Derby day in Italy — Wolves and Old Lady could open the path for Inter to the title

Inter are flying, hitting top form and dispatching the “smaller” teams with ease (on Friday they were 2–0 down to Pisa at the Meazza, but ended up winning 6–2). A look at the table shows that the Nerazzurri’s biggest rivals are city neighbours Milan and defending champions Napoli.

Como have been excellent — the most pleasant surprise is Cesc Fabregas’ team — while Roma and Juventus have not been completely ruled out of the Scudetto race either, though they are not given great odds.

Inter turn the game around after being two goals down at home

The Bianconeri in particular have been stumbling; last week’s 1–0 defeat away to Cagliari in Sardinia almost knocked them out of contention. Still, just over half of the Serie A season has passed, so there is hope for the Old Lady.

A lot could become clearer today in the title race. Two derbies are being played on the Apennines: first in Turin (20:00), Juventus vs Napoli, and then two hours and 45 minutes later (22:45) at Rome’s Olimpico, where Milan visit the Giallorossi. Of the four remaining challengers to the leaders, Roma have the most consecutive wins — three — while Milan and Napoli have gone a long time without defeat.

The Bianconeri started well under Luciano Spalletti, but the setback in Sardinia shook the foundations of the Turin giants. The clash with Napoli represents their last chance. The champions, after three straight draws, scraped a hard-fought 1–0 win over Sassuolo last week at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Juventus’ attack will be led by Turk Kenan Yildiz and Canadian Jonathan David.

Francisco Conceicao will threaten from the wing, while Weston McKennie will operate as the number ten. Juve, along with Napoli, are the only teams unbeaten at home in this Serie A season. Spalletti still cannot count on Dusan Vlahovic, nor on Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik and Daniele Rugani.

There are injury problems in the champions’ camp as well. Antonio Conte is without key players Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour, Matteo Politano, Amir Rrahmani, David Neres and Frank Zambo Anguissa — all regular starters for Napoli. Serbian goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is also a doubt, so Italian media report that Alex Meret should start in goal in Turin. That would be his first start in three months.

Napoli fans’ eyes will be fixed on Dane Rasmus Hojlund and Scot Scott McTominay, while winter signing Giovane, brought in from Verona, will begin the match on the bench. Roma started the season with a series of 1–0 wins, and recently have been winning 2–0 — three victories in a row by that scoreline.

The Giallorossi still boast by far the best defence in the league, conceding a goal only every other match (12 in 21 games), so the league’s third-best attack, behind Inter and Como, will be tested as it tries to break down the wall in front of Mile Svilar. Roma are still without Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk, as well as Angelino and Mario Hermoso.

For the Rossoneri, Mexican forward Santiago Gimenez will not be available. American Christian Pulisic will not start for Milan. Christopher Nkunku will lead the line alongside Portuguese star Rafael Leao, while centre-back Strahinja Pavlovic is expected to start on the bench.

Gian Piero Gasperini will include Dutchman Donyell Malen in the starting XI after he scored on his debut against Torino last week. Argentine forward Paulo Dybala will also start up front. The newcomer from Aston Villa did not feature against Stuttgart in the Europa League on Thursday, as he is ineligible to play until the end of the group stage of Europe’s second-tier competition.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 22

Friday

Inter - Pisa 6-2 (3-2)

/Zielnski 39 pen, Martinez 41, Esposito 45+2, Dimarco 82, Bonny 86, Mkhitaryan 90+3 - Moreo 11, 23/

Saturday

Como - Torino 6-0 (2-0)

/Douvikas 8, 66, Baturina 16, Da Cunha 59 pen, Kuhn 70, Caqueret 76/

Fiorentina - Cagliari 1-2 (0-1)

/Brescianini 74 - Kilicsoy 31, Palestra 47/

Lecce - Lazio 0-0

Sunday

14.30: (2.00) Sassuolo (3.50) Cremonese (4.10)

17.00: (1.43) Atalanta (4.50) Parma (7.50)

17.00: (3.05) Genoa (3.15) Bologna (2.60)

20.00: (2.15) Juventus (3.20) Napoli (3.90)

22.45: (2.65) Roma (3.10) Milan (3.00)

Monday

20.45: (2.80) Verona (2.95) Udinese (2.80)

***odds are subject to change***