In Saturday’s 1-0 win over Udinese, Lutaro Martinez gave Inter Milan the lead six points clear of the top of the Serie A, as Napoli put pressure on themselves by defeating Sassuolo 1-0.
In the 20th minute, Martinez skillfully headed home the winner in the 20th minute to cap Inter’s nine-game unbeaten run in the top flight of Italy ahead of Tuesday’s crucial Champions League game against Arsenal.
Inter put pressure on Udinese high up the pitch, as Cristian Chivu wants his team to do, from beginning to end.
According to Chivu, “What we’re displaying on the pitch is a testament to the desire of these players,” because it’s difficult to change habits.”
“We defend high up the pitch, and we start with pressure from the forwards, from our midfielders’ work, from their determination to win duels, and from the courage of our defenders in maintaining a high line,” said one player.
Since losing the late November Milan derby, Inter have collected 25 of the possible 27 points, and they have once more demonstrated ruthlessness in their dealings with smaller teams, which both Napoli and AC Milan lack.
Milan, who are the only team to have three points off Massimiliano Allegri’s side, have lost a number of points to teams they should defeat. The first was back in August against Jamie Vardy’s Cremonese.
Inter, on the other hand, have a bad record against well-known opponents, which will put the Premier League leaders Arsenal at the San Siro to the test.
Following two defeats, which left direct qualification for the last 16 a question, four straight victories came at the start of the Champions League league phase.
After a three-game losing streak, Napoli remained six points clear of Inter in third place with Stanislav Lobotka’s first club goal in more than three years.
Napoli’s Struggle Continues
In Naples, Slovakia’s midfielder Lobotka broke a scoring duck that had already come up on the day of Napoli’s triumphant 2022/23 season. What would have otherwise been an even contest was decided by it.
Second-placed Milan host Lecce on Sunday, and the champions are tied for third with 43 points.
Even though Inter, the seven-time European champions, have not lost since the season’s opening day, are behind them.
Both Napoli and FC Copenhagen will face off in a crucial match that will determine their fate in the Champions League, with both teams at risk of dropping into the bottom four.
And a team that has already lost three players due to knocks from Eljif Elmas, Amir Rrahmani, and Matteo Politano, who also have injuries, might be without Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Andre-Frank Anguissa.
Politano, an Italian attacker, went down late on holding his hamstring after taking a snap shot, prompting Conte to express his frustration in the stands. Conte needs treatment on the field right away.
“In the upcoming days, we’ll learn more.” Apart from the fact that there isn’t any news, Elmas’ head was swaying a little, according to Cristian Stellini, Conte’s assistant.
“The boys were fantastic despite the difficulty (with injuries), which we don’t know how long will continue.”
Source: Channels TV
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