This Saturday sees two Italian giants in a blockbuster Serie A clash, as Napoli host Inter Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
It will be a second versus third battle, with both teams level on points but Inter edging on goal difference.
It’s only the eighth game week of the season, so everything is still to play for – but this showdown could be a potential tone setter in the title race.
Team form
Reigning title holders Napoli have made a great start to the 2025/26 season, with five wins, zero draws, and two losses.
They have also won every home game so far this season, so they will undoubtedly be looking to continue that streak as they host this weekend.
The Azzurri began with four consecutive wins, before suffering their first blow of the season, a 3-2 defeat to current table toppers AC Milan. Their second loss came in their most recent fixture to Torino, who currently sit in 14th.
Inter made a real statement in their opening match, with a 5-0 thrashing over Torino. But the two weeks that followed were far from healthy, as they suffered successive losses – 2-1 Udinese and 4-3 to Juventus.
However, Inter managed to come back, having won their last four matches against Sassuolo, Cagliari, Cremonese and Roma.
Head-to-head
This clash is lining up to be very evenly matched, as the last three meetings between these two teams have ended 1-1 on the scoresheet.
Inter won the two meetings beforehand, sealing a comfortable 3-0 victory in Naples in the 2023/24 campaign and a 1-0 win in the Super Cup.
You have to go back six games in all competitions for Napoli’s most recent win over Inter, a 3-1 victory in front of a home crowd when they were crowned champions in 2022/23.
Team news
Napoli are still without Scott McTominay as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. They will also be without Manchester United loanee, Rasmus Hojlund, as he has been suffering from muscle fatigue for the past few days.
Marcus Thurman is unlikely to make a return for Inter this weekend, and the club have also confirmed the absence of Defender Matteo Darmian as he sustained a muscular leg injury last week.
Key stats
Inter have scored the most goals this season, with 18, while Napoli have only scored 12.
Napoli have only conceded seven times, while Inter have conceded eight.
Inter’s Ange-Yoan Bonny sits fourth in the goal table, with three goals and three assists. His teammates, Thurman and Martinez, sit just behind him with three goals and one assist.
Kevin de Bruyne has been Napoli’s standout player so far, also with three goals.
Prediction
This game is expected to be extremely evenly matched, and any flicker of defensive weakness could be make or break for either team.
Inter’s pressing prowess may prove challenging for Napoli’s back line, but the home team will be hoping to extend their winning streak on home turf.
A classic Serie A chess match is on the cards, and it would be no surprise if this were to end in a 1-1 stalemate once again.
