Internazionale – Napoli: Chivu Gets His Big Win (3-2) 

The Scudetto was impressive, but Cristian Chivu still has a point to prove in managing the big games. One victory will not resolve these questions, especially in the crazy context of this result. However, Internazionale has still shown enough to prove that they are the foreseeable force of Serie A football.  

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. 

When these two have faced one another over the past half-decade, the result has often had ramifications for the Scudetto’s destination. Perhaps it was the early scheduling, perhaps it was other factors: this time Inter versus Napoli did not carry the weight of such expectation.  

This is because Inter has taken further steps to bolster the squad's depth. Denzel Dumfries was sold to Real Madrid, but Three Lions have taken their place in Milan: Djed Spence, a less offensive but like-for-like replacement; John Stones and Curtis Jones are all quality additions in Serie A conditions. Chivu has picked up where he left off, with a team and structure good enough to blow most of the league out of the water. His record against the traditional big clubs still comes into question, with only one win over AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli last season. However, Inter move into the new season destined to stop the constant changeover of the Italian crest on the center of the jersey.  

Napoli has had more aggressive swings of inconsistent spells; they entered this season on a downward trajectory. Antonio Conte kept the floor level, Massimiliano Allegri threatens to push . . .