One of the standout fixtures of Serie A Gameweek 3 pits defending champions Inter against runners-up Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Saturday’s mouth-watering clash in Lombardy will serve as the final warm-up for both sides before they kick off their new Champions League campaigns next week.
After a statement win over newcomers Monza on the opening Serie A weekend, Inter sneaked past Cagliari on their first road trip of the season. Hakan Calhanoglu’s ninth-minute strike settled an intense contest at the Unipol Domus, as Cristian Chivu’s side secured an all-important 1-0 victory to maintain a perfect start to their Scudetto defense.
However, the final scoreline hardly tells the whole story. Inter generated a stunning 3.67 xG but wasted several glorious chances through Lautaro Martinez and Federico Dimarco. Needless to say, the reigning champions will have to be much more clinical in front of goal if they’re to make things even more complicated for new Napoli boss Massimiliano Allegri.
Despite a 2-0 win at Genoa in round one, Allegri remains under fire, with the Partenopei faithful still raging over the club’s decision to replace Antonio Conte with the former Milan and Juventus manager. Those concerns are not entirely unfounded, as most recently exposed by Napoli’s disappointing performance in a 2-1 home loss to Como last Sunday.
In addition to lamenting 42% possession, Napoli conceded 21 shots in that game while mustering only a handful of chances apart from Rasmus Hojlund’s superb first-half equalizer. As such, Allegri will have a point to prove this weekend against a side he defeated twice by the same 1-0 scoreline as a Milan manager last term.
Match Preview
Inter
Two routine victories over Monza and Cagliari put Inter on the brink of a three-game winning start to the season for the first time since 2023/24. However, that could prove easier said than done, as they face a Napoli side they’ve failed to beat across their last five meetings in Serie A (D4, L1), including a 2-2 draw in this corresponding fixture in 2025/26.
Despite their underwhelming recent record in this match-up, it’s worth noting that Inter have scored in 16 consecutive league clashes against the Partenopei. It’s reasonable to expect last season’s Serie A top scorers to maintain that trend at Meazza, where they haven’t lost a league match for nearly ten months (W9, D3).
Fast out of the blocks, Inter have broken the deadlock within 30 minutes in eight of their last 12 Serie A outings, suggesting a quick-fire start could be on the cards for the home side. Topically, the Nerazzurri opened the scoring in the first ten minutes against both Monza and Cagliari, each time through Calhanoglu.
Napoli
Allegri won on his Serie A debut as a Napoli manager, maintaining the Partenopei’s impressive away form in the top flight. Indeed, the visitors have gone unbeaten in all six league matches on the road since late February (W4, D2) and should, therefore, take this trip in high spirits despite last weekend’s setback at the Diego Maradona Stadium.
Defensive solidity has been crucial to Napoli’s success away from home. They conceded just twice during that six-game unbeaten streak, keeping a clean sheet in their last three such fixtures. Particularly stubborn after the break, they haven’t conceded beyond halftime in any of their last five away games.
Against this backdrop, you’d have to go back to March 2018 for the last time Napoli kept Inter at bay at Meazza in Serie A. If it’s any consolation, they’ve not conceded more than one goal in five of their eight subsequent league visits to this venue. Moreover, they’ve found the net in the last three away meetings between the sides.
Team News
With Inter’s summer signing, Djed Spence, still grinding his way back to match fitness, Andy Diouf could start on the right wing at the expense of Luis Henrique. Chivu is unlikely to make further changes to his starting lineup, with Francesco Pio Esposito expected to get the nod in attack ahead of Marcus Thuram.
On the other hand, Napoli will take this trip without long-term absentee Alessandro Buongiorno. As such, Amir Rrahmani and Rafa Marin should be the two starting center-backs. With Scott McTominay unavailable after being diagnosed with heart problems, Kevin De Bruyne should start in the middle of the park.
Inter vs Napoli Potential Starting Lineups
Inter (3-5-2): J. Martinez; Akanji, Bastoni, Bisseck; Dimarco, Zielinski, Barella, Calhanoglu, Diouf; L. Martinez, Pio Esposito.
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Spinazzola, Rrahmani, Rafa Marin, Di Lorenzo; Lobotka, Zambo Anguissa, De Bruyne; Alisson Santos, Politano, Hojlund.
Inter vs Napoli Prediction
Despite beating Inter in both league matches last season while in the Milan dugout, Allegri faces a much tougher task this time around. The Nerazzurri’s impressive home record and attacking firepower should give them the edge in what promises to be a tightly contested encounter.
Prediction: Inter to win
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The post Serie A Preview: Inter vs Napoli – Team News, Lineups & Prediction appeared first on The Cult of Calcio.
