Inter are set to host Napoli at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday night, in one of Serie A’s most hotly contested games.
The Partenopei will be eager to continue their obvious dominance over Inter in the past three seasons, where they have won four games out of six in all competitions.
Last season Rafael Benitez’s side managed to get four points from both games against Inter. The Neapolitans managed to win 4-2 at the Stadio San Paolo in December 2013, before both sides played out a goalless stalemate at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
The form of both sides this season, however, has been dire. Walter Mazzarri and Rafael Benitez have come under extreme scrutiny since the start of the season due to the results and performances.
Both side have picked up seven points from their previous five games, but the sequence of events is the exact opposite. Napoli succumbed to two successive losses at the hands of Chievo and Udinese, followed by a 3-3 draw against Palermo, but has seen their form rise in previous weeks by securing two wins against Torino and Sassuolo respectively.
Inter on the other hand are the complete opposite. Unlike the Neapolitans, Walter Mazzarri’s men are enduring a terrible run of form. After drawing with Torino in their opening game, the Nerazzurri managed to get seven points from their next three games by overcoming Sassuolo by an astounding 7-0 scoreline and a 2-0 defeat with Atalanta coupled with a 1-1 draw against Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.
However, Il Serpenti are coming off from two heavy defeats including the ignominious 4-1 defeat at home to Cagliari followed by the 3-0 defeat in Florence at the hands of Fiorentina.
Walter Mazzarri has a few injury concerns heading into Sunday’s game against his former side. Pablo Osvaldo was withdrawn from the Italy squad which was due to play against Malta and Azerbaijan due to injury, joining Danilo D’Ambrosio, Jonathan, Hugo Campagnaro, and Fredy Guarin on the injury list.
There were also doubts on whether or not Mateo Kovacic,and captain Andrea Ranocchia would start on Sunday, but the duo look fit to play.
On the other hand Benitez’s sole issue is that star-midfielder Gokhan Inler is experiencing issues with fatigue, but is highly likely to start for visitors.
Expected Starting XIs
Inter (3-5-2): Handanovic; Juan Jesus; Vidic; Ranocchia; Nagatomo; Medel; Kovacic; M’Vila; Dodò; Icardi; Palacio
Napoli (4-3-2-1): Rafael; Maggio; Albiol; Koulibaly; Ghoulam; Inler; Hamsik; Gargano; Callejon; Mertens; Higuain
