Napoli are level with the Rossoneri, with Inter just one point behind after their impressive 4-0 victory over Como. In the same week, Napoli beat Juventus in a big game for Antonio Conte’s team. The three title contenders had spectacular performances.
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In some ways, this is possibly the most competitive Serie A title race in years. This is not only because there are three teams competing for the Scudetto, but also because there is no clear favorite to win the league.
While Inter recover under Cristian Chivu, Napoli is dealing with the pressure of playing in the Champions League. Milan enjoy the benefits of not having European football, but with Max Allegri just a few months away from taking the job, he is still getting to grips with the team. This is making the title race a very interesting dynamic, and all three competitors probably have pretty good squads.
A few weeks ago, Roma also found themselves in the race. They have fallen because their team simply has too many holes to play in Gian Piero Gasperini’s style, but the Giallorossi are also just four points behind league leaders Milan. Losing to both Napoli and Milan has proven costly, but otherwise they could have been in the running despite obvious squad problems.
In the past, the race typically featured two teams, and in December, fans could identify a favorite. That favorite would eventually win the league as well. Even if the title race were to drag on, it would be two teams and not three. That’s why Serie A this season feels different.
None of Milan, Napoli or Inter can fail. This is because of the teams behind them and how they can take advantage of any opportunity.
Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN