Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri is trying to down play expectations that his side is set to become the main challenger to Milan in the Serie A title race.
Napoli trail Milan by four points but have won plaudits for their attacking style of play and won five of their last seven league games, with Sampdoria next up tomorrow.
“I’m not interested in being Milan’s main rival as that would only distract us,” Mazzarri said. “I want us to win every game, any defeat is hard to take and you take that pain with you until the next match.”
Napoli’s only losses in 2011 have come against Inter, 3-1 in the league and on penalties in the Italian Cup on Wednesday.
After the quarterfinals loss both Mazzarri and Inter coach Leonardo called for Italian Cup matches to go straight to penalties if the teams were tied after 90 minutes, to limit players’ fatigue.
“We have to get used to playing every three days as it is vital for our development,” Mazzarri said. “I know the character of my players and know they will come back as quickly as they can.”
For Inter the win was a way of restoring confidence ahead of its match with Palermo after losing 3-1 to Udinese last Sunday.
The win against Napoli was Inter’s first clean sheet in seven games and the side has badly missed Argentina defender Walter Samuel since he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Andrea Ranocchia, who played the full 120 minutes against Napoli, joined Inter from Genoa at the start of the transfer window and Leonardo hopes he can help fill the gap left by Samuel.
“He looked good,” Inter coach Leonardo said. “He had to fit into a new team and he did so. It was a difficult match, but he is just as good as any of our other defenders.”
The 22-year-old Ranocchia arrived on a five-year deal but has yet to start a league game for Inter.
“As time goes by I will get to know my teammates and get to know the system better,” Ranocchia said, “but it is a pleasure to play in this Inter team.”
Milan travel to Catania today having got its title challenge back on track with a 2-0 win against Cesena last time out, following consecutive draws.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side also reached the Italian Cup semifinals in midweek, with new signings Mark van Bommel and Urby Emanuelson making their debuts.
“Van Bommel had a good game,” Allegri said. “In the first half he took his time to get used to his role, but did well in the second. Him and Emanuelson showed that they can be two important players for us.”
Also today, it’s: Lazio vs. Fiorentina.
Tomorrow, it’s: Brescia vs. Chievo Verona; Bologna vs. AS Roma; Cagliari vs. Bari; Genoa vs. Parma; Lecce vs. Cesena; and Juventus vs. Udinese.
Serie A: Today
Catania-Milan
Lazio-Fiorentina
Tomorrow
Bologna-Roma
Brescia-Chievo
Cagliari-Bari
Genoa-Parma
Inter-Palermo
Juventus-Udinese
Lecce-Cesena
Napoli-Sampdoria
Serie B
Yesterday
Empoli-Varese 1-1
Tomorrow
Albinoleffe-Ascoli
Crotone-Torino
Novara-Cittadella
Padova-Modena
Pescara-Triestina
Piacenza-Reggina
Sassuolo-Portogruaro
Siena-Livorno
Vicenza-Grosseto
Monday
Frosinone-Atalanta
Lega Pro 1A
Tomorrow
Lumezzane-Salernitana
Lega Pro 1 B
Tomorrow
Virtus Lanciano-Viareggio