Serie A: Napoli’s Chance to Close the Gap

Napoli vs Inter Milan

The 2023 Scudetto winners meet the 2024 Serie A favourites on Sunday when Walter Mazzarri takes care of Napoli for his first home game, against league leaders Inter Milan.

Mazzarri took over as Napoli boss, after a ten year absence, when Rudi Garcia was sacked following a home defeat to Empoli. And the new boss has made an immediate impact, leading his side to a 2-1 victory away to Atalanta. Meanwhile Inter drew 1-1 away to second placed Juventus last week to maintain their top spot; and both teams were in Champions League action in midweek.

This clash gives Simone Inzaghi’s team a chance to pull away at the top of the table but Napoli, eight points behind in fourth place, a chance to close the gap to a more manageable five.

Talking Points

Osimhen eased back for Napoli

One of Mazzarri’s first challenges is to keep his star striker happy, and that is easier said than done. After firing I Partenopei to Scudetto glory last term, Victor Osimhen has had a turbulent relationship with the club since they fell out over a TikTok video which mocked the Nigerian star; and he has suffered on and off with a hamstring injury. Despite all this Osimhen is still the club’s top scorer with six goals from nine games and he can play big part in Napoli’s push to close the gap. He came on as a substitute in Napoli’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in midweek and looked sharp, so the passionate fans in Naples will be hopeful their main man returns to face the league leaders.

Despite defeat to Los Blancos Napoli are still in a strong position to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League, in second place in Group C and just needing to avoid defeat at home to Braga in their final group game.

So all is well in Europe; but the second problem Mazzarri has to tackle is Napoli’s poor Serie A 2023 results on home soil where they have picked up just seven points in six games, the home defeat to Empoli being the last straw for the club’s owners. Beating Inter would be the perfect way for Mazzarri to start and there will be bedlam in the Diego Maradona Stadium when the Napoli players step out on Sunday.

Inter’s rested stars ready to go

While Napoli were toiling in Madrid Inzaghi took the chance to rest some of his key players when Inter, already qualified for the Round of 16, took on Benfica in Portugal. His second string drew 3-3 after heading into half time three goals down as former Inter player Joao Mario scored a hat-trick. I Nerazzurri sorted themselves out in the half time break and Marko Arnautovic, with his first goal since returning to the club, Davide Frattesi and Alexis Sanchez earned Inter a draw, while front liners Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicola Barella took a seat on the bench. The players drafted in didn’t do enough to dislodge the first eleven and we can expect to see some or all of those five back for the clash in Naples.

Certainly Martinez, who scored his 13^th goal of the campaign in the 1-1 draw with Juventus, will be back to lead the line and continue his race towards the Capocannoniere, and Calhanoglu, who has scored five in 13 will be in line for a recall too, alongside Thuram who has scored four goals and made six assists.

The latest Serie A 2023 betting odds are right behind the Nerazzurri at odds of 1.53 to win the Scudetto and they are currently in pole position, two points clear of Juventus but they could find themselves knocked off the perch if I Bianconeri wins at Monza on Friday night…and that would raise the stakes when Inter head to Naples.

History

Inter have won 21 of their 50 encounters with Napoli over the past three decades, drawing 12 and losing 17.

Last season Napoli won this fixture 3-1 and I Partenopei haven’t lost to Inter home on the last four occasions. But Inter have won all five of their matches on the road this season.

Inter have five wins and one draw from the last six games while Napoli have won three, drawn two and lost one.

Betting Tip

So Juventus can go top of the table if they beat Monza and that will add more pressure to the Inter players’ shoulders. The visitors are the SBOTOP favourites to win this game, priced at 2.32 with Napoli at 2.65 and the draw is 3.11.

This is a classic in the making and, with a point to prove, a new manager, a raucous crowd and a returning hitman I think the hosts will be very hard to knock over.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.