Neither league leaders Inter nor second-placed Napoli are in the best of form ahead of what could be a season-defining spectacle when the two sides meet in a high-stakes Serie A clash on Saturday.
Inter recently snatched top spot from Napoli thanks to a 1-0 win over Genoa, coupled with the latter’s 2-1 defeat to Como, and are a point ahead of their title rivals with both sides having 12 games left to play.
Neither side, however, can claim to be at their peak ahead of the game in Naples, as a gruelling season begins to take its toll with injury lists expanding at a worrying rate.
Inter have won two of their last five league games, while Napoli, who are still adjusting to life without Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who left for Paris Saint-Germain in January, are winless in their last four.
Napoli earned just three points from four matches in February, with key midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sidelined due to a calf injury sustained in their recent loss to Como and winger David Neres recovering from a hamstring injury.
However, Inter are not without their own problems, particularly in defence, with Carlos Augusto, Matteo Darmian and midfielder Nicola Zalewski all sidelined due to injuries, while goalkeeper Yann Sommer is still recovering from a thump operation.
Either way, it is set up to be an intriguing battle at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, as, for the fifth time in the last 10 seasons (since 2015-16), Napoli and Inter will compete when starting the matchday in the top two positions of the Serie A table; three of those meetings have ended in a draw, including the reverse fixture this season (1-1).
Just try to catch him #ForzaInter #NapoliInterpic.twitter.com/tZya1jxb1z
— Inter (@Inter_en) February 28, 2025
Napoli have won only one of their last 11 matches against Inter in Serie A (D4 L6), and the Nerazzurri have lost just one of their last five away games against Napoli in the league (W2 D2), so perhaps it is no surprise that Inter are slight favourites with the Opta supercomputer (40.2% chance of victory to Napoli’s 31.2%).
However, if Atalanta beat second-from-bottom Venezia earlier on Saturday, they would go level on points with Inter, giving them a prime opportunity to turn the Scudetto battle into a three-horse race.
Despite a turbulent period that saw them exit the Champions League, and manager Gian Piero Gasperini announce he would not renew his contract, all while dealing with a spat with key striker Ademola Lookman, the Bergamo club have capitalised on Inter’s and Napoli’s inconsistent form to narrow the gap in the title race.
They have no new injury concerns and could field Serie A’s top scorer, Mateo Retegui (21 goals). He has scored the joint-most goals in 2025 in the big five European leagues (nine – level with Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele).
At AC Milan, the momentum manager Sergio Conceicao built with his Supercoppa Italiana triumph in just his second match at the club appears to have waned.
Italian media report that he is under evaluation following some disappointing recent results, including a Champions League exit and back-to-back league defeats against Torino and Bologna. Sunday’s home clash with Lazio could prove pivotal in shaping his future at the club.
A look at the table after the rescheduled #BolognaMilan took place tonight pic.twitter.com/D16qbmlmmr
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 27, 2025
Milan could lose three games in a row in Serie A for the first time since January and February 2023, but they have avoided defeat in six of their last seven league games against Lazio (W5 D1), giving them a kernel of hope.
Juventus, meanwhile, must steady themselves after their shock Coppa Italia exit to Empoli on Wednesday to maintain their Serie A momentum.
With four consecutive league wins, they have climbed into the coveted fourth spot – reportedly the minimum target manager Thiago Motta must achieve to secure another season at the helm.
Despite a lengthy injury list, which midfielder Douglas Luiz recently joined, Juve should have enough quality to overcome 14th-placed Verona on home soil on Monday.
