Match Previews

country flag Serie A Round 18
Mon 06 January 2020 19:45
Referee
Daniele Doveri
Weather at KO
weather icon Clear  7oC | Precip: 0% (0 mm) | Wind 3.2 m/s
Travel Info
1 hour plane, 2 hours coach
Distance
790 KM (Distance Matrix)

Napoli

Last updated: Wed 08 January 2020 19:52
In Brief

Set end to long-lasting winless run with 2-1 away win over Sassuolo at the last assault. Host Inter without Mertens, Ghoulam, Maksimovic, Malcuit and Koulibaly. Luperto with the group. Fabian should be fine.

Looking Back

After a disastrous first half, Napoli managed to dominate Sassuolo for the whole second half and eventually grabbed win at the very last assault.

Allan turned into team leader after scoring. Hysaj, Elmas and Mertens all came on in the second half and radically changed the match for Napoli. Mario Rui made too many huge mistakes defensively.

Scored 33% of their goals between the 16th and 30th minutes of the second halves. Concede only 9% of the goals in the first and last 15 minutes of the first halves.

Looking Ahead

At last set an end to a 2-month winless run. Just 1 clean sheet out of the last 9. Have not scored more than 2 since week 4. Host Inter, having won 3, drawn 2 and lost 3 at home, with 10 goals scored and 8 conceded overall.

Malcuit and Koulibaly will still be out such as Ghoulam. Tonelli returns. Luperto is back with the group. Karnezis recovered from illness. Fabian has shaken off a 'flu. Maksimovic has muscular issues. Mertens is also absent.

Maksimovic will be back from ban. Mario Rui and Elmas are one yellow card away from suspension.

Luperto should be preferred to Hysaj at centre-back and Fabian to Gaetano or Elmas in the midfield. Lozano could represent an alternative to Callejon in the attack.

Points of Interest

Napoli hosted Inter 73 times: they won 37 and drew 19, losing 17. Overall, they scored 95 goals and conceded 70. They won 3 out of the last 4.

Manager Comments

Dries went to his trusted professor for this small edema he has at the adductor level, will do some manipulation and will return on Wednesday. Kalidou also tried to be available, but we cannot risk it, we must be sure when it comes to returning from injuries.

I have clearly said that we are not healed after the victory against Sassuolo. And I repeat that it takes patience and time for las quadra to return to its full convictions and potential. What I expect, starting tomorrow, is the maximum commitment, the ability not to lose your head and always remain in the match. Starting today to look at the gap we have from Inter and from the top of the standings would be unproductive. We only need to care about tomorrow's race and then look forward always working with this intensity.

Internazionale

Last updated: Wed 08 January 2020 19:52
In Brief

Set end to winless run thanks to 4-0 home win over Genoa. Travel to Napoli without Asamoah and D'Ambrosio. Sanchez and Barella should be fine.

Looking Back

Heavy pressing gave them domination over Genoa. Let opponents become dangerous only after scoring 3rd goal.

Lukaku scored a brace and assisted once but also made a huge mistake. At 17 Esposito scored his first goal in Serie A. Gagliardini scored once and obtained penalty kick. Candreva also offered another great performance.

Inter score most of their goals between the 16th and the 30th minutes of both halves. They are still to concede in the last 15 minutes of the first halves.

Looking Ahead

Set an end to a 3-game winless run. Scored 4 goals for the 3rd time in the campaign. Picked up 7th clean sheet in the campaign. Travel to Napoli, having won 7 and drawn 1 on the road, with 19 goals scored and 8 conceded overall.

Asamoah should miss out. D'Ambrosio will miss 3 weeks out due to muscular issues. Sanchez and Barella resumed regular training.

Martinez and Brozovic are back from ban. Bastoni, D'Ambrosio, Skriniar and Barella are one yellow card away from suspension.

Godin is contending with Bastoni at the back. Gagliardini and Barella could represent alternatives to Vecino and Sensi in the midfield.

Points of Interest

Inter failed to score in 29 out of 73 trips to Napoli, while they kept 21 clean sheets. In 5 occasions they scored more than 2 goals (the last one in 1995), while they conceded more 14 times.

Manager Comments

I found the boys well, rested and with the right determination. I am happy from this point of view. We expect a very difficult game in Naples. You know very well what I think, it's a team that has great quality, it's an excellent squad. Now there has been this change of manager, Gattuso has arrived. We will have to be very careful because it is an excellent team with a coach who has great motivations and manages to transfer them to the team.

We must continue to work as done so far. It is inevitable that the difficulties encountered have made the group very responsible. Everyone was called into question and made responsible. This has improved us because it has widened the range of solutions and empowered the players because everyone has understood that one must raise the bar of one's own person both on the pitch and in the mentality. This was the most positive aspect of the first part of the season. I think that the task of the coach, as I said, is to make the most of the players. I try to do it and when I find a group like this it is easier because there is a desire to improve and grow.

Doubtful (chance of availability)
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Rested
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Suspended
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Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
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Rested
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Internazionale

Last updated: Wed 08 January 2020 19:52
In Brief

Set end to winless run thanks to 4-0 home win over Genoa. Travel to Napoli without Asamoah and D'Ambrosio. Sanchez and Barella should be fine.

Looking Back

Heavy pressing gave them domination over Genoa. Let opponents become dangerous only after scoring 3rd goal.

Lukaku scored a brace and assisted once but also made a huge mistake. At 17 Esposito scored his first goal in Serie A. Gagliardini scored once and obtained penalty kick. Candreva also offered another great performance.

Inter score most of their goals between the 16th and the 30th minutes of both halves. They are still to concede in the last 15 minutes of the first halves.

Looking Ahead

Set an end to a 3-game winless run. Scored 4 goals for the 3rd time in the campaign. Picked up 7th clean sheet in the campaign. Travel to Napoli, having won 7 and drawn 1 on the road, with 19 goals scored and 8 conceded overall.

Asamoah should miss out. D'Ambrosio will miss 3 weeks out due to muscular issues. Sanchez and Barella resumed regular training.

Martinez and Brozovic are back from ban. Bastoni, D'Ambrosio, Skriniar and Barella are one yellow card away from suspension.

Godin is contending with Bastoni at the back. Gagliardini and Barella could represent alternatives to Vecino and Sensi in the midfield.

Points of Interest

Inter failed to score in 29 out of 73 trips to Napoli, while they kept 21 clean sheets. In 5 occasions they scored more than 2 goals (the last one in 1995), while they conceded more 14 times.

Manager Comments

I found the boys well, rested and with the right determination. I am happy from this point of view. We expect a very difficult game in Naples. You know very well what I think, it's a team that has great quality, it's an excellent squad. Now there has been this change of manager, Gattuso has arrived. We will have to be very careful because it is an excellent team with a coach who has great motivations and manages to transfer them to the team.

We must continue to work as done so far. It is inevitable that the difficulties encountered have made the group very responsible. Everyone was called into question and made responsible. This has improved us because it has widened the range of solutions and empowered the players because everyone has understood that one must raise the bar of one's own person both on the pitch and in the mentality. This was the most positive aspect of the first part of the season. I think that the task of the coach, as I said, is to make the most of the players. I try to do it and when I find a group like this it is easier because there is a desire to improve and grow.

Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
  • ---

Key

Key players
Regular players
Support players
75% - Chance of availability
Artificial Pitch
Universal Player Grid
Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information

Team Strength*

Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Just Adequate
Poor
*Based on Available Players