Conte plans tactical shift for decisive Napoli-Inter clash | OneFootball

Multiple outlets suggest that Antonio Conte is planning a change in tactics for the upcoming clash between Napoli and Inter at the top of the Serie A table following his side’s recent 2-1 defeat by Como over the weekend.

Napoli host Inter at the Stadio Maradona on Saturday in what has been called the Serie A title decider.

Napoli lost control of the Serie A title race by falling to a 2-1 defeat away against Como on Sunday, which gave Inter a one-point advantage at the top of the standings following their 1-0 victory over Genoa in San Siro on Saturday.

COMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Lucas Da Cunha of Como 1907 competes for the ball with Stanislav Lobotka and Giacomo Raspadori of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and SSC Napoli at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on February 23, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Conte plans tactical switch for Napoli-Inter

Following the departure of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for PSG during the January transfer window, Conte has relied on David Neres on the left wing, but following the Brazilian’s recent hamstring injury, the coach has switched from a 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2.

The midfield three has largely remained the same. Romelu Lukaku and Giacomo Raspadori have led the line, while Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Matteo Politano, Pasquale Mazzocchi and Leonardo Spinazzola have all been tested at wing-back over the last two games.

FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Leonardo Spinazzola of SSC Napoli in action during the Serie A match between Fiorentina and Napoli at Stadio Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

With just one point recorded from their last two Serie A matches, though, Conte is planning to swap back to a 4-3-3 for the Inter clash.

According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, Spinazzola is the most likely candidate to feature on the left wing against Inter, with the returning Mathias Olivera behind him at left-back.