Napoli defeated Inter 3–1 in a match defined by contrasting approaches. Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Scott McTominay and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa sealed the result. Despite Hakan Çalhanoğlu pulling one back, Inter were punished for missed chances and lapses in defensive transitions. Israel Schmidt de Azevedo analyses how Napoli’s compact defensive shape and direct counters made the difference.
In the ninth minute, Hakan Çalhanoğlu delivered a well-placed corner and Alessandro Bastoni rose highest to head the ball. Napoli’s defenders joined him in the aerial duel, but the ball deflected off Bastoni’s shoulder and looped dangerously, almost dipping inside the far post.
To escape Inter’s early press, Napoli stretched the pitch by splitting their centre-backs wide and pushing both full-backs forward. Billy Gilmour, standing in for the injured Stanislav Lobotka, dropped close to the defenders to act almost as a libero. Further ahead, Anguissa and De Bruyne operated as secondary attackers, while both wing-backs formed a line of four across midfield to create passing lanes and facilitate quick escapes down the flanks. David Neres stayed highest, using his speed to threaten in behind.
Inter tried to disrupt this structure by pressing with Lautaro Martínez and Bonny near Napoli’s centre-backs. Behind them, a line of five included Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco high on the wings, with Nicolò Barella, Çalhanoğlu, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan compressing the middle to restrict space. Manuel Akanji and Bastoni pushed forward into the attacking half to contain Napoli’s wide threats, while Francesco Acerbi stayed deepest as the safety line.
In the 14th minute, Gilmour attempted to progress the ball from defence but was quickly closed down by Inter’s press. He passed to Leonardo Spinazzola, only for Barella to intercept. The loose ball fell to Lautaro Martínez, who sprinted past Juan Jesus and fired a first-time shot straight at Vanja Milinković-Savić.
When defending, Inter narrowed their centre-backs and dropped both wing-backs deep to form a compact line of five inside the box. Barella and Mkhitaryan moved back from midfield to form a line of three defensive midfielders, while Bonny and Lautaro led the initial press from the front.
Napoli adapted with positional flexibility. Neres drifted left to act as a secondary striker, while McTominay moved centrally from his wing-back role to play as a target forward, using his aerial ability. Anguissa mirrored this on the right. Covering McTominay’s flank, Spinazzola pushed higher as a winger, with Matteo Politano doing the same on the opposite side. Behind them, Gilmour anchored a midfield three alongside De Bruyne and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, supporting both central and wide progression. Napoli’s defenders held their line high, already positioned near halfway.
In the 29th minute, Spinazzola carried the ball infield and found Gilmour, who switched play to Politano. The winger combined with Anguissa, who disguised his movement as a hold-up play before flicking a rabona pass to Di Lorenzo inside the penalty area. The captain fell after a collision with Mkhitaryan and Acerbi. Barella cleared the loose ball and launched a counter, but play was pulled back for a delayed and controversial penalty decision.
In the 33rd minute, De Bruyne converted calmly to put Napoli 1–0 ahead. However, moments after scoring, the Belgian limped off in tears, clearly realising the severity of his injury. He could not continue and had to be helped from the field.
Inter went close again in the 41st minute when Bastoni met another Çalhanoğlu corner, his header crashing against the crossbar before bouncing clear.
Napoli dropped deeper and adopted a medium press, positioning their players near the start of the middle third. Neres led the press, while Inter attacked through Akanji and Bastoni stepping high, Dumfries and Dimarco providing width, and the midfield trio advancing with freedom.
In the 46th minute, Bastoni delivered a trivela pass to Dimarco, who played a short combination with Barella near the area. The ball deflected kindly to Çalhanoğlu, who struck a first-time volley towards the corner, but Milinković-Savić produced an excellent save. Akanji recycled possession and fed Dumfries, who found Lautaro in space, but the striker dragged his shot narrowly wide.
Two minutes later, Dimarco’s throw-in reached Bastoni, who crossed for Dumfries. The Dutchman’s header clipped the bar and drifted wide.
Napoli’s pressing remained calculated rather than intense. Neres, De Bruyne’s replacement Mathías Olivera, and Gilmour pressed compactly through the middle. McTominay and Politano stayed slightly deeper to guard against Dumfries and Dimarco, while the defensive line held firm to prevent spaces behind.
Inter adjusted by pushing Acerbi slightly left, with Çalhanoğlu dropping to assist the build-up and Bastoni stepping further forward. Barella moved wide on the right with Mkhitaryan central. Both wing-backs advanced almost as wingers, while Lautaro and Bonny stayed high, the former drifting around the latter to create overloads.
In the 48th minute, Inter broke forward when Piotr Zieliński found Dimarco, who passed to Lautaro. The striker’s attempt was blocked, and the ball fell back to Zieliński, who laid it off for Çalhanoğlu, but his shot flew over the bar.
At 53 minutes, Spinazzola sent a precise long ball over Inter’s high line to McTominay, who timed his run perfectly and struck a stunning half-volley from outside the box to make it 2–0. Inter’s advanced defensive positioning was punished instantly.
Three minutes later, Inter appealed for a penalty after Dimarco’s cross struck the arm of Alessandro Buongiorno. Following a VAR review, the referee awarded it. In the 59th minute, Çalhanoğlu converted confidently to make it 2–1.
In the 66th minute, Napoli combined brilliantly after a throw-in. Politano found Neres, who cushioned the ball to Anguissa in one touch. Anguissa burst through the middle, evaded two defenders, and placed a calm finish past the goalkeeper to seal a 3–1 victory.
It was a match of contrasts. Inter created the better chances but failed to convert, while Napoli absorbed pressure, attacked directly, and finished clinically. Despite the debatable penalty, Napoli’s control of transitions and efficient use of width proved decisive. Inter may have produced the stronger overall display, but Napoli’s execution in key moments ensured a deserved victory.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Israel Schmidt de Azevedo
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