ROME (AP) — Antonio Conte’s Napoli has been unbeatable since mid-August. Now comes the real test. The Serie A leader will travel to the San Siro twice for games at AC Milan and Inter Milan in a space of less than two weeks and also play Atalanta and Roma over its next four matches.
The rough stretch starts on Tuesday at Milan. If Napoli can keep the lead or stay near the top after these four games, the Partenopei will be a serious contender for their second Italian title in three years — an achievement that would improve upon the two “scudetti” in four years that the club won with Diego Maradona in 1987 and 1990. Having won eight of its last nine matches — interrupted only by a 0-0 draw at Juventus in September — Napoli hasn’t lost since getting beat by Hellas Verona in its Serie A opener on Aug.
18 . “We have amassed the points we needed to,” Conte said, “and now it’s never a walk in the park to play at the San Siro — whether it’s against Inter or Milan.” Since the loss to Verona, Napoli has scored 16 goals and conceded two.
But Conte’s side could be challenged by a Milan team that is rested after its match on Saturday was postponed due to flooding in Bologna. Two key Milan players are suspended, though: Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders. “Milan is certainly a strong team, who let us not forget was 22 points clear of Napoli last season and invested heavily on the transfer market,” Conte said.
After winning Serie A under Luciano Spallett.
