Serie A preview: Inter begin new chapter

A thrilling clash between Inter Milan and Napoli at the San Siro highlights Serie A action when the Italian league resumes on Thursday.

Inter’s Christmas hiatus has been an unhappy one, despite the treble-winning champions taking the Club World Cup trophy over TP Mazembe in Abu Dhabi.

Struggling boss Rafa Benitez was sacked days later after a disappointing league campaign that has seen the reigning champions slump to seventh on the table, 13 points adrift of leaders and arch rivals AC Milan.

All eyes will be on new manager Leonardo as he attempts to resurrect the proud club’s flailing season.

The former Milan manager was hastily installed following Benitez’s departure and faces a baptism of fire against second-place Napoli, who went unbeaten through December to climb within three points of Milan.

Inter will no doubt look to give Leonardo a warm welcome to the San Siro with a first-up win but may struggle to contain Napoli striker Edison Cavani, who has struck a league-leading 10 goals this term.

But Inter have conceded just seven goals at home this term and lost there just once, and will back themselves to resume their fight for a top-four finish in the New Year.

Meanwhile, Juventus will look to extend their unbeaten run into the New Year when they host Parma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Parma will attempt to erase a forgettable end to the year that saw Pasquale Marino’s men secure just five of a possible 15 points.

But facing Juve will be a tricky proposition given Luigi Del Neri’s men have not lost a match in any competition since September.

Parma are 16th on the table with 19 points, and the four sides below – Brescia, Cesena, Lecce and Bari – all play off against each other in the mid-week round.

Depending on results, they could be as few as three points away from the relegation zone by the weekend, a terrible way to start the New Year at the Il Tardini.

In other Thursday fixtures, Milan travel to 13th-place Cagliari looking to rebound from their 1-0 defeat to Roma last time out.

The Milanese have a new weapon in Antonio Cassano, who departed Sampdoria after a falling-out with club president Riccardo Garrone.

Third-place Lazio will look to leapfrog Napoli on the table with a strong performance at Genoa, while Sampdoria travel to Sicily to take on Palermo in a battle of eighth versus sixth.

Roma can sneak into the top four when they host the improving Catania in the capital, while Chievo, reeling from a four-match winless run, take on Udinese.

Bologna host underachieving Fiorentina at the Stadio Dall’Ara, Brescia and Cesena square off in what is an early relegation tussle, and second-bottom Lecce travel to fellow strugglers Bari.