An epic showdown awaits at San Siro on Sunday, as defending Serie A champions Inter Milan face off against current league leaders Napoli. With Napoli leading by a narrow one-point margin despite a surprising home loss last week, Inter come into this encounter on a hot streak, fresh off three consecutive wins, including a notable Champions League victory.

Just days after Lautaro Martinez clinched a tight 1-0 win over Venezia, Simone Inzaghi’s squad edged past Arsenal by the same scoreline in Milan, bringing them within striking distance of the Champions League top spot. Making his first start post-injury, set-piece maestro Hakan Calhanoglu coolly slotted a penalty just before half-time, giving the Nerazzurri a lead they fiercely protected to secure another crucial win.

With four clean sheets so far, Inter has proven defensively solid in Europe and is on course for a coveted top-eight finish, which would secure direct qualification to the last 16.

Turning back to Serie A, Napoli’s stumble has allowed Inter to close the gap to just one point, keeping their Scudetto defense hopes alive. Inzaghi’s side has now triumphed in eight of their last nine matches across all competitions, the sole exception being an eight-goal thriller against Juventus.

Inter’s prolific scoring run, with goals in 28 straight Serie A home matches—the third-longest streak in Europe’s top five leagues—and only one loss in their last 10 Serie A encounters with Napoli, fuels their confidence heading into this final game before the international break.

Napoli, led by Antonio Conte, will look to recover from a humbling 3-0 defeat by Atalanta BC just a week prior. The former Inter coach faces one of his old clubs once more, eager to secure a vital win. Conte’s team had enjoyed an impressive unbeaten streak across 10 league and cup games before their clash with La Dea, but Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s tactical savvy bested Conte on home turf.

That loss was Napoli’s first setback since the season’s opening day and marked only the second time Conte has lost at home by three goals, putting added pressure on the team to respond decisively. A second consecutive loss would not only knock Napoli off the top spot but also raise doubts about their endurance in what’s shaping up to be a wide-open title race.

Despite the recent defeat, Napoli still holds a solid away record this season. They have managed clean sheets in four straight road games, amassing 10 points from a possible 12, including a notable win against AC Milan at San Siro.

Simone Inzaghi, who surprised many with his midweek lineup, is well-positioned to rotate his squad once more, with only Carlos Augusto sidelined by injury. Veteran defender Francesco Acerbi returned to full training and was an unused substitute against Arsenal, making him a potential starter this weekend.

After limited playtime on Wednesday, Marcus Thuram is expected to rejoin captain Lautaro Martinez up front. Although Martinez struck three times in his first four Serie A games against Napoli, he has only scored once in the next eight, going goalless in the last five meetings.

Napoli’s attack will feature Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, currently their top scorer, along with former Inter players Romelu Lukaku and Matteo Politano. With Stanislav Lobotka now fit after a thigh injury, Billy Gilmour’s spot in midfield could be in jeopardy despite recent praise from Conte. Meanwhile, Mathias Olivera and Leonardo Spinazzola will vie for the left-back position, while captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo is expected to start on the right.

This tactical clash between two of Italy’s elite managers promises to be intense, with mind games as crucial as skill. Inter appears stronger on both fronts, while Napoli, still finding their stride, may fall short against tougher competition.

Best Tip: Over 1.5

Correct score: 2-1