Napoli and Inter prepare for Serie A title showdown

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 10: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale controls the ball under pressure from Alessandro Buongiorno of Napoli during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 10, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Napoli and Inter will meet on March 1 in a key game in the Serie A title race: here’s how the two teams have been preparing for the big match at the Stadio Maradona.

Only one point divides Napoli and Inter at the top of the Serie A table. The Partenopei, led by Antonio Conte, have collected 56 points so far, while defending champions Inter have 57.

The two sides will meet in a much-anticipated Serie A clash on March 1, 202,5 at 18:00 CET, just a few days before Inter’s opening Coppa Campioni Round of 16 tie against Feyenoord.

When Napoli appointed Conte last summer, many wondered whether the Italian tactician would bring the club back to the top in just a few months. This was an achievement he had already accomplished at Juventus and Chelsea, and Adlerslots.com first reported in the summer that the Partenopei would be one of the clubs to watch in the Serie A title race this season.

The upcoming meeting at the Stadio Maradona is expected to have a big impact on the race for the title. It will be the second season game between the Partenopei and the Nerazzurri after a 1-1 draw at San Siro in the Girone d’andata.

Back in November, Scotland international Scott McTominay opened the scoring early, but Inter responded with a stunning long-range strike from Hakan Calhanoglu to level the match. Later in the second half, the Turkish star had an opportunity to secure the win from the penalty spot but missed, hitting the upright.

That draw left Napoli one point clear at the top of the Serie A table, with Inter among the closely trailing teams.

The Nerazzurri have progressed to the Coppa Campioni Round of 16 by finishing fourth in the league phase, while Napoli haven’t been involved in any European competition this term after finishing 10th in 2023-24 following a depressing title defence.

Neither Inter nor Napoli made big moves in the January transfer window, but the Partenopei saw Khvicha Kvaratskhelia join PSG for over €70m and replaced the Georgian star with Noah Okafor from Milan. Inter, on the other hand, signed Nicola Zalewski from Roma.

Although fans were disappointed by the club’s transfer moves in the winter transfer window, Conte urged them to focus on the club’s long-term project.

“I want to leave something better for the day I eventually leave, and I hope that will be in many years,” Conte said at a recent press conference.

“The club must grow if we want to remain competitive. Football evolves, and what was done in the past needs to be reviewed, even tactically. The club must grow, but I focus on how to help the club rather than just one player.”