Supercoppa: Napoli vs Inter Milan Live
Preview
After securing 3-0 victories in the semi-finals, Serie A champions Napoli and Coppa Italia holders Inter Milan will compete for the Supercoppa Italiana on Monday evening. The match will take place at Riyadh’s Al-Awwal Stadium, with Inter looking to achieve a third consecutive Super Cup win and their opponents aiming for their third overall success.
After changing their philosophy that won them the Scudetto to Walter Mazzarri’s preferred three-man defense, Napoli defeated last season’s Coppa Italia runners-up Fiorentina in the Supercoppa’s first-ever semi-final match. Giovanni Simeone scored the first goal for Napoli in the first half, taking advantage of a rare start in Victor Osimhen’s absence, and substitute Alessio Zerbin sealed the victory with two late goals. This win puts Napoli just 90 minutes away from claiming the trophy, a feat they have achieved only twice in their history, with the last victory occurring a decade ago.
Napoli qualified for this season’s expanded format after ending a 33-year Scudetto drought last spring, but their title defense has faltered, leaving them trailing behind Serie A’s leading teams, Inter and Juventus. Despite their recent struggles, Napoli still have a chance to qualify for the Champions League and are also in the knockout phase of the competition, where they will face Barcelona in the last 16. A significant shift in momentum is needed, and winning the Supercoppa would provide a much-needed boost before their crucial league clash with Lazio.
Inter Milan secured their spot in the Supercoppa final with a 3-0 victory over their Roman opponents, dominating the match from start to finish. Former club of cup specialist Simone Inzaghi, Inter saw goals from Marcus Thuram, Hakan Calhanoglu, and substitute Davide Frattesi, securing the win for the Coppa Italia champions. Inter Milan, who were also finalists in the 2022-23 Champions League, have won the last two editions of the Supercoppa and are now aiming for a hat-trick.
The team is currently leading in the Serie A and is focused on winning the Scudetto, with upcoming matches against Fiorentina and Juventus. Additionally, with the strong performances of Thuram and captain Lautaro Martinez, Inter Milan is also in contention for the Champions League title.
Head-to-head
Inter Milan has won two out of their last three matches against Napoli, with Napoli winning one game. In their most recent encounter earlier this season, Inter secured a 3-0 victory.
Prediction
Napoli’s recent consecutive victories have temporarily masked their underlying issues, but Inter are currently in top form and have the ability to capitalize on the weaknesses of their fellow finalists. Inzaghi’s team is highly effective in the attacking third and also defensively solid.
