Napoli and AC Milan are set to face each other on Monday as both clubs aim to close the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan. Despite Inter holding a six-point advantage with eight games left in the season, the title race has been revitalized by Napoli and Milan’s recent performances, especially after Inter’s poor run of just two points from their last three matches.
Napoli currently sit one point behind AC Milan, having won their last four games following the resolution of a lengthy injury crisis. However, the reigning champions will be without striker Romelu Lukaku, who has drawn criticism for remaining in Belgium to receive treatment for a hip injury rather than returning to the team.
Yet, these club-level developments are overshadowed by the national team’s latest setback: Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. The disappointment following Tuesday’s penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina has reignited calls for a complete overhaul of Italian football, echoing the reactions to previous World Cup misses.
In a significant development, Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned on Thursday, just two days after initially indicating he would delay his decision. He was soon followed by the national team’s general manager Gianluigi Buffon, with coach Gennaro Gattuso also expected to step down in the near future.
Discussions are now focused on how to restore Italy’s footballing prestige after years of underperformance by the national team and the gradual decline of the country’s top clubs in European competitions. Inter Milan, once Italy’s strongest club on the continent, have also contributed to the current gloom after their surprising Champions League exit at the hands of Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
Inter’s struggles have become emblematic of the broader crisis, with defender Alessandro Bastoni receiving a red card in the first half against Bosnia and young academy graduate Pio Esposito missing the first penalty in the shootout. Meanwhile, Roma will look to shake off their own slump when they face Inter on Sunday, aiming to maintain their pursuit of a top-four finish.
Roma, recently eliminated from the Europa League by Bologna and struggling in Serie A, have a poor record against the league’s top teams and currently trail fourth-placed Como by three points. With Como on a five-game winning streak, Roma risks falling further behind. Currently sixth and level on points with Juventus at 54, Roma’s challenge remains steep.
Inter’s recent dip coincided with the absence of star striker Lautaro Martinez, who has been sidelined with muscular issues since the Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt. However, Martinez is expected to start at San Siro on Sunday against Roma. Leading the Serie A scoring charts with 14 goals, the 28-year-old’s fitness will be crucial for Inter’s title hopes as the season reaches its climax.
Fixtures for the weekend (all times GMT) include Saturday’s matches: Sassuolo vs Cagliari (1300), Verona vs Fiorentina (1600), and Lazio vs Parma (1845). On Sunday, Cremonese face Bologna (1300), Pisa take on Torino (1600), and Inter Milan host Roma (1845). Monday’s schedule features Udinese vs Como (1030), Lecce vs Atalanta (1300), Juventus vs Genoa (1600), and the key clash between Napoli and AC Milan (1845).
