News

Missing out away at Barcelona earlier in the week, Napoli remain hopeful that Piotr Zielinski can feature here. However, aside from the Polish international, Calzona’s men have reported a clean bill of health ahead of Sunday’s trip to the San Siro.

Notching 11 goals in his 17 Serie A appearances this season, Victor Osimhen will certainly have a leading role to play this weekend. Notching four goals in his previous three Serie A appearances and heavily linked with a potential big-money summer move, Georgia international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will once again partner Osimhen in the final third.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Inter Milan and Napoli met on January 22nd in this season’s Super Cup final, the Nerrazzuri picked up a 1-0 victory in Riyadh.
• The runaway Serie A leaders have lost just one of their previous 10 straight meetings against Napoli.
• Aside from their Champions League defeat in midweek, Inter Milan have won all of their other 13 appearances across all competitions.
• Napoli have recorded just a trio of victories from any of their previous 11 appearances across all formats.
• The defending Serie A champions have recorded just a single top-flight clean sheet since opening the New Year.

Conclusion

Knowing that they must dust themselves down quickly, Inter Milan should be excited to turn their attention back to domestic action on Sunday night. Opening this weekend’s fixtures holding a commanding 16-point buffer at the top of the table, the Nerrazzuri have won 13 of their previous 14 appearances across all competitions. It should also be noted, suffering just a single loss from any of their last 10 showdowns against Napoli, we are expecting a home win for the runaway leaders here.

Verdict: Inter Milan win

Best Odds: 4/7

Bookmaker: Olympusbet