Inter and Napoli have confirmed their starting lineups for Saturday’s highly anticipated Serie A clash at San Siro. The match, kicking off at 17:00 UK time, sees Inter aiming to continue their perfect start to the season against a Napoli side looking to build momentum.
Inter’s attack will be led by Lautaro Martinez and Francesco Pio Esposito, with John Stones rested for the encounter. Napoli, meanwhile, feature Rasmus Hojlund and Antonio Vergara in their XI, but will be without Scott McTominay, who is recovering from heart surgery.
Confirmed Starting XIs
Inter: J Martinez; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Sucic, Dimarco; Esposito, Lautaro Martinez
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Marin, Spinazzina; Anguissa, Lobotka, Vergara; Politano, Hojlund, Alisson Santos
Chivu’s Respect for Allegri and Team Identity
Ahead of the fixture, Inter coach Cristian Chivu offered praise for his Napoli counterpart Massimiliano Allegri. Chivu described Allegri as a ‘winner’ and a figure from whom young coaches can learn, according to TuttoMercatoWeb. He also reflected on past encounters, stating, “I learned my lesson. We arrived as winners in the end even though by the third matchday I had already lost two. All matches are important.”
Chivu also stressed the importance of Inter maintaining their identity against the strong opposition. He emphasised the need for “determination, courage and desire to dominate” and for the squad to move “in the same direction.” The Inter boss acknowledged making mistakes in his debut campaign but expressed hope that he has learned from them.
High Stakes for Early Season Momentum
Inter enter the match with a perfect six points from their opening two Serie A games, having secured victories against Monza and Cagliari. This fixture represents a significant test as they look to establish early momentum in the title race.
Napoli, however, hold a strong recent record against the Nerazzurri, remaining unbeaten against Inter since the Supercoppa Italiana Final in January 2024, with one win and four draws in that period. Last season, Napoli defeated Inter in both league meetings.
The clash at San Siro is also a crucial domestic fixture before both clubs turn their attention to their respective Champions League campaigns, adding further weight to the outcome for two teams expected to challenge at the summit of Italian football.