Napoli needed to bounce back after a disappointing week, recovering from a shocking 6-2 loss to PSV in the UEFA Champions League. They succeeded in their 3-1 victory over one of Europe’s top teams, Cristian Chivu’s Inter, at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, demonstrating to their Serie A rivals that they remain the team to beat after last year’s title win.
Antonio Conte was the standout figure in this victory, making significant tactical decisions and getting into a heated exchange with his former striker, Lautaro Martinez.
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After the European disappointment, Conte addressed Sky Italy, expressing his concerns regarding the current season and the numerous players brought in during summer 2025. “Last year was extraordinary, but this year’s balance is off due to so many new players. I’ve always said this season will be challenging.”
De Bruyne scored the opener from a penalty but suffered an injury during the process, prompting a tactical shift. Conte opted for the usual 4-1-4-1 formation, deploying David Neres as the striker instead of a more traditional option.
The most heated moment came when Conte clashed with Lautaro Martinez. Post-match, Conte remarked, “Lautaro is a talented player, but I still need to understand him personally.” Martinez commented on their previous disputes and asserted that their prior disagreements had been resolved: “We had some issues in the past; the team even joked about it by setting up a boxing ring.”
