Inter hadn’t won in Naples this century. Yes, Napoli are having one of their worst seasons of recent times, a team shorn of confidence and belief with no clear idea of how to get out of their rut. But this was still a team with Lorenzo Insigne, Jose Callejon, Fabian Ruiz, Allan and Kostas Manolas playing at home. I had predicted Inter would draw this match because I felt Napoli would start the new year with motivation and focus. The home side had a bit of the former for the first ten minutes and then a bit of the latter in the last ten minutes of the first half. Other than those twenty minutes it never felt to me like Inter were going to drop points.
It bares repeating, Inter hadn’t won away to Napoli this century. In that context, even if they had a smash and grab, hanging by the skin of their teeth win, it would have felt significant. But this was more than that. Inter were tactically more astute than their opponents. They were faster to every ball. They made better decisions throughout the pitch, led in particular by their brilliant front two. And once they re-established a two-goal lead in the second half, they closed out the game with composure and ease. If matters on the pitch weren’t positive enough, there was also the return from injury of the trio of Nicolo Barella, Stefano Sensi and Alexis Sanchez. It’s the perfect tonic for Inter in what promises to be a real tussle for the Serie A title from now till May. Make no mistake — this was a statement win for the Nerazzurri and perhaps the most significant win of Antonio Conte’s brief reign. A timely reminder that Conte after all, does know how to win this league.