As It Happened: Internazionale overcome SSC Napoli in pulsating encounter

That’s all for now here on this live blog this evening, I hope you enjoyed the coverage throughout of this Serie A game, in which Internazionale overcame SSC Napoli in an exciting encounter.

I’ve been Noah Robson, thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you next time here on VAVEL!

As for Napoli, this is a frustrating result, but equally not a total disaster in the sense that it is still just their first league defeat of the campaign - a mightily impressive statistic in such a competitive league.

They went ahead and it seemed as though their incredible form would continue, but a spirited Inter fightback kept them down, and they left the San Siro empty-handed in the end.

It means they stay level on points with AC Milan at the top of the table and now just four points ahead of Inter after 13 games played so far this season.

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For Inter, this could be looked back upon as a crucial result in the context of the title race depending on their fortunes come next May when the champions of Italy are decided for this season.

They performed admirably, looking as though they were simply more up for the game than their opponents by holding on with all their might in a tight game at their home ground.

Inter host Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, in an important Champions League game, but if their performance tonight is anything to go by tonight, they should be well in control.

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Internazionale 3-2 SSC Napoli

Shots: 17 - 8

On Target: 7 - 3

Possession: 45% - 55%

Corners: 4 - 1

Fouls: 15 - 17

Saves: 1 - 4

Yellow Cards: 4 - 3

🕺 | TANGO@tucu_correa's pass#Lautaro's finish
Made in 🇦🇷
Made in Milano 🖤💙#ForzaInter #InterNapoli pic.twitter.com/dFH2Ady1aZ — Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) November 21, 2021

Inter picked up a potentially vital three points in the title race to stay in touch with league leaders Napoli and city rivals AC Milan in a thrilling encounter between two excellent teams at the San Siro.

Napoli opened the scoring initially via a belter from Zielinski, but a Calhanoglu penalty from a Koulibaly handball, and a Perisic header near the end of the first 45 minutes meant Inter were ahead at the break.

The second half didn’t have quite as quick a tempo, but a Martinez goal from a counter attack brought it into life as he extended his side’s lead to 3-1, in a beautiful move from the hosts.

A Dries Mertens stunner suggested there might be more to come from the game, but in the end, after a considerable period of added time, Inter came away with the three points.

⏯️ | FULL TIME

IT'S ALL OVER!!!!! 🔥🔥
The Nerazzurri get a big win at San Siro 🖤💙@DigitalBitsOrg#ForzaInter #InterNapoli pic.twitter.com/2P7GrMdPWm

— Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) November 21, 2021

There could’ve been multiple players to choose as the player of the match from this game, but I’m going to go with the man who got a goal and an assist, in the form of Hakan Calhanoglu.

The Turkish midfielder looked confident throughout the time he was on the pitch, and was crucial in his side getting all three points, so I’m going with the 27-year-old as man of the match this evening.

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And with that, the referee blows the whistle for full time, with Inter taking all three points in what was a thrilling encounter between two high quality sides at the San Siro in Milan.

It was a pulsating first half, with Napoli first taking the lead through Zielinski, before Inter hit back to lead 2-1 at the break after goals from Calhanoglu and Perisic respectively.

A slightly slower second half was interrupted by a beautiful counter attack which Martinez finished off to extend his side’s lead, and although a Mertens strike threatened a Napoli comeback, the equaliser never came and Inter held on.

That was the chance.

Mertens gets on the end of a delightful cross from Anguissa but he fires a volley way over the bar and it feels like that was a big chance missed.

The visitors continue to search for a late, late equaliser but at the moment Inter are holding on.

A huge final three minutes ahead.

Unbelievable!

Rui looks certain to score but an incredible Handanovic save somehow sends the ball over the bar and Inter remain ahead!

How have Napoli not scored there?

Zielinski crosses a free kick in which comes to nothing, but the away side can be spirited by eight minutes of added time being indicated in Milan.

Perisic fired a ball into the box and it seemed for all the world as if a fourth goal for Inter was coming but, despite multiple attackers being ready to tap home, it's just about cleared away.

Mertens has a great chance for an equaliser but can't convert and Inter remain ahead.

Ospina has gone down here with a nasty head injury by the looks of things.

This game has been utterly relentless.

Hold on a minute!

Dries Mertens has just given his side a glimmer of hope, firing an excellent shot from long range into the top left corner.

Life still in the away side here!

Not too many chances in this second half, but Napoli do seem as though they're trying to get a goal back to start a possible comeback.

Vidal picks up a yellow card and he'll need to be careful for the last 20 minutes as he has been pretty reckless since he came on.

Perisic cuts inside and tries a shot from the edge of the box but doesn't get a clean connection on the shot and Ospina saves comfortably.

Considering AC Milan lost yesterday, this had the potential to be a big result for either side, depending on who won.

At the moment, that looks as though it will be the home side as they look to close the gap to the top of the table with a win.

If anything, it's Inter who look like scoring next here.

They are full of confidence and are passing the ball around like there's no tomorrow.

Beautiful goal.

That is an absolutely sublime counter attack from Inter, after Correa ran almost an entire half, before playing in Lautaro Martinez, whose pinpoint finish gives the hosts a two goal cushion.

Napoli could be heading for their first defeat of the season here, unless they can change things rapidly!

Not too much to report on since that substitution, with it knocking a little of the pace out of the game.

Napoli continue to push for an equaliser though.

Osimhen looks as though he has suffered an injury to his left eye, and he'll now depart for Petagna.

Let's hope he's ok.

Osimhen and Skriniar clash heads and the Napoli striker looks to be in significant discomfort here.

Lozano fires a potentially dangerous cross towards goal and Skriniar has to clear out of a fear it may be heading on target.

Lautaro Martinez forces an excellent stop from Ospina after trying to flick home a low cross.

Osimhen goes down in the box asking for a penalty but nothing doing for the striker, who it's worth noting is already on a yellow card for simulation

Napoli get us going again in Milan, let's hope for as exciting a second half as we had during the first 45 minutes!

The teams are just coming out for the second half now, and we're moments from the game getting underway again.

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Internazionale 2-1 SSC Napoli

Shots: 13 - 4

On Target: 4 - 2

Possession: 56% - 44%

Corners: 4 - 0

Fouls: 6 - 10

Saves: 1 - 2

Yellow Cards: 1 - 3

And with that, the referee blows for half time, and what a first half it has been.

Energetic, exciting and with three great goals - what more could you ask for?

Inter have done well to turn this around, and will hope to hold onto their lead in the next 45 minutes.

Inter have gone ahead!

It's a great turnaround for the hosts, showing excellent character to come back and this time it's come from Perisic after he got his head on a Calhanoglu corner.

Ospina desperately tries to clear, but the ball has crossed the line and the home team are in front!

The Inter goalscorer, Calhanoglu, has gone into the referee's book for a cynical challenge on Lozano.

Martinez tries an effort from the edge of the box and, while he turned smartly, his shot goes just wide of the post.

As I've said that last comment, the tempo has dropped slightly, with each team looking to take a brief breather after an energetic 30 minutes.

What an opening half an hour we've had here.

It's been almost non-stop action so far, with both teams throwing absolutely everything at it.

There's the equaliser!

Napoli have only been ahead for eight minutes but now they've already been pegged back by an excellent Calhanoglu penalty into the bottom left of the net.

Game on!

It's a penalty for Inter!

The referee went to the VAR monitor to rewatch a potential handball by Koulibaly, and decides it was an infringement, pointing to the spot.

How will Inter react to that goal?

They've looked pretty strong so far but will need to bounce back quickly in order to have a chance of getting points from this game.

What a goal!

Insigne charges forwards and squares it to Zielinski who absolutely lashes a rocket past Handanovic.

Napoli lead!

Darmian fires from range and his shot goes wide, but he really ought to have played Barella in there.

Poor decision.

It's fast-paced here in Milan with neither side wanting to let their opponents have any time on the ball.

No huge chances as of yet though...

Osimhen is again in trouble after he accidentally kicks Ranocchia in the knee.

He needs to be careful.

It's a yellow card for Osimhen after the Napoli striker is adjudged to have fouled Skriniar.

This has been a really exciting start to the game - both sides seem intent on pushing forwards whenever they can which, from a neutral's point of view, is great news.

Inter launch a counter attack after the referee waves play on following an Anguissa dive, before a Lautaro header goes just over the bar.

A frantic first 8 minutes!

Insigne swings in a cross towards Di Lorenzo who tries to stretch and reach it but it's just too far in front of him.

It's been a stop-start opening few minutes, with both sides attempting to size one another out by winning various fouls around the pitch.

Koulibaly is tripped by Barella early on, with Napoli getting the first free kick of the game.

The home side start the game here in Milan, kicking from left to right in this first 45 minutes.

The two sides have come out from their dressing rooms, walking onto the famous San Siro pitch.

There's a great atmosphere in the stadium for the game this evening.

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🔥 Warming up ahead of the match

🔜 #InterNapoli

💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/vv9yAilIxF — Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) November 21, 2021

🔥 | WARM-UP

The countdown to #InterNapoli has begun! ⏳#ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/PkrtAoOHBf

— Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) November 21, 2021

There's just a quarter of an hour left until the game gets underway in what is set to be a huge encounter in Serie A.

Stay with this live blog for all the latest score updates and commentaries from the game!

It's another forward as the one to look out for on the away side, coming in the form of 30-year-old winger Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli.

Captain of the club, he has led by example throughout this season, scoring five goals in all competitions, also giving out four assists - the most out of any player in the side.

He has made 316 senior appearances for the club he joined as a 15-year-old in 2006, and looks set to stay for many more in his current form.

In a team which is the joint-highest scoring in the league, it  only makes sense to go with a striker for the player to watch from the home team.

For Inter, it simply has to be Edin Dzeko, their highest league scorer with seven goals so far for his club, as well as providing two assists too.

The Bosnian forward, who is the captain of his national side, joined the club in the summer, and has proven to be an excellent signing so far.

👕 | DRESSING ROOM

Today the players will be donning the third kit! 😍@Lenovo
@lenovoitalia #InterXLenovo #ForzaInter #InterNapoli pic.twitter.com/zHkXdlvDh3 — Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) November 21, 2021

Meanwhile, the defence that will be trying to stop the aforementioned home team front three includes a return to the side for Kalidou Koulibaly.

He will need to be at his best, alongside Di Lorenzi and Rrahmani at the back, in order to prevent the league's highest-scorers from getting past them.

It's not too far from what we expected from the home side, with a few enforced changes in the starting eleven as a result of various injuries.

There's a dangerous-looking front three in the form of Ivan Perisic, Lautaro Martinez and Joaquin Correa, who will hope to do some damage to the SSC Napoli defence.

All set in the dressing room! 💪

The Maradona Game shirt 👇
🛒 Official Web Store SSC Napoli: https://t.co/JIqI1FH3Pl
🛍 Brand Store Amazon: https://t.co/DIJUPqtl07
🏪 Official Store SSC Napoli: https://t.co/bwdpsPabJR

💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/FK7cOag7uS — Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) November 21, 2021

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📃 Starting XI: Ospina, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Mario Rui, Anguissa, Fabian, Lozano, Zielinski, Insigne, Osimhen.#InterNapoli

💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/7poK7bFQ2w — Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) November 21, 2021

📣 | LINE-UP

Here's our starting 1️⃣1️⃣for #InterNapoli 👇#FORZAINTER ⚫️🔵

Powered by @EASPORTSFIFA pic.twitter.com/WXsdZKmhaF — Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) November 21, 2021

There’s less than 10 minutes until we get team news from the San Siro.

Stay right here for the latest updates!

🏟️ | STADIUM

🏠 🖤💙#ForzaInter #InterNapoli pic.twitter.com/Q5iAplFIzp

— Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) November 21, 2021

That's all the pre-match build up for now here on this live blog, ahead of what should be a pulsating encounter in Italy on Sunday evening.

Do not miss a detail of the match Inter vs Napoli live updates and commentaries of VAVEL.

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India: 10:30 PM

South Africa: 7:00 PM

Australia (Sydney): 4:00 AM

Japan: 2:00 AM

USA (New York): 12:00 PM

🏟️ | STADIUM

See you in 2️⃣4️⃣ hours! ⚫🔵#ForzaInter #InterNapoli pic.twitter.com/RLmpPIvw2G

— Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) November 20, 2021

This game will be shown live on BT Sport 1 in the UK, with coverage getting underway a quarter of an hour before kick-off.

Speaking of when the game is scheduled to start, that's 5:00 PM GMT, which is 6:00 PM local time in Milan.

This is a tough one to call due to both teams fighting near the top of the table to be title contenders at the end of a season which still has a long way to go.

However, with a seven point lead over their opponents in the table, I'm going to go with a 2-1 win for Napoli - but whoever wins it, I expect it to be tight.

Looking back at the past few meetings between these two teams, and it doesn't make particularly pretty reading for the upcoming visitors.

They haven't won in this fixture since May 2019, (a 4-1 thrashing), but will hope to change that record tomorrow night.

It's been three Inter wins and a draw since then, though the margin of victory has been getting progressively tighter, signalling a shift in the balance between the sides.

It's another forward as the one to look out for on the away side, coming in the form of 30-year-old winger Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli.

Captain of the club, he has led by example throughout this season, scoring five goals in all competitions, also giving out four assists - the most out of any player in the side.

He has made 316 senior appearances for the club he joined as a 15-year-old in 2006, and looks set to stay for many more in his current form.

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In a team which is the joint-highest scoring in the league, it  only makes sense to go with a striker for the player to watch from the home team.

For Inter, it simply has to be Edin Dzeko, their highest league scorer with seven goals so far for his club, as well as providing two assists too.

The Bosnian forward, who is the captain of his national side, joined the club in the summer, and has proven to be an excellent signing so far.

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Team News of Napoli

• Konstantinos Manolas is out due to a lack of match fitness
• Both Matteo Politano and Diego Demme have tested positive for Covid-19 so are unavailable
• Adam Ounas is also set to be absent due to a muscle injury

Predicted XI

Ospina; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan, Rui; Anguissa, Ruiz; Lozano, Zielinski, Insigne; Osimhen

Team News of Inter

• Stefan de Vrij won't be available after he picked up an injury while on international duty
• Also out will be Alexis Sanchez, due to a muscle issue
• Other than that, Simone Inzaghi has a virtually full squad to pick from

Predicted XI

Handanovic; Skriniar, Ranocchia, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Perisic; Dzeko, Martinez

The referee for Inter vs Napoli will be Paolo Valeri, and he will be assisted by Alessandro Giallatini and Fabiano Preti.

On fourth official duties will be Matteo Marchetti, and on VAR is Gianluca Aureliano, with his assistant being Salvatore Longo.

Meanwhile, for the away side Napoli, things couldn't be going much better when it comes to their league position, and indeed their results in the competition so far too.

Luciano Spalletti's side sit in first place, ahead of AC Milan on goal difference, but also with one less game played, meaning they have the chance to stretch their advantage in this one.

They are yet to lose a game so far, only conceding four goals all season, meaning it will be a tough task for any team to beat them.

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For the home team, in Inter, it's been a fairly solid start, having only lost a single game so far, sitting third in the Serie A table behind AC Milan and Napoli. That said, they will want to close the gap between them and their upcoming opponents, which currently sits at seven points, after just 12 games played so far. A stalemate in their big city derby before the international break can give them some confidence heading into this one, but they'll also need to keep in mind their Champions League group, which they are currently second in.

 

The Inter vs Napoli match will be played at the stadium San Siro, in Milan, with a capacity of 80,000 people.

It's an absolutely classic European football stadium, having hosted many classic games down the years against multiple high quality opponents.

Let's hope for another great game in this one!

My name is Noah Robson and I'll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, score updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.

It's a huge match near the top of the Serie A table, so stay right here to follow what is set to be a thrilling matchup!