2025 Serie A champions Napoli climbed back to the top of the table on Saturday thanks to an emphatic 3-1 win over Inter Milan in the SBOTOP match of the week.
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was rocking as Antonio Conte’s men completed a six–pointer of a victory over Christian Chivu’s Inter Milan, set on their way by another goal from summer signing Kevin de Bruyne. The former Manchester City man’s move to Italy is one of the big Serie A 2025 news stories of the campaign so far. He’s already scored four league goals for Napoli and looks to be a gem of a buy.
33 minutes were on the clock when Inter’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan fouled Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the penalty area and the cool Belgian stroked home the spot kick.
As I Nerazzurri tried to fight back Alessandro Bastoni and Denzil Dumfries both hit the woodwork before the break but they went into half time a goal down. And one became two when another former Manchester player, Scott McTominay, took a through ball from Leonardo Spinazzola in his stride and hammered a brilliant shot past Yann Sommer and into the net.
VAR got Inter back into the game, spotting a handball by Alessandro Buongiorno and Mkhitaryan halved the deficit from the penalty spot. But as the visitors again tried to get on level terms their hopes were dashed by a powerful run and finish from Frank Anguissa, who notched his third goal of the season.
The Serie A 2025 betting odds can hardly split Napoli and the two Milan sides; but this result will have given I Partenopei renewed belief that they can win a third Scudetto in four campaigns. But, with Roma winning again and drawing level with Conte’s men on points, and Milan and Inter both lurking there is a long, long way to go.
Milan held by Pisa
In a top versus bottom match on Friday night the spoils were shared, the result being that I Rossoneri were toppled off the summit of the table, while Pisa moved off the floor. Milan seemed to be heading for a comfortable win as they dominated the first half and went into the break a goal to the good. Massimiliano Allegri’s side scored inside seven minutes when Rafael Leao slid the ball into the far corner.
The hosts were camped in their visitors half with 68 per cent possession, 20 shots and seven on target but Pisa found a way back into the game and scored with their only two shots on target. Koni De Winter handled in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot and, after a lengthy VAR check, Colombian and former Juventus legend Juan Cuadrado, now at a ripe old age of 37, stepped up to slam the penalty home. The leveller came on the hour and prompted I Rossoneri to pile forward and Leao smashed a shot which rattled the crossbar. Allegri threw on fresh legs and, Christopher Nkunku had a great chance to score but his header flew agonisingly over; and then the San Siro was stunned when M’Bala Nzola gave Pisa a shock lead with just five minutes remaining. But Milan finally got their goal when another substitute, Zachary Athekame picked up a ball from Luka Modric and converted deep into injury time.
Dybala sends Roma second
The switch of manager Gian Piero Gasperini from Atalanta to Roma has breathed life into Giallorossi and, despite having a tough October, losing to Inter Milan and two games in the Europa League; a win over Sassuolo has lifted Roma level with Napoli at the top of the table. And it was a goal from experienced Argentine forward Paulo Dybala which won the game.
The visit to Sassuolo could have been a problem for I Giallorossi but they took the game to their hosts, playing high tempo passing football and raining 15 shots, eight on target, down on the Sassuolo goal. And when Bryan Cristante piled forward he laid the ball off to Dybala and, after his first shot as parried by keeper Aro Muric, the 31 year old stuck it in the net.
After finishing fifth last term AS Roma look like serious top four contenders under Gasperini, while his former team Atalanta are down in eighth place. La Dea was held to a 1-1 draw by Cremonense on Saturday and are four points off the top four positions.
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