Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Two title contenders collide on Sunday night as Inter Milan host reigning champions Napoli in a blockbuster Serie A showdown at San Siro.

While Inter lead their southern rivals by four points, the visitors will be desperate to close the gap and keep their Scudetto defense alive.

Inter Milan

Inter have responded emphatically to their Derby della Madonnina defeat, stringing together six consecutive league wins to stay firmly in the title race. Cristian Chivu’s side may have stumbled in the Champions League and Supercoppa Italiana, but their domestic form has been flawless for weeks.

Starting 2026 with a victory over Bologna, Inter followed up by beating Parma 2-0 on Wednesday, courtesy of goals from Marcus Thuram and Federico Dimarco. Thuram’s second strike in as many games capped a dominant display, and the Nerazzurri now boast Serie A’s most prolific attack, scoring 11 more goals than closest challengers Milan.

With 14 wins and four defeats, Inter sit three points ahead of their city rivals and four clear of Napoli. Questions linger over their ability to deliver in high-pressure head-to-heads, but their home record inspires confidence: seven wins from nine league fixtures at San Siro, scoring at least twice in each victory.

Inter are also unbeaten in eight straight home meetings with Napoli, last losing this fixture in April 2017—a statistic that adds weight to their credentials.

Team News

Denzel Dumfries remains the only major absentee, while Davide Frattesi is a doubt. Matteo Darmian and Andy Diouf have resumed training but will likely start on the bench.

Thuram, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nicolo Barella return to the XI after midweek rotation, and ex-Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski could feature. Thuram partners Lautaro Martinez up front; the Argentine has four Serie A goals against Napoli but none in the last eight meetings.

Napoli

Napoli fans will cling to their recent record against Inter, having avoided defeat in the last four encounters and famously pipping them to the title last season. Antonio Conte’s men also won the reverse fixture 3-1 in October, and the former Inter boss will relish the chance to repeat that success.

However, Napoli’s midweek draw with Hellas Verona was a setback. Goals from Scott McTominay and Giovanni Di Lorenzo salvaged a point, extending their unbeaten home run but halting momentum after four straight wins without conceding—a sequence that included Supercoppa glory.

Now trailing both Milan clubs, Napoli must rediscover consistency to stay in the hunt. Recent 2-0 away wins over Cremonese and Lazio improved their travel record, but San Siro represents their sternest test yet.

Team News

McTominay, who has scored twice in three games against Inter, starts in a depleted midfield. Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, and Romelu Lukaku remain sidelined, while David Neres is a major doubt.

Rasmus Hojlund leads the line, and Pasquale Mazzocchi returns from suspension to bolster the wing-back options.

Head-to-Head

Inter have dominated at San Siro in recent years, unbeaten in eight home clashes with Napoli.

Yet, the champions’ 3-1 win earlier this season and their four-game unbeaten streak in this fixture underline their ability to rise to the occasion.

Conclusion

Inter’s attacking firepower and formidable home form make them favorites, but Napoli’s resilience and Conte’s tactical nous ensure this will be fiercely contested.

With the champions struggling for consistency on the road, the Nerazzurri look primed to edge a pivotal clash and strengthen their grip on the title race.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Olympusbet