🇮🇹 Inter return to the top of Serie A with stunning victory at Napoli | OneFootball

Inter Milan moved back to the top of Serie A with an impressive and convincing win at the home of last season’s champions, Napoli.

Scorers: Çalhanoğlu 44′, Barella 62′, Thuram 85′

It was Inter who started the stronger, Marcus Thuram having a goal ruled out for offside after a nice one-two between himself and Lautoro Martinez.

Napoli came back to it in a first half that was extremely tight and saw both sides go tit for tat at a very intense level of play. Elif Elmas, making the most of a rare start, tested Yann Sommer wh made a smart stop at his near post to keep the game goalless.

The visitors eventually found the lead right before the half time whistle, and what a strike it was from Hakan Çalhanoğlu.

Some build-up play around the Napoli box eventually saw the ball fall to the Turkish midfielder, who cannoned in an unstoppable low drive from 20 yards out. A truly stunning goal, and one worthy of the first 45 of action.

Inter started the second half like they ended the first half, looking to get the second goal that could put them out of sight.

However, it was Napoli who came closer to scoring, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia having his angled drive tipped wide by Sommer.

Inter did make it two just after the hour and again it was a lovely finish, this time from Nicolo Barella. After Napoli lost the ball in their own half, Inter benefited, Martinez picking out Barella who danced his way into the box before striking home from close range.

The hosts did not put up much of a fightback at this point, with Inter in relative command throughout. They put an exclamation mark on their victory with five minutes to go, Marcus Thuram tapping home from close range after a Juan Cuadrado cross went all the way across the box and to him.

Inter return to the top, two points above Juventus, while Napoli’s hopes of retaining their title appear dead, 11 points behind in fifth.