Inter vs. Napoli: Who’s to Blame for the Azzurri’s Loss? Fans on Social Media Have No Doubts

Inter vs. Napoli 3-2 saw the Nerazzurri secure the win only in stoppage time thanks to a last-minute goal by Lautaro Martinez, leaving the visitors with plenty of regrets. The Neapolitan side had, in fact, taken a 2-0 lead, a score the hosts didn’t break until the 56th minute before turning the entire match around. And setting aside the refereeing controversies that erupted among fans of both teams, Napoli supporters on social media seem to have pinpointed the main culprit for the defeat.

“I still don’t understand how De Laurentiis could have thought of entrusting the bench to a coach like Allegri, who’s clearly past his prime,” wrote one fan in a comment on the match. “He’s the very embodiment of anti-soccer, especially after that despicable business with Milan. In my opinion, after last season, he should have had the decency to hang up his coaching badge and enjoy his family. I don’t see Napoli doing well this year.” Another fan echoed this sentiment: “Allegri switches to a 5-3-1-1 and the score goes from 1-2 to 3-2—is that a coincidence? Who knows.” “Napoli is a total disaster; the defense is unwatchable,” insists another. Some take a more measured tone (“I didn’t understand some of Allegri’s substitutions. Lucca is unpresentable today, Hojlund should always play, and De Bruyne is playing half-heartedly”), but the taunts from the other side are also inevitable. “Acciughina is always number 1” and “Smile, Neapolitan friends—you’re on *Scherzi a Parte*” are the messages in two of them.

From a strictly technical standpoint, the match featured a balanced first half played at a fast pace, with Inter dominating possession and Napoli well-organized defensively. The second half, however, turned into a true spectacle: after the visitors took a two-goal lead thanks to goals by Politano in the 50th minute and Hojlund in the 53rd, the Nerazzurri gradually pushed forward until they completed their comeback with a brace from Lautaro and a goal by Thuram in the 82nd minute. Also worth noting in the closing minutes were the spectacular chances Napoli squandered on the counterattack through Neres and Anguissa, which could have sealed the victory well before the Nerazzurri’s winning goal.

Referee controversies, after all, affected both teams. Among the most debated incidents was the one in the 82nd minute, on Marcus Thuram’s 2-2 goal: Referee Simone Sozza did not stop play despite Rrahmani being on the ground in front of goalkeeper Meret, ruling that the Napoli defender had fallen as a result of his own header and not due to a tackle by an opponent. But the Nerazzurri also had reason to protest: Politano’s goal came off a counterattack in which Barella had appealed for a penalty for a potential handball by Lobotka. The incident was reviewed in the DAZN studios with Luca Marelli, who admitted: “There are many doubts. It’s hard to tell if there was contact, given that his arm is outstretched. Looking at all the footage we have, it’s unclear whether he touched it with his hand or not.”

The difference in depth between the two squads was one of the key factors highlighted in the post-match analysis. Journalist Enrico Varriale summed up the match’s progression on social media as follows: “A hard-fought victory for Inter, who came back from a 0-2 deficit to take home the 3 points and extend their lead to +6 in the standings over an excellent Napoli. People were wondering if Allegri’s team would deliver, and they certainly did. In stoppage time of a wild match, a glaring missed chance by Lucca and Anguissa was followed by the 3-2 goal from the extraordinary Lautaro, who scored a brace. The substitutions highlighted the difference in quality between the two teams’ rosters. Thuram was decisive for Chivu. Lucca’s defensive blunders and the disastrous performance by Badiashile proved costly for Allegri, who now faces the difficult task of lifting the morale of a squad that came close to pulling off a major upset but returns home from the Meazza with no points.”

For Napoli, this marks their second consecutive league loss, following the home defeat against Como on Matchday 2, leaving Allegri’s team stuck on 3 points. It’s been a complicated start to the season, made even more difficult by absences: among the key players missing this match was Scott McTominay, who was sidelined for an ablation procedure to correct a mild, benign arrhythmia. The Scot is not expected to return before October, with the club indicating that his first possible match will be the home game against Frosinone on October 11. Further weighing on the Azzurri’s morale is the transfer saga surrounding Gabriel Jesus, who was snatched from Napoli by Arsenal in the final hours of negotiations and subsequently sold to Barcelona for approximately 15 million euros: an offensive reinforcement that Allegri had identified as ideal for rounding out a roster that many observers still consider lacking.

Meanwhile, the schedule offers no respite: on Tuesday, September 9, the team’s European debut in the Champions League is already scheduled at the Maradona Stadium against Arsenal—a double date with history that the Azzurri will have to face with the wounds from San Siro still fresh. For Inter, on the other hand, this victory brings Cristian Chivu’s tally to 9 points and keeps the team with a perfect record after three matchdays, confirming the Nerazzurri as the top contenders to defend their title.