Inter Milan look at get Serie A title defence back on track when Napoli visit San Siro

Defending champions seven points behind Spalletti's side and rivals AC Milan

Inter Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw against AC Milan. AP

Inter Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates with teammates after scoring on a penalty kick his side's first goal during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo / Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori celebrates after an own goal by Inter Milan's Stefan de Vrij. AP

Stefan de Vrij (3-R) of Inter scores an own goal. EPA

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli talks to Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the match. Reuters

AC Milan's Ante Rebic, right, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. AP

Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts. Reuters

Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action with Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar. Reuters

Inter Milan's Italian coach Simone Inzaghi during the match. AP

Inter Milan's defence of their Serie A title will be tested again on Sunday when they take on league leaders Napoli hoping to close the seven-point gap between themselves and top spot.

Simone Inzaghi's side trail both Napoli and city rivals AC Milan, both unbeaten and level at the summit, after a series of big matches marked by missed chances and unfortunate refereeing decisions.

Inter drew their derby with Milan before the international break after missing a penalty and wasting several opportunities to secure a win before a late rally from their rivals almost cost them the match.

Now they host Napoli in front of a sold out San Siro with a chance to claw back some of the ground they lost with their controversial draw with Juventus and collapse at Lazio last month.

Inter enter the clash with a minor injury crisis coming to an end, with Edin Dzeko among those who looked to be out but who should be available.

They will be missing starting centre-back Stefan de Vrij but Alessandro Bastoni appears to have recovered from the muscle injury which kept him out of Italy's goalless draw with Northern Ireland on Monday.

Napoli have an almost full squad available for their trip north, with Kalidou Koulibaly back following his suspension for a red card late last month.

Having Koulibaly back for such a huge match is great news for Luciano Spalletti, who returns to the San Siro for the first time since being replaced by Antonio Conte at Inter in 2019.

Napoli will hope Victor Osimhen can carry his international goalscoring form over to club level. The Nigeria forward had been going through an uncharacteristic fallow spell until joining up with his country for recent World Cup qualifiers, with his last Napoli goal coming a month ago against Legia Warsaw.

However, he netted against both Liberia and Cape Verde over the international break, and although the Super Eagles only scraped into the playoffs for next year's tournament in Qatar, Spalletti will be pleased to see the 22-year-old back in the goals.

Waiting to pounce on either side dropping points are Milan, who travel to Florence on Saturday night to take on a Fiorentina side which have most of their backline unavailable.

Juventus, meanwhile, sit 14 points off the pace ahead of their trip to Lazio, who have lost the league's top scorer Ciro Immobile to a calf injury.

Juve also have injury problems as key players again return from their national sides with niggles. Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini and Federico Bernadeschi are all doubts as they try to stay in touch with the Champions League spots.

Massimiliano Allegri's side are four points behind fourth-placed Atalanta, who kick the weekend off at Spezia.

Fixtures (all times UAE)

Saturday

Atalanta v Spezia (6pm), Lazio v Juventus (9pm), Fiorentina v AC Milan (11.45pm)

Sunday

Sassuolo v Cagliari (3.30pm), Bologna v Venezia, Salernitana v Sampdoria (both 6pm), Inter Milan v Napoli (9pm), Genoa v Roma (11.45pm)

Monday

Verona v Empoli (9.30pm), Torino v Udinese (11.45pm)