Three games, three wins: Inter continued their perfect start to the season and, against Napoli, showed impressive powers of recovery. The visitors led by two goals until the 56th minute and were still ahead as late as the 81st. After Inter equalised, Napoli themselves had two major chances to win it before Lautaro Martínez sent San Siro into raptures in stoppage time.
Chances at both ends, but no breakthrough before the break
Inter lined up in their familiar 3-5-2, while Napoli set up in a 4-3-3. Cristian Chivu’s side gradually took control and looked to create pressure mainly through the wide areas. Andy Diouf operated very aggressively on the right, while Federico Dimarco provided width on the left and repeatedly joined the attack.
Napoli were happy to concede longer spells of possession and looked to break forward much more quickly after regaining the ball. Frank Anguissa repeatedly drove into open spaces from midfield and forced Josep Martínez into an early save. At the other end, Inter threatened through Francesco Pio Esposito and Lautaro Martínez, but the best first-half chance fell to Dimarco. His direct free-kick struck the crossbar.
Inter’s territorial dominance was already evident in the way the game developed. Over the full 90 minutes, the hosts finished with 63 per cent possession and completed 486 passes, compared to Napoli’s 265. Even so, the visitors repeatedly found ways to attack the spaces behind Inter’s advanced shape after turnovers.
Chivu’s changes add impetus, but Napoli strike twice
Chivu acted at half-time, introducing Marcus Thuram for Esposito and new signing Curtis Jones for Petar Sučić. Inter kept the same basic shape, but Thuram added more pace, depth and presence to the attack, while Jones was intended to bring extra dynamism to central midfield.
Napoli struck almost immediately. For the opener, Alisson Santos was initially denied by Josep Martínez before Politano reacted quickest to convert the rebound. Just three minutes later, Di Lorenzo picked out Højlund, who made it 2-0.
The quickfire double underlined just how dangerous Napoli could be with direct attacks. Chivu’s Inter commit a large number of players forward and try to restrict opponents high up the pitch. When that attacking structure loses its balance, however, spaces can open for rapid counter-attacks. Napoli needed far less possession to create dangerous situations.
Inter did not lose their composure. In the 56th minute, Dimarco delivered from the left and Lautaro pulled one back to make it 2-1.
Inter pile on the pressure from wide areas
Inter’s wing play became a decisive factor as the match progressed. Diouf was particularly influential, creating seven shots for team-mates and recording 0.73 expected assists. On the opposite side, Dimarco contributed three key passes and 0.58 xA.
The interaction between the wide midfielders and the advancing outside centre-backs gradually forced Napoli deeper. Inter switched play quickly from one side to the other and regularly committed several players into the penalty area. The Nerazzurri recorded an impressive 56 touches in the opposition box, compared to Napoli’s 22.
With Thuram on the pitch, Chivu also had a striker who attacked crosses far more aggressively. Despite only playing the second half, the Frenchman managed five shots, hit the woodwork twice and missed two big chances. His physical presence occupied Napoli’s centre-backs and also created space for Lautaro Martínez.
That approach finally produced the equaliser in the 82nd minute. Carlos Augusto, who had replaced Dimarco, crossed from the left and Thuram powered a header into the net for 2-2.
Napoli remain dangerous on the counter
Inter’s increasing dominance came with considerable risk, and that became obvious immediately afterwards. The hosts pushed more and more bodies forward in search of a winner, leaving Napoli with space to attack after regaining possession. David Neres first wasted a quick break before Anguissa was presented with an even better chance from close range.
Despite Inter’s greater control, the contest therefore remained wide open. Napoli registered 16 shots from just 37 per cent possession, seven of them on target, and created four big chances. Their 2.24 xG underlined how dangerous they remained despite long periods without the ball. Inter finished with 29 attempts and 3.19 xG but still had to wait until stoppage time for the winner.
Lautaro Martínez rewards Inter’s attacking ambition
The decisive goal eventually came from a set-piece situation. Napoli failed to clear a corner properly, Manuel Akanji kept the second ball alive inside the penalty area and Lautaro Martínez reacted quicker than anyone around him. The Argentine turned the ball home from close range in the 91st minute to complete the comeback.
The late winner reflected the overall pattern of a game in which Inter committed more and more players to attack and were ultimately rewarded for taking those risks. Chivu’s half-time changes played an important part: Thuram brought the required presence and depth to the forward line, while Jones gave the midfield additional energy. After the game, the new signing himself referred to several tactical adjustments from Chivu that had helped Inter turn the match around.
It was also a special night for Lautaro Martínez on a personal level. His brace took him to 134 Serie A goals for Inter. Only Giuseppe Meazza, with 197, and Benito Lorenzi, with 138, now sit ahead of him in the club’s all-time league scoring charts.
Inter therefore remain perfect after three matchdays with nine points from nine, while Napoli already find themselves six points off the top of the table.
