Napoli beat Inter 3-1: De Bruyne, McTominay made their mark
De Bruyne opened the scoring from the penalty spot after VAR intervention, McTominay doubled the lead before Anguissa sealed it. Inter reduced the gap thanks to Calhanoglu. Napoli overtook AC Milan to take the top spot in Serie A.
Napoli beat Inter Milan 3-1 in a fast-paced game, with Kevin De Bruyne breaking the deadlock from the penalty spot, Scott McTominay extending the lead and Frank Anguissa snuffing out any hopes of an equaliser. The win took Napoli past AC Milan to the top of Serie A.
Drama and pivotal moments
The game was decided by moments in the two penalty boxes: two VAR interventions resulted in penalties, while Napoli’s quality finishing was converted at the right time. Inter dominated possession in the final moments, but Napoli’s defence was disciplined and goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic stood firm.
Main events
First half: VAR opens the button, De Bruyne leaves the field
In the 9th minute, Inter almost opened the scoring when Alessandro Bastoni's header went just wide of the post. In the 30th minute, Henrikh Mkhitaryan committed a foul in the penalty area. After consulting VAR, the referee awarded Napoli a penalty and Kevin De Bruyne converted it in the 33rd minute, giving the home team a 1-0 lead.
In the 37th minute, De Bruyne was injured and had to leave the field, forcing Napoli to adjust their personnel. Inter pushed up their formation at the end of the half but their dangerous chances were all thwarted by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
Second half: McTominay doubled the gap, Calhanoglu lit up hope and Anguissa closed the score
In the 54th minute, Scott McTominay fired a shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-0 for Napoli. Just 3 minutes later, Alessandro Buongiorno handled the ball in the box; VAR confirmed the penalty and Hakan Calhanoglu reduced the score to 1-2 in the 59th minute.
Inter's hopes were quickly dashed when Frank Anguissa's unstoppable shot in the 66th minute sealed a 3-1 victory for Napoli. In the remaining minutes, Inter had a lot of possession but lacked innovation, their attacks were broken up right from midfield.
Tactical analysis: Inter's midfield is proactive, Napoli converts opportunities
Inter started with a clear ball circulation in midfield thanks to the trio of Barella – Calhanoglu – Mkhitaryan, thereby controlling the game early. Napoli responded by pushing up the line, exploiting the speed and mobility of David Neres, while Kevin De Bruyne played the role of conductor linking the attacks.
The VAR moment and the opening goal allowed Napoli to shape the game the way they wanted: dropping back enough to preserve their defensive structure, while choosing when to accelerate when space arose. After De Bruyne left the pitch, Antonio Conte’s team maintained the intensity of their pressure, suffocating Inter’s build-up and waiting for their chance to strike – most notably McTominay’s long-range goal.
For Inter, their efforts to push forward after the second goal resulted in a penalty from a handball, but the lack of breakthroughs in the final combinations prevented them from penetrating Napoli's disciplined defense.
Important statistics
- Score: Napoli 3-1 Inter
- Goals: De Bruyne 33' pen; McTominay 54'; Anguissa 66' – Calhanoglu 59' pen
- VAR: 2 interventions, both leading to penalties (30th minute for Napoli, 57th minute for Inter)
- Unexpected substitution: De Bruyne left the field due to injury in the 37th minute
- Early chance: Bastoni headed wide in the 9th minute
Match Timeline
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 9' | Bastoni headed wide for Inter |
| 30' | Mkhitaryan fouled, VAR confirmed penalty for Napoli |
| 33' | De Bruyne successfully kicked the penalty, Napoli 1-0 Inter |
| 37' | De Bruyne injured, left the field |
| 54' | McTominay's long-range shot made it 2-0 for Napoli |
| 57' | Buongiorno touched his hand in the penalty area, VAR confirmed penalty for Inter |
| 59' | Calhanoglu scored from the penalty spot, narrowing the score to 1-2. |
| 66' | Anguissa finished to make it 3-1 for Napoli |
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 reactions
The data source does not provide statements from coaches or players after the match.
Impact on Serie A race
The 3-1 victory helped Napoli surpass AC Milan and rise to the top of Serie A. Antonio Conte's team continued to affirm their home field strength and position as a strong candidate for this season's championship race.