Inter Milan vs Napoli Prediction & Betting Tips

Inter Milan host Napoli in a matchup between the current league leaders and champions of Serie A. The home side are hoping for three points to extend their lead at the top even further.

Date: 18/03/24

Kick-off time: 19:45

Venue: San Siro

Despite winning the Serie A title last season, Napoli have endured an underwhelming campaign that has left them facing an uphill battle for a Champions League place. They are currently seventh, four points off Roma in fifth, and a further three points behind fourth-place Bologna. They dropped points in their last game at home to Torino, wasting an opportunity to climb the table. A victory at Inter would keep them firmly in the hunt for a top-four place, but defeat would see their chances fade.

Simone Inzaghi’s side, in contrast, are enjoying an excellent season which has them 16 points clear at the top. With ten games remaining, they have all but confirmed their first league title since 2021. The sides below them are showing many signs of inconstancy, whilst Inter keep on winning, meaning it should only be a matter of time before their triumph is mathematically confirmed.

Napoli have scored nine goals in the last three games, but could struggle to break down a defence that has conceded just 13 goals all year, by far the best record in the division. Their opponents also have the best attack by a considerable distance with 70 goals, and it would be a surprise to not see this added to as Napoli have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight games. Lautaro Martinez tops the league charts with 23, and will be a dangerous threat throughout the game. Victor Osimhen has had some success since his return from AFCON, and has 11 goals in Serie A this season.

The two sides have met nine times in the league since 2020, and Inter have been the dominant team, winning six and losing just one. The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in the favour of the visitors as Martinez scored a 90th-minute winner to snatch all three points. Napoli were reduced to ten men earlier in the half, but Inter were unable to take advantage of the extra man until right at the death.

Inter Milan

Marko Arnautovic and Carlos Augusto were both substituted with injuries during the weekend’s game against Bologna. Juan Cuadrado is a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.

Napoli

Midfielder Jens Cajuste is out for a few weeks with a thigh injury, so he will be unavailable for this game. Cyril Ngonge missed the last game but he has returned to training setting up a potential comeback at the weekend.

Inter Milan

In their last six games, Inter Milan have a decent record, winning five and losing once. This run of results began with a return to Champions League action, in which they took on Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Round of 16. It was a tight affair as the Italian side won 1-0 thanks to a 79th-minute winner from Marko Arnautovic. The defence were also able to restrict their opponents to no shots on target. However, their defeat also came in the second leg, as a late goals from Memphis Depay gave Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win which eventually took the tie to a penalty shootout. Alexis Sanchez and Davy Klaasen both saw spot kicks saved as Inter were knocked out on penalties.

Attentions switched back to the league, as they travelled to Lecce. This was a much more comfortable game, with goals from Lautaro Martinez (x2), Davide Frattesi and Stefan de Vrij securing a 4-0 win. They repeated this scoreline a few days later, this time at home to Atalanta. Martinez and Frattesi once again found the back of the net, with Matteo Darmian and Federico Dimarco also scoring. Genoa were the next victims of Inter’s winning streak, as they fell 2-1 to the league leaders. Two first-half strikes from Kristjan Asslani and Alexis Sanchez put them in a commanding lead before Johan Vasquez pulled one back shortly after the restart. Their most recent outing was a 1-0 away win at Bologna. Yann Aurel Bisseck’s 37th-minute goal was the difference between the two sides.

Napoli

In their last five games, Napoli have won two and drawn three. The current champions are enjoying an unbeaten run, but will be disappointed to not win more games. Last weekend saw them drop points at home to Torino, who are a few places below them in the table. They opened the scoring through Kvicha Kvaratskhelia in the second half, but the lead lasted just three minutes as Antonio Sanabria equalised.

This followed a huge 2-1 victory over title challengers Juventus. Kvaratskhelia and Giacomo Raspadori scored either side of a Federico Chiesa equaliser to pick up an important three points. They found their shooting boots during their trip to Sassuolo, winning 6-1. They fell behind, but quickly restored parity with a goal from Amir Rrahmani. Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick and Kvaratskhelia added a brace to complete the rout. They recorded another draw away to Cagliari. They were mere seconds away from another win, but it was snatched right at the death by a 96th-minute equaliser. Osimhen had put them ahead midway through the second half.

A return to European competition saw them take on Barcelona in the first leg of the Round of 16. Robert Lewandowski gave Barca the advantage, but Osimhen equalised shortly after with their only shot on target. However, Napoli suffered a 3-1 loss in Spain to Barcelona as Fermin Lopez, Lewandowski and Joao Cancelo all got on the scoresheet to seal a 4-2 aggregate win for La Blaugrana.

Inter Milan are flying at the top of the table and are enjoying a prolonged winning streak which we expect to continue. They are playing an inconsistent Napoli side who may struggle, especially away from home – Inter Milan 2-1 Napoli

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Inter Milan vs Napoli will be available to watch on TNT Sports 1.

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