Antonio Conte and Gian Piero Gasperini were Juventus’ primary options at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, and while Igor Tudor has already been sacked by the Bianconeri, the Italian coaches are now at the top of the Serie A table.

Juventus are expected to hold talks with Luciano Spalletti today as the Serie A giants seek a replacement for Tudor.

The Croatian tactician was hired in March 2025 to replace Thiago Motta and remained at the helm after leading the team to a Champions League qualification and with the Club World Cup just around the corner.

Tudor signed a contract until 2027 in June, but Juventus had considered different options before that.

Conte chased Conte and Gasperini in the summer

As reported by Gazzetta, it is no secret that Juventus’ top priority for the bench in May was their former coach and midfielder Conte.

The Napoli boss had been contacted by ex-Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli, but eventually decided to remain at the Stadio Maradona after winning the Scudetto.

According to Gazzetta, Giuntoli had approached Conte even before appointing Tudor in March, working for a possible agreement for the 2025-26 campaign.

The pink paper claims that Giuntoli had also contacted Gasperini, who had no agreement with Roma and was preparing to leave Atalanta.

Gasperini picked Roma over Juventus

However, Napoli convinced Conte to stay, and Giuntoli was fired by Juventus, so when Damien Comolli arrived as the new Juventus General Manager, the club’s strategy partially changed.

There was still contact between Comolli and Gasperini, but the Italian tactician was already in advanced talks with Roma, and Comolli was not entirely convinced about hiring the Grugliasco-born coach.

Giorgio Chiellini had reportedly suggested hiring Gasperini, but the now Roma coach felt Comolli was sceptical about appointing him, so he closed the deal with Roma.

Ironically, while Juventus are now looking for a new coach, Conte and Gasperini share the top spot of the table in Serie A ahead of a mid-week round.

Futbol üzrə İtaliya çempionu olan “Napoli”nin aparıcı futbolçularından olan belçikalı yarımmüdafiəçi Kevin De Bröyne zədələnib. Arena.az bu barədə Neapol klubunun mətbuat xidmətinə istinadən xəbər verir. Bildirilir ki, belçikalı futbolçu A Seriyasının 8-ci turunda “İnter”lə oyunda (3:1) sıradan çıxıb. 33-cü dəqiqədə penalti zərbəsindən hesabı açan belçikalı yarımmüdafiəçi elə həmin an…

Source

Multiple sources in Italy claim that Kevin De Bruyne will undergo surgery in Antwerp tomorrow and will only return to action in February 2026.

Napoli star De Bruyne is set to miss several months of action after suffering a severe lesion to the thigh muscle in a Serie A game against Inter on Saturday.

De Bruyne set to undergo surgery after latest injury

Corriere dello Sport, Gazzetta and Tuttosport report that the Belgium international will be forced to undergo surgery in Antwerp. The operation will be carried out tomorrow, Wednesday, October 29.

According to reports, De Bruyne will miss from three to four months of action, returning on the pitch around February 2026.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the ex-Manchester City star has already landed in Belgium to prepare for the surgery.

De Bruyne suffered the same injury with Manchester City in 2023

De Bruyne sustained an injury to the same muscle in August 2023, which sidelined him for five months. During that period, he missed 28 matches for Manchester City and one for the Belgium national team.

De Bruyne underwent surgery two years ago as well, while his teammate and compatriot Romelu Lukaku, who sustained a similar injury this past August, has opted for conservative therapy.

Lorenzo Lucca is expected to return to the Napoli XI against Lecce today, but Scott McTominay might start on the bench.

It kicks off at 18:30 CET (17:30 GMT) at the Stadio Via del Mare in Lecce.

Napoli see Rasmus Hojlund and Amir Rrahmani return to action, but neither is fit to start, so Antonio Conte is expected to pick Lucca in attack, Sam Beukema and Juan Jesus at centre-back.

Lucca was benched against Inter on Saturday and had received a red card in his latest game as a starter against PSV last week.

Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Alex Meret and Stanislav Lobotka are injured.

Several sources, including Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport, report that Scotland international McTominay is expected to rest so Eljif Elmas will join Billy Gilmour and Zambo Anguissa in the middle of the park.

Noa Lang is expected to start for the first time in Serie A this season, completing a three-man attack with Lucca and Matteo Politano.

Milan loanee Francesco Camarda is expected to start for Lecce.

Lecce vs. Napoli – where to watch on TV

The match is available on TNT Sports 1 and DAZN in the UK and Paramount+ in the USA.

Lecce vs. Napoli – probable line-ups

Lecce (4-3-3): Falcone, Veiga, Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani, Maleh; Pierotti, Stulic, Banda.

Napoli (4-3-3): Milinkovic-Savic, Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Juan Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Gilmour, Elmas; Politano, Lucca, Lang.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Juventus sack Tudor

Spalletti ahead

Comolli meets the ex-CT today. Green light expected. Eight months and renewal in case of Champions League. Palladino and Mancini the alternatives. Brambilla on the bench tomorrow.

Lookman-Leao full speed

De Bruyne has to undergo surgery, Napoli for the sprint

Inter, with three defeats in eight games, the Scudetto is a feat.

Corriere dello Sport

Tudor sacked

Yesterday the dismissal and negotiations with the ex-CT

Juve to Lucio

Spalletti is ready to say yes, today the meeting for the signature.

Buffon: ‘This is the ideal solution.’ If he doesn’t sign, Mancini is the alternative. Fatal defeat against Lazio for Tudor. Brambilla on the bench against Udinese tomorrow.

Napoli want to win for KDB

Allegri: ‘Leao is worth 25 goals.’

Tuttosport

Juve, why Spalletti

Tudor out! Today the meeting with the ex-CT

Comolli has gone all the way for Luciano, already contacted in June: all the reasons. A missed agreement would reopen other options, from Mancini to Palladino. Igor sacked after the last outburst in Rome: he pays for results, communication and dislikes in the dressing room. Tomorrow Brambilla on the bench.

Baroni knows how to change and improve Toro

Leao on fire. Allegri’s push: ‘He can score 20 goals.0

De Bruyne choc, Conte will welcome him back in February

Təcrübəli futbol mütəxəssisi Fabio Kapello İtaliya A Seriyası çərçivəsində keçirilmiş “Napoli” – “İnter” oyunu ilə bağlı qənaətini açıqlayıb. Arena.az xatırladır ki, A Seriyasının 8-ci turunun oyunu Neapol təmsilçisinin 3:1 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekunlaşıb. Kapello oyundan sonra ölkəsinin mətbuatına açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib: “Doğrudan da, olmayan penalti ilə oyunun tarazlığı…

Source

Only two Serie A players have been included on the 26-player shortlist for the 2025 edition of the FIFPRO World XI, as voted for by players across the globe. 

The FIFPRO World XI has been running for 20 years, and acknowledges the 11 most successful players each calendar year. The nominees are voted for by players across the world. 

A 26-player shortlist has been revealed, and that will be whittled down to a final 11, which will be announced on November 3. 

The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three attackers with the most votes will be included, and the remaining spot is assigned to the outfield player with the next highest number of votes. 

Which Serie A and Italy players are nominated for 2025 FIFPRO XI

Two Serie A representatives have been included on the 26-player shortlist for 2025, namely Luka Modric of Milan and Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli. 

Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma has been included among the goalkeepers, and is a strong candidate to be included in the final XI given his victory in the Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year. 

2021 was the last time that either an Italian or a Serie A player was included in the final XI. That came a few months after the EURO 2020 final, which had been delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Donnarumma was included on that occasion, as was Juventus’s Leonardo Bonucci, Chelsea’s Jorginho, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who was still with Juve for the first half of that year. 

Gianluigi Buffon (2017) is the only other Italian to have been included in the FIFPRO World XI over the last 10 years. He and Matthijs De Ligt (also 2017), Dani Alves (2017, 2016) and Paul Pogba (2015) are the only other Serie A players to have been included in the last 10 years. 

2025 FIFPRO World XI Shortlist

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Manchester City), Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid).

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/Real Madrid), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Nuno Mendes (PSG), William Saliba (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Napoli), Luka Modric (Real Madrid/Milan), Joao Neves (PSG), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Pedri (Barcelona), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Vitinha (PSG).

Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Raphinha (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).

The 26-player shortlist for the 2025 FIFPRO Men's World 11 – as voted by players worldwide.

The team will be revealed on 03.11.2025. pic.twitter.com/bnu1umSCKw

— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) October 27, 2025

“Qarabağ”ın Çempionlar Liqasındakı rəqiblərindən “Napoli” itki ilə üzləşib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Neapol klubunun yarımmüdafiəçisi Kevin De Bruyne sıradan çıxıb. Bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. De Bruynenin azı 3 ay yaşıl meydanlardan uzaq qalacağı bildirilib.

Kevin noyabrın 6-da “Qarabağ”a qarşı keçiriləcək ÇL oyununu da buraxacaq.

Napoli have been dealt a major blow as Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is set to spend months on the sidelines following a serious muscle injury. The 34-year-old, who joined the Italian champions in the summer, had been in impressive form before the setback.

The news has come as a huge concern for Napoli fans, especially after De Bruyne’s seamless adaptation to life in Serie A and his growing influence under Antonio Conte. His absence will undoubtedly test the team’s depth and creativity in midfield.

According to reports, the Serie A side made the official announcement earlier today via the club’s X handle, with the club wishing their star man a speedy recovery. They posted;

The announcement follows weeks of speculation after reports emerged suggesting De Bruyne was in a rift with head coach Antonio Conte claims the Belgian midfielder firmly dismissed, stating he remains fully committed to the team and the manager’s project.

The former Manchester City star had also been in fine form for his country, scoring during Belgium’s 4-2 win over Wales in the last international break a testament to the quality and leadership Napoli will be missing during his recovery spell.

Softfootball understands that Napoli are already evaluating tactical adjustments to manage De Bruyne’s absence, with Conte considering possible short-term rearrangement in midfield ahead of a demanding winter schedule.

Napoli have confirmed the worst fears, as Kevin De Bruyne has been diagnosed with a severe lesion to the thigh muscle and is expected to be out for several months.

The midfielder pulled up clutching the back of his right thigh after successfully converting a penalty during the 3-1 victory over Inter on Saturday evening.

That result allowed them to go top of the table, alongside Roma, but it came at a heavy cost.

Napoli confirm serious De Bruyne injury

De Bruyne immediately seemed to be distraught when holding his leg and Napoli medical staff confirmed in a statement today that he had been diagnosed with a ‘high grade lesion to the femoral bicep in the right thigh.’

There was no official word on the time it will take to recover from this injury, but it is not dissimilar to the one sustained by Romelu Lukaku during a pre-season friendly in August.

That setback forced the striker to be out for circa four months, and it is entirely possible there will be a similar timeframe for his fellow Belgium international.

De Bruyne has a history of muscular problems, as a similar issue saw him ruled out for three months at Manchester City.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Inter are ‘still irritated’ by Antonio Conte’s claims after Napoli’s 3-1 win at the Stadio Maradona on Saturday.

Tension erupted in Naples over the weekend, both during and after a Serie A match between the Partenopei and Inter.

As reported by Gazzetta, the Nerazzurri are not bothered by the on-pitch argument between Lautaro Martinez and Conte, but are rather annoyed by what happened after the final whistle.

During his post-match interviews, Conte criticised Inter’s decision to send their president, Beppe Marotta, to talk to the media to complain about a penalty kick given to the Partenopei.

What Conte said about Inter

“A team has to evaluate and realise why they lost, doing this, they just create alibis for the players and coach. I would not have allowed it. Now Marotta is President, but it’s not right that he has to come here and make these statements,” Conte said.

“I say with all due respect for the director, leave these things to the people who actually participated in the match, because it is diminishing the role of the coach too.”

Inter also found ‘inappropriate and serious’, according to Gazzetta, that Conte said Inter have been “The best team” in Serie A and “could have won more in the last four years.”

Inter irritated by Conte

Gazzetta notes that Conte behaved differently during his time at Inter, as he publicly requested the directors’ intervention after some disappointing results or debatable referee decisions.

Conte won the 2020-21 Serie A title at Inter, but his relationship with club directors deteriorated at the end of the campaign as the Italian tactician pushed to leave, knowing that the club would need to sell Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi over the summer for financial reasons.

Inter and Conte eventually parted ways by mutual agreement, seeing the Italian tactician get a €7m net severance pay.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Lazio put Tudor in trouble: now he risks

Juve to the ground

Basic-goal: it’s the third consecutive defeat. The coach: ‘I don’t leave.’ But the club makes assessments

Toro is here

Maripan great final, Granata comeback.

Inter against Conte

Club irritated. Mkhitaryan out for at least one month

Dybala reaches the top

Roma with Napoli. Gasp: ‘Scudetto? If we grow…’

Corriere dello Sport

Top spot and first, decisive, Dybala goal

Roma, double Joya

They won 1-0 at Sassuolo’s home and caught Napoli with 18 points. Fourth consecutive victory away: +8 in the table compared to 2024. Gasperini: ‘Paulo is extraordinary in every role.’

Tudor at the end

Juve in crisis. Third consecutive loss (1-0). Tudor’s future under scrutiny

Lazio sink the Croat

On Wednesday against Udinese, a win might not be enough for the coach. ‘Everyone is responsible. My future? I’m not concerned.’ Decisive Basic, Isaksen close to the 2-0.

Electric Chivu and Chivu’s cure

After Marotta’s protests for the soft penalty to the irritability of a team struggling to cope with difficulties.

De Bruyne risks a long stop

Milan, Gimenez is an issue

Tuttosport

It’s no longer Juve

Basic scores after nine minutes (incredible David assist), sending the Bianconeri into a tilt. Confused reaction and can only complain about a penalty denied to Conceiçao. Eight games without victories. The coach: ‘My future? I don’t care about it at all.’

Maripam-Paleari, ‘Toro happiness’

The super goal from the captain under the Curva completes the comeback at minute 90 after the early Thorsby goal and Sabelli’s own goal, then miraculous saves in the stoppages. Baroni: ‘I scolded my players at halftime.’

Roma, Joya for the top spot

Dybala knocks Sassuolo down

Lashed out by Gasp, he responded like a champion. Napoli reached. The coach: ‘Extraordinary Paulo.’

Napoli-Inter: Rocchi stops the coach, the assistant and VAR referee.

Viola, penalty comeback, but Bologna are furious

Watch and listen to the latest news updates from the world of Calcio courtesy of Football Italia expert Alfredo Pedullà.

Today’s focus is on the aftermath of Napoli’s 3-1 win against Inter on Saturday evening.

Pedullà discusses the opposite fortunes between the two head coaches: Cristian Chivu and Antonio Conte.

Whilst Conte took home the three points, Chivu’s actions off the field gave him an advantage over his counterpart, who was drawn into a clash of words with Nerazzurri Captain Lautaro Martinez.

Watch: Pedullà talks Napoli 3-1 Inter

Napoli’s 3-1 victory over Inter has lifted the mood at the Stadio Maradona, restoring confidence and momentum, but celebrations were muted by a fresh injury concern for Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian midfielder asked to come off after feeling discomfort in the same area that required surgery last season, immediately triggering alarm within the club’s medical staff.

According to Sky Sport, via TuttoMercatoWeb, there is real concern that the 32-year-old may have suffered a significant muscular relapse.

While De Bruyne appeared relatively calm after the final whistle, Napoli are approaching the situation with maximum caution given his recent history and the delicate nature of the injury.

Napoli await worst case scenario as De Bruyne faces injury setback

Tests scheduled will offer a clearer picture, but the fear is that it could be a high-grade lesion, which would rule him out for an extended spell.

With De Bruyne serving as the creative heartbeat of Antonio Conte’s side, the potential setback comes at a difficult moment in the season.

Napoli are back in the Scudetto race and preparing for a decisive run of fixtures in Serie A and Europe. Losing their technical leader for several weeks, or possibly longer, would represent a major blow to their ambitions.

For now, the club will wait for the official medical bulletin before outlining recovery times and a plan for his replacement. What is certain, however, is that Napoli are bracing themselves for bad news.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has proven, once again, that he has become a giant for Napoli, not only with his crucial goal against Inter on Saturday evening, but also through his performances, showing that he can flex his muscles and walk the walk. 

Napoli got it spot on with Anguissa

The Cameroon international was on the scoresheet, restoring Napoli’s two-goal lead in their 3-1 victory over Inter on Saturday evening, which has sent the Partenopei back up to the top of the Serie A standings after eight matches. 

Anguissa, towards the end of last season, had a moment of hesitation, considering potential opportunities elsewhere after having helped Napoli to two Scudetti within the last three years. 

In the end, his desire was to stay on with Napoli, where he has proved himself as a key player under Antonio Conte, despite the arrivals of Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne over the last two years. 

And so, his contract was extended, and is now set to expire in 2027. This was the perfect outcome for Napoli, and it comes as a reward for Anguissa’s unquestionably key performances over the last few seasons. 

Anguissa is becoming an increasingly key figure within Partenopei circles, and a renewal could not have been any more appropriate. 

Sunday’s reports indicate that referee Maurizio Mariani and assistant Daniele Bindoni will be dropped for the next round of Serie A fixtures after awarding a controversial penalty during Napoli’s 3-1 win over Inter on Saturday evening. 

What happened in Napoli 3-1 Inter?

Napoli went back to the top of the Serie A standings thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa in an eventual 3-1 win over the Nerazzurri, who had won seven games in a row prior to Saturday’s match. 

There have been complaints from the Inter camp, however, regarding the decision to award a penalty to Napoli five minutes before the end of the first half. 

Giovanni Di Lorenzo found himself in the penalty area and went down under the challenge of Henrikh Mikhtaryan. Some argue, however, that Di Lorenzo was looking for the contact, and that Mkhitaryan did not make any intentional moves towards the Napoli captain, and that the penalty should not have been given. 

Now, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the AIA have concluded that a penalty should not have been awarded to Napoli last night. 

Sunday’s reports suggest that assistant referee Bindoni was the one who originally signalled for a penalty, that Mariani did not originally give it, but then changed his mind after a VAR review. 

Assistant referee Bindoni is the one who has come under the most criticism for signalling for the penalty, although Mariani has also been criticised from changing his original decision. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that it is likely that both referees, who were also involved in the U20 World Cup final in Chile earlier this week, will be dropped for the next round of Serie A fixtures.

Napoli head coach Antonio Conte and Inter striker Lautaro Martinez exchanged insults during the meeting of their two sides in Serie A on Saturday evening, but this was not the first time the former colleagues have clashed on the pitch. 

Here is a reminder of what happened the last time Conte and Lautaro came to blows. 

Napoli 3-1 Inter: Conte and Lautaro clash again 

Napoli claimed a 3-1 victory at home against the in-form Inter on Saturday evening thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. The Partenopei are now back at the top of the Serie A standings as a result. 

Around the hour mark at the Stadio Maradona, Conte and Lautaro were seen throwing insults and gestures towards each other following an argument between the players on the pitch. 

• Read more: Conte and Lautaro insult each other in tense Napoli vs. Inter clash

This was not the first time that Conte and Lautaro have found themselves arguing with one another in Serie A, though. 

They also spent two seasons together at Inter between 2019 and 2021. 

During the Scudetto-winning 2020-21 season, Conte and Lautaro found themselves arguing after the coach decided to ‘double sub’ the striker during a 3-1 win over Roma in May, 2021. 

Lautaro, who had been accused of showing poor attitude on the pitch at the time, reacted to his substitution by shouting and throwing his shirt when Conte took him off. 

The following day, Conte and Lautaro returned to the training ground, and in an effort to put their difference to one side, organised a friendly boxing match on the training pitch, which ended in hugs and laughter. The same will not happen this time around, though.

Fabio Capello has had his say on Inter after their 3-1 defeat at the hands of reigning champions Napoli in Serie A on Saturday evening, and while he admits that Kevin De Bruyne’s penalty was ‘non-existent’, he feels that the Nerazzurri can only look at themselves. 

Napoli returned to the top of the Serie A standings thanks to their 3-1 win over Cristian Chivu’s side, courtesy of goals from De Bruyne, Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. Hakan Calhanoglu’s second-half penalty was not enough for Inter to get back into it. 

• Read more: Napoli 3-1 Inter: Player ratings! 

Capello on Napoli 3-1 Inter: ‘Unrecognisable’

Capello agrees with the Inter camp that De Bruyne’s penalty was ‘non-existent’, and that it impacted the rest of the game, but he also feels that Inter were ‘unrecognisable’ in their performance. 

“It’s true that it was a non-existent penalty that shifted the balance of the game, the one from which De Bruyne broke the deadlock. It is also true that this should not and cannot be an excuse for the Nerazzurri,” Capello explained in his La Gazzetta dello Sport column.

“Aside from Bastoni hitting the crossbar and Dumfries the post, Inter were unrecognisable. There was space in behind for Napoli to counter attack every time they lost the ball, and the thing that surprised me the most was the lack of balance between the different departments. That had been the strength that pushed Lautaro and his teammates to seven wins in a row across all competitions.”

Capello feels that Chivu’s decision to give his players an extra day off after their recent Champions League victory over Union Saint-Gilloise was a mistake that backfired. 

“Maybe the victory against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League ended up affecting Inter too much, overconfidence in football can play tricks on you.

“In retrospect, it felt that the decision to give the players a day off between the trip to Brussels and the trip to Naples was an attempt to lighten the load within the group. The Inter coach is usually good at calming his players’ minds, and attempted a difficult move, but evidently, it wasn’t enough.”

And in terms of Inter’s play on the pitch, Capello said: “they often looked messy, and those who came off the bench, this time, took away more than they added. Instead of looking for speed, the changes off the bench tried to carry the ball too much. 

“Missteps are part of any season, and nothing has been fully compromised. Milan happened to slow down the other night against Pisa, too, Inter slipped during a Scudetto clash against the reigning champions. 

“The Nerazzurri have all the tools required to get back on their feet immediately, as long as they understand that they have to give more than what they showed on Saturday. Without that unity and purpose, they will not go far.” 

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Call to the top 

Napoli: 3-1 and first place, Inter furious 

Debatable penalty from De Bruyne (who gets hrt while scoring the goal for 1-0). Marotta: ‘We’re angry, it changed the game’. Conte: ‘Stop acting like the pope’. Arguments and insults with Lautaro. Goals from McTominay and Anguissa, Calhanoglu’s penalty unhelpful

Juve

Tudor: ‘Not afraid’. David with Vlahovic, Yildiz on the bench, but he is about to sign 

Roma 

Dybala attack, they need goals to take the lead

Corriere dello Sport 

Napoli cackle 

Conte silences Inter and Marotta

What a lesson: 3-1

The champions return to first place: Gasp’s Roma could draw level today

De Bruyne, McTominay and Anguissa decide the clash. Calhanoglu’s goal at 2-1 no good. The President: ‘Their victory came from a soft penalty’. Antonio: ‘Those are excuses, I wouldn’t have let one of my directors complain like that’. Sparks also fly with Lautaro at the end

Tudor wall: ‘Sacked? I’m not afraid’

Lazio-Juve at 19.45: Igor hasn’t won in seven games 

The Croatian: ‘Yildiz being like Del Piero? Comparisons are tricky’. Sarri: ‘We might have different ideas to Lotito, but our relationship is normal’

Kean and Castro, Derby call 

Fiorentina-Bologna at the Franchi 

The viola have lost three in three at home in the league. The Argentine could push Italiano to -2 from Napoli

Tuttosport

‘I’m not afraid’ 

Tudor against his Old Lazio. Needs to find goals and wins again. ‘I’m not afraid of the sack. And I want a more attacking Juve’

The coach protects his team: ‘I’m only thinking about the players, not about myself’, and tries to take the pressure off Yildiz: ‘Like Del Piero? Calm down’. Tempted to play the Turk with Conceicao behind Vlahovic and David. Zhegrova case. Perin in goal? 

Conte rises Napoli, Inter and Lautaro on a tilt 

Penalties, woodwork, battles, injuries, scuffles: The 3-1 at the MAradona had it all 

‘Go on Toro! Ride the wave of enthusiasm’ 

Against Genoa at 11.30, in a full stadium

Baroni: ‘The hug with the supporters was great, we can’t take anything for granted now’ Cholito looking for his third consecutive goal. Israel out, there’s Paleari

Gasp to Dybala: ‘Words weren’t right, score goals and assist, you’ 

Paulo critical after the Euro-flop 

“Qarabağ”ın UEFA Çempionlar Liqasında rəqiblərindən olan “Napoli”nin baş məşqçisi Antonio Konte komandasının A Seriyasında “İnter”ə qarşı 3:1 hesablı qələbəsini şərh edib.

Komanda.az DAZN-a istinadən xəbər verir ki, o, yaxşı komandaya qarşı əla oyun sərgilədiklərini söyləyib:

“Mənim fikrimcə, bu gün İtaliyanın ən yaxşı komandası ilə qarşılaşdıq. “İnter” oyundan əvvəl bir neçə xal itirmişdi, amma kağız üzərində onlar digərlərindən fərqli səviyyədədirlər. Üç ildə iki Çempionlar Liqasının finalı bir şey deyir. “İnter” əla formada idi və bura bizi, “Torino” və PSV-yə məğlub olan bir komandanı məğlub etmək məqsədi ilə gəlmişdi. Amma biz təslim olmaq niyyətində deyildik. Bütün çətinliklərə baxmayaraq, əla oyun sərgiləyə bildik”.

“Napoli” A Seriyasında 18 xalla birinci yerə qayıdıb, “İnter” isə 15 xalla üçüncüdür.

The post Konte: “Bu gün İtaliyanın ən yaxşı komandası ilə qarşılaşdıq” appeared first on Komanda.az.

Napoli are anxiously awaiting news of tests on the Kevin De Bruyne injury, as he was spotted using crutches and there are fears it is a similar problem he had at Manchester City in 2023.

The 34-year-old converted a penalty to open the scoring in today’s 3-1 Serie A victory over Scudetto rivals Inter at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Kevin De Bruyne pulled a muscle in the process of putting Napoli ahead against Inter pic.twitter.com/SKnGHnsXHN

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2025

There was no time to celebrate, as he immediately clutched the back of his right thigh, and seemed to be in tears when consoled by teammates.

De Bruyne carried off during Napoli 3-1 Inter

Unable to put his right foot down even with arms around two Napoli medical staff, De Bruyne was eventually put on the motorised stretcher to get him back to the locker room.

He came back out for the second half using crutches to take his seat on the bench and watch the final 20 minutes of the match, but it remains to be seen how long he will be out of action for.

The worrying thing is this is an injury in a similar spot to the one that kept him out for four months from August to December 2023 at Manchester City.

Initial reports are that it might not be quite as serious as that, but that with the memory of that setback, De Bruyne was anxiously trying to avoid making the situation worse.

Napoli have been beset by injury problems this season, as Romelu Lukaku was ruled out for four months by a tear in the back of his thigh.

Cristian Chivu and Antonio Conte continued to trade insults in the press room after Napoli’s 3-1 win, the Inter coach noting he ‘isn’t interested in complaining or showing how great I am.’

There had already been tension on the touchline at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with a scuffle that broke out between the Partenopei bench, Denzel Dumfries and Lautaro Martinez.

After the match, Inter sent President Beppe Marotta to speak to the media before Chivu to complain about the penalty, which Conte in turn said was “delegitimising the coach” and giving “alibis” for the defeat.

Chivu hits back at Conte comments

When Chivu spoke at the press conference, he sent out what seemed to be some barbed comments aimed at Conte.

“The club has to the right to do whatever it feels is right. I as a coach remain consistent, I will never come here to complain,” said the Romanian.

“I have a different approach to some others, I am not interested in my reputation, nor at showing how great I am. I am what I am, I try to transmit those values to the players.

“I am trying to change things, even if I do it by myself. As long as I am here, I will try to change the way football is perceived in Italy. They are accustomed here to moaning and crying over spilt milk.

“We need to change things in the right way. I am not interested in what other people think about me.”

So is Chivu not going to say anything about the controversial penalty awarded to Napoli in this 3-1 defeat?

“We will wait to hear the explanation. We don’t have to seek excuses or alibis, we just have to think about our football. We must be positive and remain on the bench.

“After all, they won’t change their decisions based on protests, so it’s a waste of energy.”

Cristian Chivu believes Inter lost 3-1 to Napoli because they ‘wasted energy arguing’ with the opposition bench, but feels ‘even more confident’ of their future success.

The Nerazzurri were the favourites going into the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona after winning their last seven on the bounce in all competition, while the Partenopei were struggling with an injury crisis.

However, a controversial Kevin De Bruyne penalty, Scott McTominay and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa counter-attacks sealed the result, despite a Hakan Calhanoglu spot-kick.

Chivu refuses to discuss Napoli-Inter controversy

It was that penalty that hit the headlines and prompted Inter President Beppe Marotta to speak to the media first, but Chivu did not want to be drawn on the matter.

“I talk about football and the match,” Chivu told DAZN Italia.

“I would like to talk about the good things the players did in the first half. We tried to stay in the game after that, to keep our balance, but we hit the woodwork twice and reacted to going behind.

“We lost our balance in the second half because we were so eager to get the game back on track, so we conceded for 2-0. Despite that, we were still able to get back into it, then wasted energy arguing with their bench and from that moment on we lost sharpness.”

The argument was largely between the Napoli staff and coach Antonio Conte, Inter players Denzel Dumfries and Lautaro Martinez.

After that, the hosts scored a third goal with Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa after a flicked-on throw-in.

“It is down to the waste of energy that we threw away for nothing. We should’ve understood the moments of the match,” continued Chivu.

“In the second goal, we didn’t sense the danger, as there were so many of us pushing and building, we were unprepared on a ball Spinazzola just hit upfield to McTominay.

“Then we reacted too slowly to the third goal, which was down to losing sharpness. We cannot concede so easily from a throw-in.”

Inter had won seven in a row in all competition before this setback, but it is the second Scudetto showdown defeat after their 4-3 to Juventus.

“I am proud of what the lads are doing, and even more confident after tonight,” assured Chivu.

“I saw a great first half, despite the Napoli enthusiasm, as we were dominant. We came here to play our game, but unfortunately this is football. You have to maintain concentration and we lacked something in the second half.”

There was an extremely tense moment on the touchline between Denzel Dumfries and the Napoli bench, which then saw Antonio Conte and Lautaro Martinez exchange ugly hand gestures.

“I don’t know what happened and I don’t care. I will tell the players in future not to waste their energy just to argue. We’ve got to focus on the game and where we want to go,” concluded Chivu.

Antonio Conte angrily hit back at Inter for ‘creating alibis’ over the penalty, lashed out at Lautaro Martinez, and assured Napoli ‘had no intention of getting killed’ today.

The Partenopei came into this game with an injury crisis and losing four of their last seven competitive games, including a 6-2 Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven midweek.

When they took the lead with a Kevin De Bruyne penalty, the former Manchester City midfielder injured his right hamstring in the process and might be out for a while, as he was spotted on the bench towards the end with crutches.

Scott McTominay doubled their lead, then Hakan Calhanoglu converted a spot-kick, but Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa completed the 3-1 rout.

Conte had a fiery contribution

“I live the game with my players, for good and bad, and we played against in my view the best squad in Italy,” Conte told DAZN Italia.

“They dropped some points along the way, but their squad is on paper on a completely different level to all the others. They didn’t get to the Champions League Final twice in three years because of a fluke.

“To have won this game, with all the difficulties that we had, missing players like Lobotka, Rrahmani, Meret and Hojlund, then losing De Bruyne, with Lukaku out since pre-season…

“Perhaps someone has cursed us, but we keep going anyway. Inter came here today aiming to on a sporting level ‘kill’ us, as they were in great shape and coming off a run of seven straight wins, facing a side like ours that had lost to Torino and Eindhoven.

“If you understand that moment of the campaign, you have to kill your opponent, but we had no intention of dying. In amongst all those problems, we put in a great performance.”

There was a moment of real tension too, as Conte was booked for his part in a touchline scuffle involving Denzel Dumfries and especially Lautaro Martinez, as the coach exchanged some rather harsh hand gestures with the Inter captain.

Was there something left over from the time they worked together at Inter?

“When you play games at this level, these things can happen,” noted the coach.

“I just want to remind Inter that I brought the Scudetto back to the club after 10 years, including nine consecutive Juventus titles, and you know what that means to me. I retain very good memories of that experience.

“Lautaro is a very good player, perhaps I didn’t get to know him that well on a personal level. I wish him all the best, that’s fine.”

Inter sent President Giuseppe Marotta to speak to the media after the match rather than coach Cristian Chivu, to complain about the controversial opening penalty.

“Inter send Marotta and the directors whenever they get the opportunity, whereas at Napoli I come here,” replied Conte.

“A team has to evaluate and realise why they lost, doing this they just create alibis for the players and coach. I would not have allowed it. Now Marotta is President, but it’s not right that he has to come here and make these statements…

“I say with all due respect for the director, leave these things to the people who actually participated in the match, because it is diminishing the role of the coach too.

“I always stood up for myself, so a club making these sorts of statements… It’s fine,” concluded a visibly irritated Conte.

Scott McTominay reveals he had a surprising problem scoring for Napoli against Inter, while Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa gives his view on the tactical change.

The Partenopei were not the favourites going into this Scudetto showdown, as they had lost four of their last seven competitive games, whereas the Nerazzurri had won seven on the bounce.

However, a Kevin De Bruyne penalty, McTominay screamer and Anguissa counter-attack cancelled out the Hakan Calhanoglu penalty to seal a 3-1 victory.

Napoli thank McTominay and Anguissa goals

“I don’t know if we sent a signal, but we have to take it one game at a time and the objective is to keep winning. We pushed hard, we won as a team, and had the right attitude,” Anguissa told DAZN Italia.

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Napoli 3-1 Inter

Napoli changed to a 4-3-3 system after De Bruyne went off injured, and that seemed to give them more balance, not to mention being familiar from last season.

“I wouldn’t say the system made the difference, but rather the approach. We had energy, we wanted to win, we work on many different systems in training and ultimately the coach decides. We are here just to follow his instructions.”

This puts Napoli top of the table, as AC Milan were held 2-2 by Pisa last night, while Roma could join them with a victory away to Sassuolo tomorrow.

McTominay scored his first home goal since the Scudetto winner against Cagliari back in May, so he only seems to reserve his goals for some big fixtures.

“We knew we had to give a reaction after the Champions League and I thought we did that really well. Inter are a top team with great players, but it was a top response,” McTominay told DAZN Italia.

When asked about the pass from Leonardo Spinazzola, the Scotland international revealed some difficulty with the situation.

“I lost it in the lights, so the pass took me by surprise, the lights are so bright I couldn’t see it. Then I just thought to shoot. Leo is a top player, he put in some great passes this year, now we need to find that consistency so we can continue to push.”

Inter President Giuseppe Marotta took the unusual step of speaking to the media after the 3-1 defeat to Napoli, complaining the controversial penalty was ‘decisive to shift the balance.’

The Nerazzurri were the favourites going into this clash, having won their last seven competitive games in a row, but they were beaten 3-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The deadlock was broken by a very controversial penalty, converted by Kevin De Bruyne, then Scott McTominay doubled the lead with a ferocious strike.

Hakan Calhanoglu also converted from the spot, while Alessandro Bastoni and Denzel Dumfries hit the woodwork, but Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa sealed the 3-1 result after a throw-in.

Inter President Marotta leads protest against refereeing

Rather than coach Cristian Chivu, it was President Marotta who arrived first at the post-match interview area.

“My presence is simply a contribution I wish to give to the football movement and I too am eager to understand,” Marotta told DAZN Italia.

“Even though Napoli eventually legitimised the victory, largely in the final 20 minutes, the penalty was decisive to shift the balance of the game. It came from an evaluation made by the assistant referee. It is clear the referee was in the perfect position to evaluate, he viewed it and turned away, then blew the whistle eight seconds later.

“I thought this was an ideal situation for VAR to intervene, seeing as the referee had initially evaluated and ignored the situation. The footage would’ve allowed the referee to view it again and make his own decision.”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Napoli 3-1 Inter

Giovanni Di Lorenzo had run into the box and gone down between a Henrikh Mkhitaryan nudge and the Francesco Acerbi sliding tackle in front, but neither of them seemed to make any significant contact.

The penalty seemed odd because the referee turned his back to the move and walked away, but eight seconds later he blew the whistle, having evidently been told by his assistant that it was a foul.

“Napoli’s victory was sparked by this incident, then of course they won 3-1 eventually, but if we look at the dynamics behind the penalty, it is a reflection that Rocchi has made more than once, saying no more soft penalties. Many journalists and your refereeing pundit Luca Marelli all said this is not a penalty,” continued Marotta.

“We need to understand what a penalty is and is not. I am someone who would prefer to keep the referee at the centre, and if he saw the incident and turned away, then listened to the assistant manager in a worse position, he let himself be influenced far too easily.”

Inter went into the break 1-0 down, having hit the frame of the goal twice with Alessandro Bastoni and Denzel Dumfries.

“I was in the locker room at half time and clearly that penalty had a strong effect on the mood of the team. I am not saying Napoli would not have won anyway, but we are here to protest the way the penalty was assigned.”

There was some tension on the touchline when Inter captain Lautaro Martinez exchanged some harsh words and hand gestures with Napoli coach Antonio Conte. Did this go back to their time together at Inter?

“No, these things happen on the field, we see this a lot in football. I wouldn’t say too much about that,” concluded Marotta.

Zambo Anguissa is Football Italia’s MVP in Napoli’s 3-1 win over Inter on Saturday.

Player Ratings: Napoli 3-1 Inter

Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic 6; Di Lorenzo 6.5, Buongiorno 5.5, Juan Jesus 6.5, Spinazzola 6.5; Gilmour 5.5; Politano 6 (81′ Elmas N/A), Anguissa 7.5, De Bruyne 6 (37′ Olivera 6), McTominay 7; Neres 6.5 (81′ Lang N/A). Coach: Conte 7.

Best Napoli player: Anguissa 7.5 – The second half was absolutely stunning. Anguissa dominated in central midfield and even scored the third goal for the Partenopei, finalising a perfect counter-attack.

Lowest Napoli rating: Buongiorno 5.5 – Same rating as Gilmour, but Buongiorno caused a penalty kick with a clumsy handball that could have had worse consequences for the Partenopei.

Napoli coach: Conte 7 – His argument with Lautaro is already a classic scene in Italian football, but Conte will rightly make headlines thanks to a perfect game plan. Napoli were happy to leave the ball to Inter and hurt the Nerazzurri on counter-attacks. The penalty kick in the first half, more than debatable, helped them, but the Napoli defending was even more resolute once they took the lead.

Inter: Sommer 5.5; Akanji 5, Acerbi 5, Bastoni 5.5; Dumfries 5.5 (75′ Luis Henrique 5.5), Barella 6 (73′ Frattesi 6), Calhanoglu 7 (73′ Sucic 6), Mkhitaryan 5.5 (32′ Zielinski 5.5), Dimarco 5.5; Lautaro Martinez 5, Bonny 5.5 (62′ Pio Esposito 5.5). Coach: Chivu 5.

Best Inter player: Calhanoglu 7 – Converted a spot kick to keep Inter in the game and maintained a high passing accuracy despite the physicality and press from Napoli midfielders. It wasn’t enough to get a result.

Lowest Inter rating: Acerbi and Akanji 5 – Both poor in the build-up, but mostly unable to cope with Napoli’s counter-attacks, especially in the second half.

Inter coach: Chivu 5 – Inter were probably the better side in the first half and had a convincing reaction after Napoli had taken the lead. However, they showed no balance and were too exposed defensively after the break. Not even Calhanoglu’s goal gave them the push to go for the equaliser.

Napoli surged back to the top of the table after a tense victory over an Inter side that had won seven on the bounce, including a controversial penalty and serious Kevin De Bruyne injury.

This was a title showdown last season and again crucial for top spot here, especially after Milan’s 2-2 draw with Pisa last night. The Partenopei were in crisis after losing four of their last seven official games, including a 6-2 hammering at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday. Rasmus Hojlund, Stanislav Lobotka, Alex Meret, Amir Rrahmani and Romelu Lukaku were injured, so David Neres was launched as a False 9. The Nerazzurri missed Marcus Thuram and Matteo Darmian, but had won their last seven in all competition.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Alessandro Bastoni nodded a corner just wide and Hakan Calhanoglu bent his finish past the post in the opening minutes, then Vanja Milinkovic-Savic rushed out to deny Lautaro Martinez one-on-one after Nicolò Barella intercepted a Leonardo Spinazzola pass.

During a spell of Napoli pressure, the referee pointed to the spot several seconds after Giovanni Di Lorenzo went over between a Henrikh Mkhitaryan nudge and over the Francesco Acerbi sliding tackle. It was a call from the assistant referee, which was then not considered a clear and obvious error by the VAR. Mkhitaryan injured himself in the process and was replaced by ex-Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski.

Kevin De Bruyne stepped up and converted into the near bottom corner, but then immediately clutched the back of his right leg and was distraught, suffering an apparent hamstring strain. The Belgian hobbled off barely able to put his right foot down, another injury for the crowded Napoli treatment room.

Kevin De Bruyne pulled a muscle in the process of putting Napoli ahead against Inter pic.twitter.com/SKnGHnsXHN

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2025

Inter had a huge opportunity to equalise on a corner, but Alessandro Bastoni’s free header thumped the crossbar with Milinkovic-Savic well beaten.

There was a double chance when Milinkovic-Savic only parried the Calhanoglu strike, then Dumfries pulled back from the right for Lautaro Martinez to sweep first time, shaving a coat of paint off the far post.

Moments later, Dumfries came even closer, his header clipping the outside of the upright on a Bastoni cross.

Calhanoglu fired over from the edge of the area after the restart, but just as Inter were pouring forward seeking an equaliser, they were caught on the counter-attack. Leonardo Spinazzola’s pass allowed McTominay to spring the offside trap in the centre-circle, sprinting forward and letting it bounce to hit the ferocious right-foot half-volley into the far bottom corner.

STUNNING from Scott McTominay!

What a finish from the Scot pic.twitter.com/Uy7honw6aC

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2025

Inter got back into the game though, as VAR spotted Alessandro Buongiorno with arm raised to charge down the Lautaro Martinez header, and Calhanoglu beat specialist Milinkovic-Savic from the penalty spot.

The tension erupted with a scuffle on the touchline sparked by Dumfries and the Napoli bench, resulting in some harsh hand gestures between Lautaro Martinez and Antonio Conte.

Napoli struck again on the counter, as a throw-in was knocked down and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa ran from midfield, getting away from Manuel Akanji and Dumfries to blast the finish past Sommer.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa extends Napoli’s advantage against Inter with a brilliant run pic.twitter.com/8IQYpqSR1h

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2025

David Neres had the chance to add a fourth on the counter, but he hesitated too long, had his finish charged down, then struggled with cramp. Francesco Pio Esposito nodded an Akanji cross over the bar in stoppages.

Napoli 3-1 Inter

De Bruyne pen 33 (N), McTominay 54 (N), Calhanoglu pen 59 (I), Anguissa 67 (N)

25-10-2025 17:00

MatchDay 8

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli

Inter

3 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Kevin De Bruyne		33'
Giovanni Di Lorenzo		43'
Billy Gilmour		45+6'

2nd half

Scott McTominay (Assist: Leonardo Spinazzola)		54'
		59'		Hakan Calhanoglu
Frank Anguissa (Assist: David Neres)		66'
		77'		Alessandro Bastoni

Match statistic

44

Possession %

56

7

Total shots

15

3

Shots on target

3

1

Shots off target

9

3

Blocked shots

3

1

Corners

4

1

Offsides

1

15

Fouls

10

Napoli

Inter

Starting lineups

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić

Goalkeeper

4

Alessandro Buongiorno

Defender

90'

22

Giovanni Di Lorenzo

Defender

5

Juan Jesus

Defender

37

Leonardo Spinazzola

Defender

90'

99

Frank Anguissa

Midfielder

6

Billy Gilmour

Midfielder

11

Kevin De Bruyne

Midfielder

37'

8

Scott McTominay

Midfielder

7

David Neres

Attacker

81'

21

Matteo Politano

Attacker

82'

1

Yann Sommer

Goalkeeper

95

Alessandro Bastoni

Defender

14

Ange-Yoan Bonny

Defender

62'

32

Federico Dimarco

Defender

15

Francesco Acerbi

Defender

25

Manuel Akanji

Defender

2

Denzel Dumfries

Midfielder

73'

20

Hakan Calhanoglu

Midfielder

73'

22

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Midfielder

32'

23

Nicolò Barella

Midfielder

73'

10

Lautaro Martínez

Attacker

Substitutes

26

Antonio Vergara

Midfielder

30

Pasquale Mazzocchi

Defender

27

Lorenzo Lucca

Attacker

69

Giuseppe Ambrosino

Attacker

35

Luca Marianucci

Defender

25

Mathias Ferrante

Goalkeeper

95

David Spinelli

Goalkeeper

17

Mathías Olivera

Defender

37'

70

Noa Lang

Attacker

81'

20

Eljif Elmas

Midfielder

82'

3

Miguel Gutiérrez

Defender

90'

31

Sam Beukema

Defender

90'

6

Stefan de Vrij

Defender

30

Carlos Augusto

Midfielder

13

Josep Martínez

Goalkeeper

17

Andy Diouf

Attacker

31

Yann Bisseck

Defender

40

Alessandro Calligaris

Goalkeeper

7

Piotr Zielinski

Midfielder

32'

94

Pio Esposito

Attacker

62'

16

Davide Frattesi

Midfielder

73'

11

Luis Henrique

Attacker

73'

8

Petar Sucic

Defender

73'

Antonio Conte and Lautaro Martinez were caught on camera insulting each other during the second half of a tense Napoli-Inter on Saturday.

The incident happened around minute 61 after an argument had sparked between Napoli and Inter players.

What Conte and Lautaro said in tense Napoli-Inter

Lautaro, who had played under Conte at Inter, was seen pointing at the Italian tactician and making a gesture as to say: ‘You are sh****** yourself,’ but the Napoli boss replied (via Daniele Mari): ‘Wrap your laughing gear around this,’ also making an unequivocal gesture.

Napoli were leading 2-1, but Hakan Calhanoglu had just scored a penalty kick goal to put Inter back into the game.

Conte and Lautaro already argued during the Italian tactician’s final season at the Stadio Meazza in 2020-21.

When Conte and Lautaro argued at Inter

That time, Lautaro openly complained about a substitution and kicked a bottle on the touchline.

Conte didn’t take it well and hit back at the Argentine, telling him to shut up.

Inter players and staff members jokingly organised a boxing fight at Inter’s training ground a few days later to clear the air between the two.

Watch as Scott McTominay scores a spectacular strike to double Napoli’s lead in the Scudetto showdown with Inter, picking up where he left off last season.

You can see how that game unfolds on the Liveblog.

The Scotland international was the key player in their Serie A title success during his maiden campaign with the club, earning the crown of Player of the Season, as well as a nomination for the Ballon d’Or.

He showed why this evening when facing Inter at the Stadio Maradona, as he started the run from the centre-circle onto an inspired Leonardo Spinazzola pass, let it bounce and thumped the ferocious finish on the half-volley into the far bottom corner.

McTominay turns on the style for Napoli vs. Inter

STUNNING from Scott McTominay!

What a finish from the Scot pic.twitter.com/Uy7honw6aC

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2025

The former Manchester United man scored 12 goals with six assists in his first Serie A season, but this was his second of the current campaign.

SUPER SCOTT MCTOMINAY pic.twitter.com/62xTbn5ZGf

— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 25, 2025

DAZN reports that Antonio Conte urged Kevin De Bruyne to take a penalty against Inter instead of David Neres, but referee pundit Luca Marelli argues that the spot kick should have been revoked by VAR.

Napoli took the lead in the first half of a home game against Inter on Saturday thanks to a penalty kick converted by De Bruyne, who even got injured while kicking the ball.

DAZN reports that David Neres had already put the ball under his arm to take the penalty, but Conte said De Bruyne should have stepped up instead.

David Neres not allowed to take Napoli penalty

According to the report, Conte told Matteo Politano to inform his teammates that KDB should have taken the spot kick.

There will surely be controversy regarding the penalty given to the Partenopei, which was awarded for a Henrikh Mkhitaryan foul on Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

DAZN referee pundit Luca Marelli has already claimed that it was a wrong call from the official Maurizio Mariani and the VAR.

Marelli: ‘Napoli-Inter penalty should have been revoked’

“I repeat that there was no penalty for Napoli. It should have been overturned by VAR,” Marelli said via Daniele Mari.

“The contact was clearly initiated by Di Lorenzo. Mkhitaryan did not move towards Di Lorenzo. There was no foul from Acerbi, who played the ball. It’s a penalty that should have been revoked.”

Follow Napoli-Inter live on the Football Italia LIVEBLOG.

It went from celebration to drama in the space of a second for Kevin De Bruyne, as he converted a penalty to give them the lead against Inter, then sustained a serious injury in the process.

You can follow the action as it happens from that game on the Liveblog.

The Belgium international was not seemingly even meant to take the spot-kick, as David Neres had initially taken the ball, but the order came from Antonio Conte on the touchline to hand it to De Bruyne.

Napoli joy and pain for De Bruyne

It proved a correct decision, as the former Manchester City midfielder converted past Yann Sommer to put his team in front.

However, the player immediately grabbed the back of his right thigh and had to be consoled by teammates rather than surrounded in celebration, as it immediately looked to be serious.

Kevin De Bruyne pulled a muscle in the process of putting Napoli ahead against Inter pic.twitter.com/SKnGHnsXHN

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2025

De Bruyne was substituted by Matias Olivera and could not even put his right foot down when held up by two members of the Napoli medical staff.

He eventually had to be taken away on the motorised stretcher to applause from the Napoli fans at the Stadio Maradona.

It adds to the growing list of Partenopei injuries, as they already went into this Scudetto showdown without Rasmus Hojlund, Stanislav Lobotka, Alex Meret, Amir Rrahmani and Romelu Lukaku.

What a bizarre few moments in Naples…

Kevin de Bruyne steps up to take the penalty for Napoli and appears to pull his thigh as he scores pic.twitter.com/ICcaJ8Xuf9

— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 25, 2025

Alessandro Bastoni warns Inter must be ‘on guard’ because Napoli will be fired up to put their recent problems behind them, but is sure Cristian Chivu is ‘the right coach’ for the task.

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the Liveblog.

Napoli are the reigning Champions of Italy after pipping Inter to the title in the final day last season, but have struggled to balance European commitments with Serie A football this time around.

They have lost four of their last seven games, whereas the Nerazzurri are on sparkling form with seven consecutive victories in all competition.

Bastoni expects Napoli fightback

“We went through moments like that too, and we know that a wounded team will be even more fired up than usual to give their all in front of these passionate home fans, so we’ve got to be on guard, Napoli will come out fighting,” Bastoni told DAZN Italia.

It had been said that this ageing Inter side had to be totally torn apart and rebuilt after Simone Inzaghi’s departure, but Chivu is making the best out of essentially the same players.

“Teams that have to be revolutionised don’t reach the Champions League Final,” insisted Bastoni.

“We needed to be shaken up, as losing two Champions League Finals in three years is tough, it’s not easy to start from scratch every time. We found the right coach in Chivu, he showed understanding, and we are glad to have him here.”

Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo admits they are ‘trying to do something different’ against Inter, as Antonio Conte reshuffles his pack with a False 9.

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The injury crisis continues with Rasmus Hojlund, Stanislav Lobotka, Alex Meret, Amir Rrahmani and Romelu Lukaku on the treatment table, but Lorenzo Lucca is shelved in favour of David Neres as the centre-forward.

Di Lorenzo overseeing Napoli experiments

“We are trying to do something different, but without losing our tactical balance. We need to find the right medium, as great teams fall, but they know how to get back on their feet. We are against very strong opponents and want to challenge ourselves today,” Di Lorenzo told DAZN Italia.

There was reportedly a crisis meeting where Antonio Conte pushed the ‘old guard’ in the squad to give a bigger contribution, and Di Lorenzo acknowledges the importance of their role.

“Those of us who have been here for longer have to inspire the new arrivals. We need to rediscover the spirit that we had last season, and we certainly didn’t see in Eindhoven. The desire to fight together, defend together, attack together, that was the key to our success last season.”

Napoli won their second Serie A title in three years after a head to head battle with Inter that lasted to the final day, allowing them to secure the Scudetto.

Now those teams meet again at the Stadio Maradona and are once more fighting for top spot, as AC Milan were held 2-2 by Pisa last night.

Inter President Giuseppe Marotta insists they are back to the ‘normality’ of winning ways as they visit Napoli, noting Cristian Chivu is now ‘respected by many who criticised him.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Nerazzurri had stuttered early into Chivu’s reign, losing to Udinese and Juventus, but have now won seven on the bounce between Serie A and the Champions League.

Marotta and Inter had faith in Chivu

“If we look back, then that defeat to Juve was also paradoxical, as we had been winning until stoppages,” Marotta told DAZN Italia.

“Aside from that, the change was a natural result of Chivu’s daily work in training, the way the team put the work in with the staff, and with all due humility and respect, we got back to the normality of winning ways.

“We are a big club and therefore destined to follow a certain path to go as high as possible. We are second in the table, facing the reigning champions of Italy, so we need an extraordinary performance. You can just sense the atmosphere from the fans in this stadium and how important the game is.”

Inter missed out on the Scudetto in a battle that raged to the final day last season, and this is another head-to-head for top spot, as Milan were held 2-2 by Pisa last night.

It had been said that the Nerazzurri squad needed to revolutionised, but Chivu is doing well with practically the same players Simone Inzaghi had last season.

“It’s not an alibi, but Chivu had his first official game in charge during the Club World Cup, just days after the end of the previous season. It was atypical, so was the fact we could not have a ‘normal’ pre-season training routine,” added Marotta.

“We managed eventually to deal with these situations, but nobody should be surprised at how good a coach Chivu is. We evaluated this choice and knew who we were dealing with, so we’re not surprised that he is now respected by many who had criticised him.”

Napoli director Giovanni Manna assures Antonio Conte’s complaints are ‘not alibis,’ but also warns they don’t want to ‘get sucked into a negative vortex’ ahead of facing Inter.

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the Liveblog.

This was the Scudetto showdown last season and could well be again, especially after leaders AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Pisa last night.

It is crisis time for the Partenopei, who lost four of their last seven competitive games, including a 6-2 mauling by PSV Eindhoven midweek.

Napoli looking for way back from crisis

“When we win or lose, it is always as a team,” Manna told DAZN Italia.

Conte had complained repeatedly that Napoli needed time to find their form after bringing in nine new faces, which was reiterated by Manna.

“The coach said things we’ve been saying since the start of the season, as we needed to change nine players and that is not an alibi. Conte speaks for the good of Napoli, it is only normal that with so many changes, it will take a while to recreate the right alchemy.

“If we add some serious injuries, as Rrahmani only played two games, Buongiorno just returned, we were without seven players against Torino, it makes consistency difficult.

“We are not happy, as we suffered a heavy defeat making mistakes that were not like us. Now we want to get back on track, we’re against an Inter side who are in incredible form, brought in some fresh faces to reinvigorate them, so it’s going to be tough.”

Alex Meret fractured a finger in training, joining Rasmus Hojlund, Stanislav Lobotka, Amir Rrahmani and Romelu Lukaku on the treatment table.

Rather than start Lorenzo Lucca, who was sent off in the Champions League after another misfiring performance, it is David Neres chosen as a False 9.

“These are important absences, as we are missing the spine of the team. If you are out for 10 days, you miss four games now. Again, this is not an alibi, it is just something to be acknowledged. We don’t want to be sucked into a negative vortex that would not be helpful to anyone,” concluded Manna.

“Neres is an alternative, he has quality and pace, the game lasts 90 minutes and changes are important. It is a different tactical solution.”

{rsn-live-v2}

“Napoli” rəhbərliyi komandanın iki gənc oyunçusu – hücumçu Cüzeppe Ambrozino və yarımmüdafiəçi Antonio Verqara ilə yeni müqavilə imzalayıb.

Komanda.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə məlumat İtaliya klubunun rəsmi saytında yer alıb. Yeni razılaşmaya əsasən, hər iki futbolçu 2030-cu ilin yayına qədər “Napoli”nin heyətində qalacaq.

Verqara klubun akademiyasının yetirməsidir. O, bu mövsüm əsas komandada 1 oyuna çıxıb. Ambrozino isə “Napoli”yə 2013-cü ildə qoşulub. Onun hesabında əsas heyətdə 2 oyun var.

“Napoli” “Qarabağ”ın UEFA Çempionlar Liqasındakı rəqiblərindən biridir.

The post “Qarabağ”ın rəqibindən 2 futbolçusu ilə yeni müqavilə appeared first on Komanda.az.