'Inter and Napoli favourites to win the Scudetto'

Juve coach Motta predicts ahead of Sunday's clash with Inzaghi's side

MILAN:

Inter Milan and Napoli are the favourites to win the Serie A title, Juventus manager Thiago Motta said ahead of Sunday's league visit to rivals Inter.

"It's clear that the favourites to win the league are Napoli and Inter, they have won the last two Scudetti. Tomorrow, we have to face Inter with focus and courage," Motta told reporters on Saturday.

Juventus have been the most successful team in the Italian top flight, winning the title 36 times with their most recent triumph in 2020.

In the four seasons since, Inter have won the league twice, while Napoli and AC Milan have each taken it once.

Juve finished third last season but there was a gap of 23 points between them and champions Inter, who collected 94 points.

In the 2022-2023 season, when Napoli claimed the title with 90 points, Juve finished seventh, trailing by 28 points.

Juve currently sit third with 16 points, just one behind second-placed Inter and three points behind leaders Napoli.

Asked if the gap had narrowed, Motta, who is in his first season in charge, said: "It's not me who thinks it has, the facts speak for themselves."

Juventus suffered their first defeat of the season on Tuesday, losing 1-0 at home to VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League, but the coach said his players had already put the setback behind them.

"There's no need to work on mentality, the guys are in good shape. Understandably, in an historic team like ours, the expectations are extremely high," Motta said. "It's the first defeat that's happened this season. Even when we win, we move on just the same. There's no time to celebrate or dwell on a victory. The past is in the past; Stuttgart is behind us, and now we're going to play Inter."

Juventus have managed 11 goals in eight games in Serie A and Inter have scored 17 -- the second best tally behind Atalanta's 18.

Inzaghi talks up Juve's title hopes ahead of Derby d'Italia

Inter Milan strolled to their Serie A title win last season but their manager anticipates a much tighter Scudetto battle this time, with Sunday's opponents Juventus among the hardest opponents, Simone Inzaghi said on Saturday.

Inzaghi's side had a winning margin of 19 points over city rivals AC Milan last season but, as they prepare to host Juventus in the Derby d'Italia, Inter are two points behind leaders Napoli, and just one ahead of Juve.

"I don't like to talk much about favourites and things like that," Inzaghi told reporters. "This year it will be a more balanced championship than usual; many teams have spent a lot to close the gap that had been created.

"Juventus are the best team in Europe in terms of goals conceded, they have an excellent coach who I really like and they have invested a lot. They will remain protagonists throughout the year."

While Juve coach Motta, along with Napoli's Antonio Conte, continue to play down their own chances of winning the title, Inzaghi's success does not allow him that luxury.

"I don't know if it's a strategy or something else, I can only speak for myself," Inzaghi said. "We know that we start from the beginning of the season with clear goals, to play as many games as possible to ensure that we get as far as possible in the cups and try to be competitive in the league."

Inter come into the clash with injury concerns. Defender Francesco Acerbi is still out with a thigh injury sustained in the last league game, a 1-0 win at AS Roma, and midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu also went off injured that day. Kristjan Asllani could be in line to replace Calhanoglu, if he can recover from his own injury which has kept him out of Inter's last two games. REUTERS