Napoli rises to the top amid uncertainty

27/10/2025 08:47:00 SportScoop

Napoli’s commanding 3-1 win against Inter Milan has boldly restored them to the top of the Serie A table, silencing skeptics, but Kevin De Bruyne’s injury brings a dark cloud of concern over the title holders.

Napoli faced Inter Milan under suffocating pressure following two consecutive defeats, particularly a devastating 2-6 loss in the Champions League. Many had prematurely mourned Antonio Conte’s squad, believing they were repeating past mistakes after their Serie A triumph two years ago, with an unbalanced lineup and waning morale. However, Conte demonstrated why he is a master at turning situations around.

Conte’s class and resilience

Confronted with Inter’s highly impressive defense (conceding only 2 goals in their last 7 matches), Conte made a bold choice: deploying winger David Neres as a “false number 9” instead of Lorenzo Lucca, as Rasmus Hojlund was still injured. His plan was clear: deny Inter’s defense a fixed mark to follow, while leveraging Neres’ technique, speed, and off-ball movement to disrupt and create space. This was the key to victory. Neres operated widely, drawing Acerbi out of position and opening gaps with unpredictable touches for the two “bulldozers” Scott McTominay and Frank Anguissa to exploit.

McTominay’s goal to make it 2-0 perfectly embodied this strategy: a swift counterattack, the ball shifted wide, and McTominay surged forward like a whirlwind, unleashing a powerful strike. Then, Rambo Anguissa dribbled past multiple Inter players before finishing decisively to seal the 3-1 win.

Napoli didn’t just win; they won exactly how Conte intended: smartly, sharply, and with great courage. He outmaneuvered his younger counterpart Cristian Chivu through experience and tactical prowess. Conte’s passionate, sometimes “mad” demeanor on the sidelines, along with fiery exchanges with former player Lautaro Martinez, revealed how he channeled and released pressure.

Kevin De Bruyne’s injury could alter Napoli’s season

De Bruyne’s tears and boundless worry

However, the victory was overshadowed by Kevin De Bruyne’s injury. Immediately after successfully converting a penalty to open the scoring in the 31st minute—a powerful shot reflecting his determination to bounce back from prior defeats—the Belgian midfielder clutched his right thigh in pain. He was helped off the pitch in tears, a sight that silenced the entire Maradona stadium.

This injury revived terrifying memories of a similar hamstring issue that sidelined De Bruyne for four months during his time at Manchester City in 2023. The whole city of Naples is holding its breath awaiting test results. Losing De Bruyne at this point would be a huge blow for Napoli, especially given their already lengthy injury list including Lukaku, Hojlund, Lobotka, Rrahmani, and Meret, who was named to start but unexpectedly fractured a toe and must sit out for two months.

Yet amidst the tragedy, there is hope. Losing De Bruyne seemed to improve Napoli’s performance for the remainder of the match against Inter. Without relying on a single outstanding player, their play became faster, more direct, and less predictable. McTominay was pushed higher up, returning to the role that earned him Serie A’s Best Player last season, immediately making an impact with a brilliant goal. Anguissa also had more freedom to shine and emerged as the brightest star on the field.

However, this may only be a temporary effect in one game. Losing a creative mind and elite playmaker like De Bruyne for an extended period (possibly weeks) will surely pose difficulties for Napoli, especially against teams that defend deeply and require unpredictable breakthroughs. The packed schedule ahead (Lecce, Como, and Frankfurt within 8 days) only intensifies Conte’s worries about his squad’s depth.

Regardless, overcoming the immense challenge posed by Inter Milan has reaffirmed that Napoli are not easily toppled. This win demonstrates they possess the courage, depth (though debated), and a winning DNA that Conte continuously nurtures. That is the most crucial factor to maintain hope in defending the Scudetto, despite the storms surrounding them.

Atalanta, the new "draw kings" of Serie A

Last season, Juventus under coach Thiago Motta set a record with 13 draws in their first 20 Serie A games, but this might soon be surpassed by Atalanta. Ivan Juric’s squad is currently the only team unbeaten in Serie A this season, yet they have drawn 6 out of 8 matches. If this rate continues, Atalanta will draw 15 of their first 20 games.

Early yesterday morning, Atalanta recorded their fourth consecutive draw after a 1-1 stalemate with Cremonese. The highlight was Cremonese’s first Serie A goal, scored by veteran striker Jamie Vardy. The former Leicester star celebrated with a daring somersault at age 38, showcasing his joy for the game.

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