Inter and Napoli Finish in 2-2 Draw as Serie A Title Race Stays Unpredictable

Key Takeaways:

• Inter and Napoli battled to an exhilarating 2:2 draw in the 20th round of Serie A, keeping the title chase highly competitive
• Scott McTominay scored twice for Napoli, bringing his tally against Inter to four goals this season
• Inter missed the chance to build a seven-point gap at the top as Milan’s earlier draw and the leaders’ stalemate maintained a close race

Match Analysis: Missed Opportunities and Momentum Shifts

On Sunday evening at the Giuseppe Meazza, Inter and Napoli produced a high-octane Serie A derby that ended 2:2, maintaining the tight competition at the summit. The Nerazzurri appeared set to move clear at the top when Federico Dimarco found the net in the 10th minute, capitalising on precise play from Piotr Zieliński. Inter dominated the early stages and created three golden opportunities to kill off the match, yet failed to convert these chances, leaving their lead vulnerable.

With a spectacular brace, Scott McTominay is the Panini Player of the Match for #InterNapoli 🏆👏 pic.twitter.com/R5zsKHaZ6R

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) January 11, 2026

Napoli, though initially unsettled, levelled through Scott McTominay after a slick move in the 26th minute. Despite more attacking intent from both sides, the teams entered the break with the score level. The drama resumed in the second half, with Hakan Çalhanoğlu restoring Inter’s advantage from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute after a VAR review and a red card for Antonio Conte, who reacted furiously to the decision. However, McTominay struck again in the 81st minute – his fourth goal against Inter this season – salvaging a point for Napoli.

Key Incidents and Controversies

The contest was marked by several contentious refereeing moments. Referee Daniele Doveri adopted a notably lenient approach throughout, refusing to penalise Juan Jesus for two robust challenges on Marcus Thuram, including one that tore the striker’s shirt. The home support voiced their displeasure, particularly when no red or yellow cards were shown during these incidents. Eventually, Jesus received a yellow card for another rash tackle in stoppage time, ruling him out of Napoli’s next Serie A fixture.

Both teams had chances to snatch a late winner. Thuram and Bastoni missed close-range efforts for Inter, whilst Rasmus Højlund and Matteo Politano went close for Napoli. In the dying minutes, Henrikh Mkhitaryan hit the post, and Inter pushed aggressively but were unable to secure maximum points.

Implications for the Title Race

With both sides dropping points, Inter remain just four points above Napoli, while Milan’s draw with Fiorentina earlier also left them in contention. The result keeps Juventus and Roma within touching distance ahead of their upcoming fixtures, raising the prospect of a five-way battle for the Scudetto, subject to other results.

Napoli extended their unbeaten run against Inter since the Supercoppa Italiana in January 2024. Inter’s last Serie A victory over Napoli came in December 2023, while Napoli have not defeated Inter at the Giuseppe Meazza in a league match since 2017.

Tactical Set-Up and Team News

Cristian Chivu made four changes to the Inter line-up from their win against Parma, introducing Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella, Piotr Zieliński, and Marcus Thuram. For the reigning champions, Antonio Conte brought in Alessandro Buongiorno, Juan Jesus, and Leandro Spinazzola while keeping faith with Scott McTominay and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who featured in the previous 2:2 draw with Verona.

Upcoming Fixtures

Napoli now face a manageable stretch with matches against Parma (14 January) and Sassuolo (17 January) before their crucial Champions League meeting with Copenhagen, decisive for knockout phase qualification. Inter, having suffered their first setback of 2026, will look to rebound against Lecce (14 January) and Udinese (17 January), seeking momentum ahead of their Champions League tie with Arsenal on 20 January, where a win would guarantee last-16 qualification.

Match Statistics