The race for the Serie A title reaches a fever pitch tonight, Sunday, January 11, 2026, as league leaders Inter Milan host defending champions Napoli at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Kick-off is set for 19:45 GMT (20:45 local time).
In a clash that could define the second half of the season, Cristian Chivu’s resurgent Inter side looks to tighten their grip on the top spot, while Antonio Conte returns to his former home seeking to close a four-point gap.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Serie A (Matchday 20)
Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT / 20:45 local / 14:45 ET
Venue: San Siro (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza), Milan
Referee: Daniele Doveri
Broadcast: Paramount+ (US), TNT Sports (UK), DAZN (Italy)
The Storyline: Chivu’s Charge vs. Conte’s Tactical Masterclass
Inter Milan: Seeking the Seven-Point Gap
Under the guidance of Cristian Chivu, the Nerazzurri have been a dominant force. Following a 2–0 midweek victory over Parma, Inter sits at the summit with 42 points. Currently on a six-game winning streak, Chivu’s side has a chance to move seven points clear of the reigning champions. Chivu noted in his pre-match presser: "This game can influence the trajectory of our season."
Napoli: Conte’s Return to the San Siro
Antonio Conte returns to the stadium where he once led Inter to a Scudetto, this time with a mission to bring Napoli back into striking distance. Napoli currently sits in third place, four points behind Inter. After a frustrating 2–2 draw with Hellas Verona, Conte knows a win tonight would reduce the gap to a single point, potentially blowing the title race wide open once again.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Inter Milan Team News
Absentees: Denzel Dumfries and Davide Frattesi are ruled out.
Selection: Manuel Akanji is expected to continue his run of playing 100% of available minutes this season. Lautaro Martínez leads the line, looking to add to his 10-goal tally.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Martínez, Thuram.
Napoli Team News
Injury Crisis: Napoli arrives heavily depleted. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Billy Gilmour, and David Neres are all sidelined.
AFCON Miss: Frank Anguissa is away on international duty with Cameroon.
New Look: With Neres out, Conte is expected to field Matteo Politano and Eljif Elmas behind the in-form Danish striker Rasmus Højlund.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus; Spinazzola, Lobotka, McTominay, Gutiérrez; Politano, Elmas; Højlund.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Historical Edge: This is the 160th Serie A meeting. Inter holds 70 wins compared to Napoli’s 48.
San Siro Fortress: Inter is unbeaten in their last eight home league matches against Napoli (W5, D3).
Defensive Prowess: Inter has conceded only 15 goals this season, while Napoli has allowed 14—the second and third best defenses in the league behind Roma and Como.
Calhanoglu vs. Napoli: Hakan Calhanoglu has scored four times against the Partenopei in an Inter shirt, making them his favorite target.
Tactical Analysis: Midfield Grit vs. Clinical Finishing
The battle in the engine room will be decisive. Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu will look to dictate the tempo, while Napoli’s Scott McTominay and Stanislav Lobotka must provide a defensive screen to protect a back three that looked vulnerable against Verona. Federico Dimarco remains the primary creative outlet for Inter, with a league-high eight goal involvements for a defender this term.
Match Prediction
Despite Napoli’s resilience under Conte, their extensive injury list makes this a monumental task. Inter’s momentum and home advantage give them the edge in a match likely to be decided by a single moment of quality.
Final Score Prediction: Inter Milan 1–0 Napoli
