Serie A: Inter Versus Napoli is a Six-Pointer

Inter Milan vs Napoli

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan host Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli on Sunday in the Serie A match of the weekend as the reigning champions try to peg back the league leaders.

Spalletti has led Napoli to a fantastic start and they sit proudly top of the Serie A table a full seven points clear of third-placed Inter and Inzaghi will try to mastermind a home win to narrow the gap to four.

If he gets it wrong and Napoli plunder the points, the gap will be 10 and that is a lot to chase down.

Talking Points

Hamstring concerns for Inter

I Nerazzurri have been hit by a worrying trend in recent weeks and the treatment room has a queue of patients with similar problems.

Top scorer Edin Dzeko suffered a hamstring strain recently and he is doubtful for the clash with Napoli. And now another striker Alexis Sanchez has suffered the same fate on duty for Chile and he’ll be out until December.

The third hamstring victim is centre-back Stefan de Vrij after he broke down with a similar problem and he too is touch and go to start.

Serie A

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All three of these players would be likely to play some part this weekend, but Inzaghi will leave his decision on Dzeko and de Vrij as late as he can.

With Christian Eriksen not allowed to play throughout the whole 2021/22 season after he suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, Inter have a shortage in the creative department.

With Dzeko doubtful, Inter’s hopes of breaching a well-organised Napoli defence rest on the shoulders of Lautaro Martinez who has five goals and midfield man Nicolo Barella who has made five assists.

The recent Milan Derby was a huge affair and Inter earned a draw thanks to a goal from Hakan Calhanoglu, but de Vrij put through his own net to deny his side the full three points.The Serie A 2021 betting odds reacted to that draw to move Inter Milan out to 4.00 to retain their hard-earned Scudetto, while Milan took second spot at odds of 3.40 behind favourites Napoli, who are currently priced at SBOTOP odds of 2.75.

Napoli must match Milan to stay top

From the very first weekend of the 2021/22 campaign, Spalletti’s side has set the pace at the top of the league and has put some distance between them and the chasing pack with one exception.

AC Milan have matched the Azzurri stride for stride and sit second on goal difference and seven points clear of the rest.

I Rossoneri have a chance to go top when they visit seventh-placed Fiorentina on Saturday night.

La Viola made a fast start but four defeats from six games has seen them drift out of the top six, although they can beat anyone on their day. Whatever Milan picks up in Florence, Napoli must match to hold on the top spot.

Napoli are determined to beat Inter Milan to maintain the top spot in the Serie A table — Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo celebrates after scoring their first goal against Hellas Verona at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

A draw at home to Hellas Verona last time out was only the second time the Azzurri have dropped points this season after playing out a goalless draw with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico late in October.

Wing-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo cancelled out an early strike from Verona’s Giovanni Simeone but Napoli failed to make another breakthrough and they only retained top spot thanks to the Milan derby draw.

For Napoli’s goal threat, look out for five-goal Victor Osimhen and of course inspirational skipper Lorenzo Insigne.

History

Inter have enjoyed a slight advantage in the historic head-to-head meetings with Napoli, winning 19 of the last 46 encounters, while the Azzurri have won 16 and there have been 11 draws.

I Nerazzurri had the better of Napoli last term, drawing 1-1 in Naples and winning 1-0 at the San Siro.

Current form illustrates just how well matched these two teams are. In terms of recent Serie A 2021 results, Inter and Napoli have had an identical sequence of draw, win, win, draw – picking up eight points from the last four games.

In all competitions, meanwhile, they have won four and drawn two each.

Inter are unbeaten at home this season and undefeated in six games home and away, while Napoli are unbeaten in the league and in eight matches in all competitions.

Betting Tip

	Inter Milan vs Napoli	Correct Score 1-1 @ 5.80
	November 22, 1:00 (GMT+8)

Home advantage makes Inter Milan favourite to win this huge clash with odds of 2.16, while Napoli are at 2.97 and the draw is priced at 3.35.

Both teams are on good runs and we’re in for a very competitive match, but I suspect these star-studded sides will cancel each other out.

Seven of the last 12 games featuring these two teams have produced fewer than 2.50 goals and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them both pick up a second consecutive 1-1 draw.