MILAN – The big news for Inter in the build-up to Sunday evening’s game with Napoli was the injury to Miranda, who picked up a thigh strain and was unable to play a part. Stefano Pioli opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Eder featuring on the left wing in place of Ivan Perisic. Meanwhile Marcelo Brozovic was selected alongside Roberto Gagliardini in the middle of the park.
The visitors started brightly and had two efforts on goal in the first five minutes of the match. The Nerazzurri hit back through Antonio Candreva, who played a teasing ball into the area that neither Eder nor Mauro Icardi could get on the end of. At the other end, Marek Hamsik failed to make the most of Jose Callejon’s ball in on 18 minutes, after which Dries Mertens was denied brilliantly by Samir Handanovic, who rushed out low to stop the Belgian. Mertens came very close again after the half-hour mark, beating the offside trap and firing just past the goalkeeper’s right-hand post.
The visitors took the lead just as half time approached. Yuto Nagatomo failed to deal with Mertens’ teasing cross from the left and Callejon was on hand to pounce and volley home.
The goal came at the end of the half in which the Partenopei showed greater verve. Inter began the second period on the front foot but Napoli continued to threaten. After an effort from Eder at one end, Lorenzo Insigne came very close to doubling his side’s lead at the other, striking a powerful drive towards the top corner which went just off target.
With around 30 minutes left to play, Ivan Perisic entered the fray in place of Joao Mario. The Croat made his presence known straight away, firing a shot on the turn and forcing Kalidou Koulibaly into a block. A few minutes later, Handanovic was called into action by Insigne, with the keeper doing well to divert the ball out for a corner. Eder, Icardi and Candreva linked up well soon after, but the latter’s first-time volley was miss-hit and ended up wide of the goal. Inter’s keeper was required once again just before the 70-minute mark, saving smartly to deny Mertens, who produced a goal-bound effort with his heel.
The arrival of Perisic, who forced Pepe Reina into a save after 71 minutes, getting on the end of Danilo D’Ambrosio’s cross, was followed by that of Ever Banega and Marco Andreolli. However, the home side were unable to sustain an onslaught on the Napoli goal and the visitors left with all three points. The Nerazzurri could enjoy the support of their unparalleled fans but little else besides.
INTER 0-1 NAPOLI
Scorer: Callejon 43.
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 17 Medel, 24 Murillo (Andreolli 74), 55 Nagatomo; 5 Gagliardini, 77 Brozovic; 87 Candreva, 6 Joao Mario (Perisic 59), 23 Eder (Banega 72); 9 Icardi.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 2 Andreolli, 7 Kondogbia, 8 Palacio, 11 Biabiany, 19 Banega, 20 Sainsbury, 44 Perisic, 94 Yao, 96 Barbosa.
Coach: Stefano Pioli.
NAPOLI: 25 Reina; 2 Hysaj, 33 Albiol, 26 Koulibaly, 31 Ghoulam; 20 Zielinski, 42 Diawara, 17 Hamsik (Allan 72); 7 Callejon, 14 Mertens (Rog 80), 24 Insigne.
Subs not used: 1 Rafael, 22 Sepe, 3 Strinic, 4 Giaccherini, 5 Allan, 8 Jorginho, 11 Maggio, 19 Maksimovic, 21 Chiriches, 30 Rog, 32 Pavoletti, 99 Milik.
Coach: Maurizio Sarri.
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