Napoli raced into a two-goal lead, but Inter produced a remarkable comeback to turn the match around and send San Siro into celebration.
Inter and Napoli delivered a spectacular afternoon of Serie A Enilive football at San Siro, in a match that had almost everything: intensity, attacking football, dramatic momentum swings and five goals after the break.
In the end, it was Inter who claimed all three points after completing a stunning comeback. Napoli came agonisingly close to victory, but the hosts refused to surrender and eventually turned the game on its head.
Inter dominate, but Napoli create the clearest chances
The first half was played at a remarkable pace despite the heat still hanging over San Siro. Inter immediately took control of possession and went close to opening the scoring within seconds, as Diouf’s dangerous effort forced Meret into an early save.
Napoli, wearing red for the occasion, initially focused on protecting their penalty area and absorbing Inter’s pressure. Yet as the half progressed, the visitors began to create the more dangerous opportunities.
Anguissa came particularly close on two occasions. The first required an outstanding save from J. Martinez, while the second was stopped by a decisive intervention from Akanji.
Hojlund also had an opportunity but failed to make the most of his chance in front of goal.
Inter responded before the interval. Lautaro Martinez tested Meret from a difficult angle, while Dimarco came even closer when his free-kick beat the goalkeeper but struck the crossbar.
The game was already entertaining. After the break, it became extraordinary.
Napoli strike twice in three minutes
Chivu introduced Thuram and Jones at half-time, hoping to give Inter fresh momentum.
Instead, Napoli delivered a devastating blow.
On 50 minutes, the visitors broke forward on the counter-attack and quickly found themselves inside the Inter penalty area. J. Martinez denied Alisson, while Barella made a crucial sacrifice to prevent Politano from finishing.
But the former Inter winger remained involved in the move. He collected the loose ball and fired Napoli into the lead.
Inter immediately tried to respond, but Meret produced another superb save to deny Zielinski and preserve Napoli’s advantage.
Then came the second blow.
Just three minutes later, Hojlund doubled Napoli’s lead with a precise left-footed finish from outside the area, sending the ball into the bottom corner beyond the goalkeeper.
At 2-0 down, Inter appeared to be in serious trouble.
But the hosts were far from finished.
Lautaro starts the comeback
Inter pulled one goal back in the 56th minute.
Dimarco delivered the assist, and Lautaro Martinez showed his determination by sliding in ahead of his marker to turn the ball home.
The goal completely changed the atmosphere inside San Siro.
Inter began throwing everything forward, with Thuram at the centre of almost every dangerous attack.
The French forward first struck the post after making contact with the ball awkwardly with his shoulder. Moments later, he lifted another effort over the crossbar from a promising position.
Napoli were under increasing pressure.
Thuram completes the comeback
Inter’s relentless attacking finally paid off in the 82nd minute.
Thuram rose above Badiashile with impressive determination and headed the ball home to make it 2-2.
San Siro erupted.
What had looked like a comfortable Napoli victory only minutes earlier had suddenly become a completely different match.
And yet Napoli still had opportunities to regain the lead.
Neres sent an effort over the crossbar from a good position, while Anguissa narrowly failed to convert a chance from just a few steps out.
The visitors had come within touching distance of victory.
Instead, Inter delivered the final twist.
The captain has the final word
Deep into stoppage time, with the match seemingly destined for another dramatic turn, Inter’s captain stepped up.
Lautaro Martinez found the decisive touch in a crowded penalty area, solving the scramble with a perfectly timed finish to complete Inter’s extraordinary comeback.
From 0-2 down to 3-2 winners.
Napoli had the lead. They had the chances. They had even been within minutes of taking all three points.
But Inter never stopped believing.
Inter celebrate, Napoli left to regret what might have been
It was a match that showcased everything that makes Serie A so compelling.
Inter controlled large portions of the first half, Napoli threatened repeatedly on the counter, and the second half produced five goals and almost continuous attacking action.
For Chivu’s side, the victory represents far more than three points. Coming back from two goals down demonstrated character, resilience and an extraordinary refusal to give up.
For Napoli, the feeling will be very different.
They had the victory in their hands after building a two-goal advantage, only to watch it disappear in the final stages.
Inter fly. Napoli are left with the regret of a victory that was so close—and ultimately slipped away.
