Napoli beat Inter 3-1: De Bruyne and McTominay made their mark.
De Bruyne opened the scoring from the penalty spot after VAR intervention, McTominay doubled the lead before Anguissa sealed the victory. Inter pulled one back through Calhanoglu. Napoli overtook AC Milan to claim the top spot in Serie A.
Napoli beat Inter Milan 3-1 in a fast-paced match, with Kevin De Bruyne breaking the deadlock from the penalty spot, Scott McTominay extending the lead, and Frank Anguissa extinguishing any hopes of a comeback for the visitors. With this victory, Napoli overtook AC Milan to claim the top spot in Serie A.
Drama and pivotal moments
The match was decided by moments in both penalty areas: two VAR interventions resulted in penalties, and Napoli's quality shots were converted at the right time. Inter controlled possession in the final moments, but Napoli's defense played disciplined and goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic stood firm.
Main developments
First half: VAR resolves the issue, De Bruyne leaves the field.
In the 9th minute, Inter nearly opened the scoring when Alessandro Bastoni's header narrowly missed the post. Then, in the 30th minute, Henrikh Mkhitaryan committed a foul in the penalty area. After consulting VAR, the referee awarded Napoli a penalty, which Kevin De Bruyne successfully converted in the 33rd minute, giving the home side a 1-0 lead.
In the 37th minute, De Bruyne suffered an injury and had to leave the field, forcing Napoli to make a substitution. Inter pushed forward towards the end of the half, but their dangerous opportunities were all thwarted by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
Second half: McTominay doubles the lead, Calhanoglu gives hope, then Anguissa seals the victory.
In the 54th minute, Scott McTominay fired a shot from the edge of the penalty area, extending Napoli's lead to 2-0. Just three minutes later, Alessandro Buongiorno handled the ball inside the box; VAR confirmed a penalty, and Hakan Calhanoglu pulled one back in the 59th minute to make it 2-1.
Inter's hopes were quickly dashed when Frank Anguissa scored an unstoppable goal in the 66th minute, sealing a 3-1 victory for Napoli. In the remaining minutes, Inter had more possession but lacked creativity, their attacks being broken down in midfield.
Tactical analysis: Inter took the initiative in midfield, Napoli converted their chances.
Inter started with fluid ball circulation in midfield thanks to the trio of Barella, Calhanoglu, and Mkhitaryan, quickly gaining control of the game. Napoli responded by pushing forward, exploiting the speed and mobility of David Neres, while Kevin De Bruyne acted as the playmaker linking the attacking moves.
The VAR moment and the opening goal helped Napoli shape the game according to their plan: dropping back just enough to maintain their defensive structure, while choosing the right moments to accelerate when space arose. After De Bruyne left the field, Antonio Conte's team maintained their pressing intensity, stifling Inter's build-up play and waiting for opportunities to strike – exemplified by McTominay's long-range goal.
On Inter's side, their push forward after the second goal resulted in a penalty from a handball, but the lack of creativity in their final attacking moves meant they were unable to break through Napoli's disciplined defense.
Key statistics
- Score: Napoli 3-1 Inter
- Goals: De Bruyne 33' pen; McTominay 54'; Anguissa 66' – Calhanoglu 59' pen
- VAR: Two interventions, both resulting in penalties (30th minute for Napoli, 57th minute for Inter)
- Forced substitution: De Bruyne leaves the field due to injury in the 37th minute.
- Early chance: Bastoni's header went wide of the post in the 9th minute.
Match timeline
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 9' | Bastoni's header went wide of the post for Inter. |
| 30 minutes | Mkhitaryan committed a foul, VAR confirmed a penalty for Napoli. |
| 33' | De Bruyne converts the penalty, Napoli 1-0 Inter |
| 37' | De Bruyne is injured and has left the field. |
| 54' | McTominay scored with a long-range goal to make it 2-0 for Napoli. |
| 57' | Buongiorno handled the ball in the penalty area, VAR confirmed a penalty for Inter. |
| 59' | Calhanoglu scored from the penalty spot, reducing the deficit to 1-2. |
| 66' | Anguissa scored to give Napoli a 3-1 lead. |
Starting lineup
| Napoli | Inter Milan |
|---|---|
| Vanja Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus, Spinazzola; Anguissa, Gilmour; De Bruyne; Politano, McTominay, Neres | Sommer; Acerbi, Bastoni, Akanji; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Bonny, Martinez |
Post-match reaction
The data source does not provide statements from coaches or players after the match.
Impact on the Serie A race
The 3-1 victory helped Napoli overtake AC Milan and climb to the top of the Serie A table. Antonio Conte's team continues to demonstrate their home strength and their status as a strong contender for the championship this season.
