The Azzurri have a coach who makes the group’s performance rise, the Nerazzurri count on a compact environment and a changing room more used to winning. What can make the difference between the two pretenders to the Scudetto
Inter against Naples, now who is favorite? It starts from three to three, but the Nerazzurri … Now it is truly an exciting, extraordinary sprint on an equal footing: 71 points to 71. A head -to -head (almost) never seen before, which even hypothesizes a play -off between Inter and Naples to decide the Italian champion team. But today, five games from the end, who is favored in the race to the Scudetto? We asked ourselves through six voices, we tried to give an answer, to find the detail that can break the balance.
Calendar: Better Napoli
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Each of the contenders has three games in the house and two outside: the field factor is on an equal footing. The strength of the opponents, however, is not equal: Inter will face two teams fighting for cups, Rome and Lazio; Napoli none. They have only one rival in common, Turin, difficult to beat for anyone, but Inzaghi will challenge him away while Count at Maradona. It is true that sometimes, in certain moments, there are formations in struggle for the salvation that find unexpected energies (and Napoli will find three: Lecce, Parma, Cagliari), but the Inter path is certainly more rough.
Environment: Better Inter
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The Nerazzurri world conveys sensations of compactness also in difficulties and defeats: clubs and coach, team and fans all united to live a dream season finale. Napoli, on the other hand, cannot be serene even in the beautiful moments: the latest Count-De lauttentiis frictions risk leaving aftermath. Team and fans are in the middle: they listen and pretend not to hear because in these moments there is a need for tranquility.
Energy, better Napoli
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Inter in Bologna played the fifty game of his season (33 in A, 12 in the Champions League, 3 in the Italian Cup, 2 in Super Cup); Napoli in Monza has just reached thirty -six (at 33 in the championship only the 3 of the Italian Cup must be added). Fourteen more games, to which at least three others will certainly be added (the return with Milan to the Italian Cup and the two of the Champions League with Barcelona). The Nerazzurri have more reasons to accuse physical and mental fatigue even if the amplitude of the staff – as we will see – can mitigate the effects of the many commitments.
Experience: Better Inter
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They are the two teams with the highest average age of Serie A: Prima Inter, according to Naples. But Inzaghi has players more used to managing hot moments like this, starting with Lautaro who won worldwide, America’s Cup, badges. Many Nerazzurri have conquered the last or last two titles of Italian champions with Inter, in the squad there are also European champions with Italy (but those also have Conte). The Neapolitans have less experiences of this type: next to some veterans of Spalletti’s Scudetto, of Lorenzo above all, and Lukaku, there are excellent players with scarne boards, from McTominay to Gilmour, from good morning to Marin. Will these pressures suffer unknown to them?
Coach: Better Napoli
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Inzaghi has confirmed this season, so far, however, it is exceptional, that he is a great manager of teams and environments, a prepared and solid coach. And it is certainly also a winner, as shown by his personal bulletin board between Lazio and Inter. But Conte is Conte: few increase the value of a group like him, very few have his ability to conquer trophies – especially championships – with teams that are not the best. It happened to him often: from the first Juve to Chelsea to Inter. And patience if sometimes shows his character (or character?).
Team: Better Inter
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The Inter staff is more complete and stronger than that of Napoli, on this there are few doubts. You can take scattered examples. Type: in defense the first reserve for Conte is Juan Jesus, the third reserve for Inzaghi is de vrij or bisseck or carlos Augustus, do you. There is a difference, isn’t it? Napoli is competitive – however not better – in the basic formation, but as soon as a owner is missing the difference is seen all right. A distance, that between Inter and Naples, which has expanded with the sale of Kvaratskhelia in January and which is only partially attenuated by the many more games of the Nerazzurri.
Inter & Napoli, three to three but …
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Draw, therefore: three to three. So who or what can make the difference in this extraordinary duel between Inter and Naples? Maybe the last voice: the team. After all, would it be to be surprised if it was the strongest to win?
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