Inter-Napoli: the probable formations

Likely lineups

Scheduled at the same time as Udinese-Empoli – the other 8:45 p.m. match of the 16th round of Serie A – Inter-Napoli is certainly the big-match of the day. The wait for the San Siro super-match has been going on since November 14, when the top league closed its doors to make way for the World Cup in Qatar, which Argentina won.

The Milanese team, which already lags 11 points behind Napoli, has basically only one result at its disposal if it wants to continue cultivating the Scudetto dream. For the match against the leader, coach Inzaghi can already count on world champion Lautaro Martinez, who, however, will start from the bench. In attack, therefore, space will be given to the Dzeko-Lukaku pair, who so far have played together only 23′ in Inter. With de Vrij and Brozovic absent, there is still room for Acerbi in defense, while in midfield Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be – with Barella – one of the two wing halves alongside Hakan Calhanoglu, now a reserve playmaker in the absence of the Croatian metronome.

No formation problems, on the other hand, for Luciano Spalletti’s highly-launched Napoli, which, compared to its last 2022 outings, recovers bogeyman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who will act on the left side of the offensive front along with Matteo Politano – one of the exes of the challenge – and the untouchable Victor Osimhen. In defense, trust Juan Jesus – speaking of former Nerazzurri – and Matìas Oliveira, preferred over Mario Rui. The conductor in the middle of the field will be the usual Lobotka, with World Cup veterans Anguissa and Zielinski on his sides.

Likely lineups.

INTER (3-5-2): Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lukaku, Dzeko. All: Simone Inzaghi

NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Juan Jesus, Kim, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia. All: Luciano Spalletti