Inter Milan, the reigning champions of Serie A, are set to host Napoli at the iconic San Siro this Saturday. The match is crucial as Inter looks to maintain their perfect start to the new season with a third consecutive victory.
The Nerazzurri come into this fixture in exceptional form, boasting a remarkable unbeaten streak of 14 matches across all competitions. They have kicked off their title defense in style, securing maximum points from their initial two league matches. In their season opener, Inter showcased their dominance with a convincing 4-1 victory over AC Monza at home, followed by a gritty 1-0 win against Cagliari Calcio in their latest outing.
As the match approaches, manager Cristian Chivu faces a few selection dilemmas while finalizing his lineup for this high-stakes encounter. One of the notable absentees is summer signing Djed Spence, who is still struggling with a fitness issue that has hindered his training participation, making him unavailable for the weekend clash.
In the attacking department, leading striker Marcus Thuram is not yet fully fit, raising questions about his readiness for the match. Given Thuram's ongoing recovery, it is anticipated that young forward Francesco Pio Esposito will step into the starting XI, partnering with club captain Lautaro Martínez in the front line.
In the midfield, last season’s Serie A MVP Federico Dimarco is expected to play a pivotal role, leading the team down the left flank. Meanwhile, marquee signings John Stones and Curtis Jones are likely to start on the bench as they continue to regain their match fitness after filling substitute roles in the recent victory over Cagliari.
As for the predicted lineup, Inter Milan is expected to field the following starting XI: J. Martinez; Bisseck, Stones, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Esposito, L. Martinez.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5 PM BST on Saturday, September 5. Fans in the United Kingdom can catch the action live on DAZN UK, TNT Sports 2, and HBO Max.
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