Top Two Clash in Serie A
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Are there any bigger clashes in European club football this weekend than the meeting between Napoli and Inter Milan in the Italian Serie A?
Napoli have been very consistent at the top of the table for many years, finishing third three times and second twice in the past seven seasons. However, mainly thanks to Juventus, the Serie A title has eluded them.
Under the guidance of Maurizio Sarri, Napoli are hoping to become the top club in Italian football this season.
Inter Milan last won the Serie A title in 2009/10 but having finished second the following season have struggled to mount a serious title challenge. They finished seventh in the last campaign and will be hoping to establish themselves back at the top of Italian football by winning this match.
Despite losing 2-1 at Manchester City in the Champions League in mid-week, Napoli gave a good account of themselves and could easily have taken something from the game. The defeat should not dent their confidence and trends show they have won all eight of their Serie A games this season, leaving them 2 points clear of second place Inter Milan.
Napoli are on a run of thirteen consecutive wins in Serie A and have not tasted defeat in their last twenty games.
At home they have been very dominant and have won their last six games by 2 goals or more, scoring 3 goals or more in each of them.
Inter Milan travel to Naples having rested in mid-week as they failed to qualify for European competition last season. However, Luciano Spaletti’s team will be full of confidence following their thrilling 3-2 win in the Milan derby last weekend.
In almost any other season, Inter Milan’s record of seven wins and one draw from their eight league games this season would be enough to see them top the table. The early season victories at home against Fiorentina and away to Roma have set the tone for Inter Milan this season and they have not looked back.
Their only dropped points came in the mid-week fixture at Bologna in September and Spaletti will be keen to try and avoid similar results for the remainder of the season, especially with no European football to distract the team.
Trends show Inter Milan are undefeated in their last ten games and have won four of their last five on the road in Serie A. Interestingly, both teams have scored in eight of Inter Milan’s last ten away league games.
Team News and Napoli are still without injured striker Arkadiusz Milik and there are doubts over Lorenzo Insigne. If the Italian is passed fit he will join Dries Mertens and Jose Callejon in attack.
Inter Milan are without injured midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, meaning Borja Valero could be pushed further forward and Roberto Gagliardini could come into the midfield.
This should be a very exciting match and although Inter Milan have a good record this season, Napoli have been superb and have the home advantage. With Mauro Icardi in attack, Inter Milan may find the back of the net but Napoli are on another level going forward this season.
This match could produce a home win, with both teams scoring.
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