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In a fiery Serie A encounter on Saturday, reigning champions Napoli claimed a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan, but the headlines weren’t just about the scoreline. The match turned contentious as Napoli manager Antonio Conte and Inter captain Lautaro Martinez were embroiled in a heated spat on the sidelines, overshadowing the action on the pitch.
Napoli clinches top-spot victory
Napoli’s triumph saw them climb to the top of the Serie A table, edging AC Milan by a single point. The match featured standout performances, with Scott McTominay ending his goal drought by netting a brace. McTominay, who had struggled in the league following his opening goal against Sassuolo, found his rhythm again after Napoli’s Champions League thrashing of PSV earlier this week.
Kevin De Bruyne also contributed to Napoli’s victory, opening the scoring in the 33rd minute from the penalty spot. Despite this, the Manchester City legend had to leave the pitch prematurely due to an injury sustained while taking the penalty. Frank Anguissa later sealed the three points with a 66th-minute strike, while Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty temporarily reduced Inter’s deficit.
Conte vs Martinez: A sideline showdown
The match’s most talked-about moment occurred around the hour mark when tensions flared between Conte and Martinez. The argument, initially sparked between players, escalated to the sidelines, where the manager and striker exchanged insults in full view of cameras.
Martinez appeared to mock Conte, gesturing and seemingly saying, "You are sh**** yourself." Conte’s fiery retort (as reported by Daniele Mari) included a provocative gesture and a sharp comeback: "Wrap your laughing gear around this."
This wasn’t the first clash between the two. During Conte’s final year at Inter in the 2020-21 season, Martinez had reacted angrily after being substituted, leading to a memorable confrontation. That incident eventually ended on a lighter note, with the manager and forward donning boxing gloves during a training session for a mock knockout bout to settle their differences amicably.
Match takeaways
While the Conte-Martinez altercation captured attention, Napoli’s performance was decisive. The combination of De Bruyne’s precision, McTominay’s resurgence, and Anguissa’s finishing secured a statement win for the champions, reinforcing their credentials in the title race. Meanwhile, Inter will need to regroup ahead of their upcoming fixtures, mindful of both their on-field struggles and the distractions caused by player-manager tensions.
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