Inter Milan Focused on Serie A Summit Clash with Juventus as Grudge Match Looms

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Napoli's lead at the top of the table is beginning to shrink as Inter closes in on them with back-to-back draws against Roma and Udinese. Despite taking the lead in both matches, Napoli were unable to hold on for the win. Adding to their challenges, Napoli will now have to cope without David Neres, who is set to be sidelined with a thigh injury until early March, stepping in for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The absence of Neres will undoubtedly be a blow for Antonio Conte's team as they look to stay ahead in the title race.

But no team would more like to derail Inter's title defence than Juve, bigger rivals than even AC Milan and in something of a mini-revival after three wins in three in all competitions.

For once Inter benefit from a near-full week's rest between matches thanks to their direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, while Juve battled to a 2-1 first-leg win over PSV Eindhoven in the play-offs on Tuesday.

That rest should help Inter as Marcus Thuram looks to be fit enough to start at the Allianz Stadium after being substituted early on against Fiorentina with an unspecified muscular issue.

Should Thuram be absent it would create problems in attack for coach Simone Inzaghi as Monday's match-winner Marko Arnautovic is also struggling with a thigh knock and Medhi Taremi has failed to make an impact since arriving from Porto.

Juve have been relying on Thuram's France teammate Randal Kolo Muani who has scored five times in his first three Serie A matches after arriving on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and was unlucky not to net against PSV.

Inter and Napoli having such tough away fixtures offers up an opportunity for Atalanta to force their away back into the title conversation when they host strugglers Cagliari on Saturday.

Atalanta are five points behind Napoli in third and will step onto the field at the Gewiss Stadium still angered by the penalty decision which cost them a 2-1 defeat at Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side will have star attacker Ademola Lookman out at the weekend, when the Bergamo-based outfit will no doubt have one eye on Tuesday's second leg of their Champions League play-off.

Player to watch: Moise Kean Italy striker Kean will line up against Como at Sunday lunchtime hoping to help Fiorentina continue their push for Champions League football with three points separating Raffaele's Palladino's team from Lazio.

The 24-year-old is having his best ever season in front of goal and has netted 15 times in 23 Serie A appearances since signing from Juve last summer.

He will take to the field for the first time after exposing the racist abuse he was subjected to online by Inter fans following Fiorentina's defeat at the San Siro.

Key stats 1 - Napoli lead Inter Milan by a single point.

5 - the number of goals separating Kean from top scorer and Italy teammate Mateo Retegui.

Fixtures (times GMT) Friday

Bologna v Torino (1945)

Saturday

Atalanta v Cagliari (1400), Lazio v Napoli (1700), AC Milan v Verona (1945)

Sunday

Fiorentina v Como (1130), Monza v Lecce, Udinese v Empoli (1400), Parma v Roma (1700), Juventus v Inter Milan (1945)

Monday

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Genoa v Venezia (1945)

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)