Napoli secured a crucial victory against title rivals Inter Milan, with a final score of 3-1, propelling them to the top of the Serie A table. The defending champions reclaimed their position after an impressive performance at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Kevin de Bruyne opened the scoring with a penalty in the first half, following a foul on Giovanni di Lorenzo by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The match took a concerning turn for Inter when De Bruyne, who has enjoyed a successful spell since transferring from Manchester City, limped off shortly after his goal. Despite Inter’s strong start—highlighted by Lautaro Martinez’s near miss saved by Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic—it was the hosts who capitalized on their chances.
Napoli extended their lead shortly after halftime, with Scott McTominay converting a long ball from Leonardo Spinazzola into a well-placed shot from the edge of the box. Denzel Dumfries almost equalized for Inter with a powerful header that hit the woodwork, but Hakan Calhanoglu did manage to score from the penalty spot, reducing Napoli’s lead after a handball by Alessandro Buongiorno.
However, just seven minutes later, Frank Anguissa restored Napoli’s two-goal cushion, ensuring they would secure their first win in three matches. This victory, which marks their sixth win in eight games, places Napoli one point ahead of AC Milan, who drop to second in the standings.
McTominay’s performance is especially notable, as he previously played a critical role in leading Napoli to their fourth Serie A title last season. With upcoming matches, Roma could pose a new challenge, potentially matching Napoli’s points if they defeat Sassuolo on Sunday.
As the Serie A season progresses, Napoli is showing resilience and strength, setting a competitive tone that promises an exciting title race in Italy’s top league.