Inter Milan produced a decisive performance as they took advantage of their opportunities to secure a 3-0 victory over defending champions Napoli on Sunday, returning them to the top of Serie A.
While Napoli posed a challenge throughout the match, Inter were lethal in front of goal with Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella and Marcus Thuram all scoring goals at crucial moments when Napoli were gaining momentum in the match.
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Inter leads the Italian League with 35 points, two points ahead of second-placed Juventus after 14 matches.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi told DAZN: “Coming to Napoli you have to expect some difficulties. We prepared in a certain way to play our full-backs against their full-backs because the further you get Napoli out of the penalty area the better.” .
“The only time we really struggled was when we were defending too deep. To win like that in Napoli is satisfying, but we also know that this is only Week 14 and there is a very long way to go.”
The loss is another setback for Napoli’s hopes of retaining the title, as it now trails Inter by 11 points. The team ranks fifth with 24 points, behind fourth-placed Roma.
Napoli started the match strongly, as Elgiv Elmas fired a powerful shot from a long distance, which was blocked by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer at the expense of a corner kick.
Despite wearing an orange third kit, Inter players had difficulty finding each other early in the match. Their momentum faltered often and Napoli managed to open the wings.
About half an hour later, Napoli’s Matteo Politano fired a long-range shot after a pass from Hvicha Kvaratskhelia, but his attempt hit the crossbar.
Inter then scored against the run of play just before half-time as Calhanoglu fired a precise low shot from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner of the net for the breakthrough.
In the second half, buoyed by a raucous home crowd, Napoli continued their attack, with Kvaratskhelia’s shot missing the target after the hour mark.
But in the 61st minute, Napoli’s momentum in the second half was derailed when Barella received a cross inside the penalty area and skillfully dribbled past two defenders before putting the ball past goalkeeper Alex Meret to double Inter’s lead.
Thuram secured the three points with a goal five minutes before the end when he entered the penalty area unmarked to put in a cross from substitute Juan Cuadrado, scoring the third goal for Inter.
