Inter Milan beat Napoli 3-0 to top Serie A

The match unfolded with an intense start as Eljif Elmas, making only his fourth start of the season for Napoli, nearly etched his mark on the game within three minutes. He unleashed a spectacular long-range shot, skillfully handled by Yann Sommer, deflecting it just past the post.

Inter Milan continued their aggressive pursuit of a goal in the opening fifteen minutes. Marcus Thuram combined brilliantly with Lautaro Martínez, finding the net, but Thuram was marginally offside when receiving the return pass, nullifying the goal.

The game briefly paused when Stefan de Vrij sustained an injury, forcing him to exit the match in the 18th minute. Despite this disruption, Elmas persistently tested Sommer with another close-range strike shortly after.

Both teams relentlessly exchanged attacks as the first half progressed. Matteo Politano came close with an impressive strike that rattled the crossbar, while Martínez's swift move behind Giovanni Di Lorenzo was thwarted by a courageous save from Meret.

The match saw its breathtaking opener in the 44th minute when Hakan Çalhanoğlu unleashed an unstoppable strike, evading the goalkeeper's reach and marking his fifth goal in the last eight appearances.

Çalhanoğlu continued to make an impact defensively, preventing Victor Osimhen from executing a bicycle kick. Napoli emerged fiercely after the break, with Sommer showcasing impressive goalkeeping skills to deflect Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's powerful attempt.

Resilient against Napoli's pressure, Inter doubled their lead after the hour mark. Martínez found Nicolò Barella, who skillfully weaved through Napoli's defense, scoring his first goal of the season.

Despite Denzel Dumfries sustaining an injury, Inter displayed dominance. Marcus Thuram capitalized on Juan Cuadrado's low cross, sealing an emphatic victory.

This outstanding performance extended Inter's unbeaten streak in all competitions to 12 matches, propelling them back to the top spot in Serie A. Napoli suffered their third defeat in the last four fixtures, remaining winless in their previous six games at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.