Napoli entered 2023 as one of the most enthralling teams to watch following a nearly perfect first half of the season. The new year rang in with a rude awakening, coming in the form of a gritty 1-0 loss to 4th place Inter in their first league bout since the World Cup break.
The match was disruptive from the start, as fouls and physical play from both teams prevented any semblance of rhythm that may have appeared.
Inter put together the first real chance just inside the first half hour. Romelu Lukaku found himself with space to run into on the right wing, whipping in a hard driven ball to Edin Džeko at the top of the box. The Bosnian forward laid the ball off with a beautiful first touch for Matteo Darmian to run onto, but the right back’s first time shot flew a few feet over the top corner of the net that seemed so destined to ripple at the end of the play.
The hosts found themselves another fantastic chance just a few minutes before half. The high Inter press forced a turnover in midfield. Džeko pounced, playing the ball up to Nicolo Barella who’s scrumptious backheel flick found an eager Lukaku in stride. However, the chance found a similar fate as the last, being sent a foot or two over the crossbar.
Romleu Lukaku nearly makes it 1-0.
The backheel from Nicolò Barella. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/k3AOjr67oJ— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 4, 2023
Scoreless at the half, Inter came out of the break the more vigorous of the two sides. An increase in intensity both on and off the ball paid off just after 10 minutes into the second half.
After forcing yet another turnover in the midfield, Henrikh Mkhitarian sent Federico Dimarco down the left wing in behind the Napoli defense. Dimarco’s cross was of equal quality, finding Džeko peeling off the near post defender and firing the header home to break the deadlock.
EDIN DŽEKO! 🍷
The cross from Federico Dimarco, the switch from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a beautiful goal from Inter. 💥 pic.twitter.com/Xf2BDYb2ng— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 4, 2023
Once the scoreboard tilted their way, Inter maintained control of the narrative. The emphatic press continued tactically. Rather than press consistently, as before the goal, Inter found success in pressing intermittently.
Having been so disruptive in the first hour of the match, Inter had knocked Napoli out of their comfort zone and made them conscious of their vulnerability. With Napoli rocked, Inter were happy to settle in slightly. The league leaders found themselves passing cautiously back and forth along the midfield, just too cognizant of Inter’s potent press and counter to take the risks needed in search of an equalizer.
Napoli carved out a huge chance late on, as most good teams do. A flutter of passes in and around the Inter box ended with the ball at the feet of substitute Giacomo Raspadori. A couple of fake shots later, the midfielder fired the first threatening shot for Napoli all evening, but straight at Inter keeper Andre Onana.
Inter held on to claim all three points and hand Napoli their first Serie A loss of the season, helping cross city rivals AC Milan close the gap ever so slightly in what is shaping up to be a tasty second act of the season.
