(Football news) Serie A returns from its mid-winter break and will feature a heavyweight contest between leaders Napoli and Inter Milan at the San Siro. The side from Naples are seeking a first Scudetto for more than 30 years, as they are eight points clear at the top of the table following 11 league wins in a row. Inter, meanwhile, aren’t having the best season as they have stumbled several times on the road and are 11 points adrift of their southern rivals. During a long mid-winter break, the Neapolitans were in friendly action as they got wins over Antalyaspor and Crystal Palace and suffered defeats to Villarreal and Lille but the goals continued to flow for a prolific front line.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen have both shone brightly as they have been the lynchpin towards their success. They first must end a losing streak against Inter at San Siro; as they have been beaten on each of their last four visits to San Siro. Inter turned up for their return to competitive action with four friendly wins from five and a 1-1 draw against Real Betis during the World Cup break. For all their woes outside of Milan, Simone Inzaghi’s squad – who have toiled without the injured Romelu Lukaku leading their attack – still managed to win six from seven at home in Serie A before that streak came to a halt. Throughout 2022, no team netted at least three times in more home games than Inter; only Napoli matched their tally of eight. Now aiming to pick up where they left off after edging out Atalanta 3-2 in their final fixture of last year.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Lukaku

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Jesus, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

AC Milan will be aiming to move within five points of Serie A leaders Napoli when they travel to Salernitana on Wednesday. The Italian champions recorded a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina, while Salernitana suffered a 3-0 loss to Monza in their last match before the World Cup break. The Red and Blacks are currently second in the table and have 33 points from their 15 league matches after a record of 10 wins, three draws and two defeats which is subsequently better than last year’s title winning campaign at the same stage.

Milan are still eight points behind leaders Napoli, but they will have the chance to cut the gap to five points before Napoli face a stern test away to Inter Milan on Wednesday night. Stefano Pioli’s side won the title last season as they finished two points ahead of second-placed Inter Milan, but they know now that they have a serious fight on their hands to retain the Scudetto this term. Milan have the fifth-best away record in Serie A this season, dropping points in four of their last seven matches, while they will be taking on a Salernitana who have lost just two of their seven games at home.

Salernitana possible starting lineup:

Sepe; Bronn, Daniliuc, Pirola; Mazzocchi, Coulibaly, Radovanovic, Maggiore, Bradaric; Dia, Piatek

AC Milan possible starting lineup:

Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Thiaw, Tomori, T Hernandez; Tonali, Bennacer; Krunic, Diaz, Leao; Giroud

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