Inter Milan return to domestic duty on Sunday with a testing trip to Torino, seeking to revive their Serie A title defence after an emotionally charged Champions League semi-final triumph over Barcelona.
While Inter’s dramatic midweek win has electrified their fans and earned them a spot in the final against Paris Saint-Germain in Munich, the pursuit of continental glory has come at a domestic cost. Simone Inzaghi’s squad, stretched thin, now trails league leaders Napoli by three points with just three matches to go.
Inzaghi maintains that Inter have never chosen to prioritise one competition over another. “To sit down and say, ‘I’ll play for that competition and not that one’ is nonsense. We’ve given our all in everything,” he insisted.
Napoli, chasing their fourth Scudetto, appear firmly in control. Antonio Conte’s men have a favourable run-in, starting with Genoa on Sunday, followed by clashes with struggling Parma and Cagliari—two sides likely to be safe from relegation by then. Napoli’s recent form, four straight wins without conceding, suggests the title may already be heading to Naples.
Inter’s remaining schedule is far more daunting. After Torino, they face top-four hopefuls Lazio and red-hot Como, both fighting for Champions League spots.
That fight for Europe promises the most intrigue in the season’s final weeks. Juventus, Roma, and Lazio are all level on 63 points in a tense three-way tie for fourth. Juventus travel to Lazio on Saturday, while Roma—unbeaten in 19 league games—head to Atalanta on Monday. Atalanta, in third place and five points clear of Juve, could clinch Champions League qualification with a win.
Bologna sit just one point behind the trio and open the weekend against AC Milan on Friday. They’ll face Milan again next week in the Coppa Italia final, hoping to end a 51-year trophy drought and book a return to Europe’s top competition.
Player to Watch: Mile Svilar (Roma)
Serbian goalkeeper Mile Svilar has been instrumental in Roma’s strong run, with 111 saves this season—57 from inside the box. His heroics helped secure a narrow win over Fiorentina last week, and he’ll need to be at his best to keep out Atalanta’s Lookman, Retegui, and De Ketelaere.
Weekend Fixtures (GMT):
Friday
- AC Milan v Bologna (18:45)
Saturday
- Como v Cagliari (13:00)
- Lazio v Juventus (16:00)
- Empoli v Parma (18:45)
Sunday
- Udinese v Monza (10:30)
- Verona v Lecce (13:00)
- Torino v Inter (16:00)
- Napoli v Genoa (18:45)
Monday
- Venezia v Fiorentina (16:30)
- Atalanta v Roma (18:45)
