Inter have started Serie A with two wins from two, and the way they have done it points to a clear plan for Inter vs Napoli. They opened with a 4-1 win over Monza, then won 1-0 away to Cagliari through Hakan Çalhanoğlu's only goal. Napoli arrive after a 2-1 home defeat to Como and without Scott McTominay.
Inter's control in the centre
Cristian Chivu's side have not just been winning, they have been shaping games through the middle. Chivu said Inter will expect to control possession, press Napoli high and use their wing-backs to stretch the visitors’ defensive shape, which fits the way they have opened the campaign.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu has scored in both league games and is already Inter's early-season tempo-setter from midfield. Nicolò Barella adds another strong option in the centre, while Federico Dimarco gives Inter an outlet on the left with a 7.4 rating. That blend is awkward for Napoli, because it can pull them narrow in the middle and open lanes for the wing-backs.
Inter's start is backed up by the results: 6 points from 6, plus a 4-1 opening win and a tighter away win on their second outing. That is a decent platform against a side still adjusting after the opening loss to Como.
Napoli's response under Allegri
Napoli's task is to stay compact long enough to stop Inter building rhythm. Massimiliano Allegri is likely to favour a more pragmatic approach, with his team attempting to remain compact before exploiting spaces during transitions.
That plan makes sense on paper, but the personnel issue is real. Napoli will be without Alessandro Buongiorno, Luca Marianucci and McTominay, and McTominay's 6.45 Serie A rating shows what they lose if he is out for longer. The concern is not only his absence, but the knock-on effect on how Napoli hold the centre of the pitch against Inter's midfielders and wing-backs.
The rivalry also tempers any rush to call this one straightforward. Across the last 45 Serie A meetings, Inter and Napoli have each recorded 15 victories, with 15 draws, and the most recent league meeting at the Giuseppe Meazza ended 2-2 in January 2026. Napoli have usually found a way to keep this fixture level enough to stay alive deep into the game.
Inter still look better placed to dictate the terms at San Siro. Napoli's compactness gives them a route into the match, but Chivu's midfield control and wing-back width look like the sharper tools right now, and that makes Inter the more convincing side going into 5 September.
FAQ
Can Inter control Napoli in midfield at San Siro?
That is Inter's clearest route. They have won both league fixtures to start the season, opened with a 4-1 win over Monza and followed it with a 1-0 victory away to Cagliari. Hakan Çalhanoğlu has scored in both league games, while Nicolò Barella and Federico Dimarco have also provided strong early numbers.
Why is Scott McTominay's absence important for Napoli?
Napoli are already coming off a 2-1 home defeat to Como and will be without Scott McTominay, along with Alessandro Buongiorno and Luca Marianucci. McTominay's 6.45 Serie A rating gives a sense of the quality Napoli may miss if his heart procedure keeps him out.
Will Inter vs Napoli be a tight game again?
The recent record suggests it could be. Across the last 45 Serie A meetings, Inter and Napoli have each won 15 times and drawn 15, and the most recent league meeting at the Giuseppe Meazza finished 2-2 in January 2026.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
