A Game-Changing Call Steals the Spotlight in Napoli vs Inter

The Controversial Call That Opened the Door

In a showdown billed as a heavyweight clash, Napoli hosted Inter Milan at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, and a decision by referee Maurizio Mariani dominated the narrative. About a half-hour into the first half, Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo charged into the Inter area and fouled Henrikh Mkhitaryan, sending both players to the turf. The whistle stayed silent for several tense seconds as play continued, and almost ten seconds later a penalty was awarded, provoking a roar of protest from Inter and their bench.

The on-field decision prompted scrutiny, and although the video assistant referee was consulted, Mariani kept his call without signaling a review of the screen, allowing Napoli to convert the opening goal amid the protests. Those who watched closely argued that the contact did not justify a foul, and the argument only intensified as analysts weighed in on whether the call should have stood.

"Not a penalty," proclaimed analysts who argued that Di Lorenzo initiated contact and that Mkhitaryan’s run was more of a natural challenge than a foul on Acerbi, the Inter defender. Francesco Acerbi was cited by pundits as having merely cleared the ball, with no clear evidence of a foul that warranted a spot-kick.

Inter’s frustration was palpable, but the scoring stood, and Napoli took the earliest advantage in a match that would go on to sparkle with attacking intent from both sides.

Inter’s European Start vs Napoli’s European and Domestic Form

Across Europe, Inter began their Champions League campaign with a strong away win at Ajax (2-0), followed by a 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague with Lautaro Martínez bagging a brace and a late contribution from Dumfries, and a 4-0 triumph over Union Saint-Gilloise. The Italian side had punched in nine goals and conceded none, placing them third in the group behind Paris Saint‑Germain and Bayern Munich on goal difference, a reminder that European nights can be as punishing as they are rewarding.

Back in Serie A, Inter faced tougher tests, suffering surprising losses to Udinese (2-1) and Juventus (4-3). Yet they recovered against the rest of their schedule, collecting 15 points from the remaining matches: a 5-0 thrashing of Torino, a 2-1 win over Sassuolo, a 2-0 triumph against Cagliari, a 4-1 win over Cremonese, and a 1-0 victory at Roma. This run left them in second place, one point behind Milan, with both teams sitting on 15 and 16 points respectively after seven games. Across all competitions, a six-match winning streak under their new coach kept the momentum going.

A Napoli snapshot: This season Napoli returned to two competitions—Serie A and the Champions League—and began their continental campaign with a 2-0 loss to Manchester City, followed by a 2-1 win over Sporting CP and a heavy 6-2 defeat away to PSV Eindhoven. After three group games they sat on three points, a reminder that progress on multiple fronts can be a rocky road. In the league, Napoli have also been active, posting a string of victories against Sassuolo, Cagliari, Fiorentina, Spezia, and Genoa, while dropping points against Milan at San Siro (2-1) and Torino (1-0). With 15 points from seven matches, they sit in a tight pack in the standings, equal in points with Inter and Roma, and chasing leaders Milan.

In Europe, Napoli opened with a difficult test against City, recovered with a 2-1 win over Sporting, and then fell heavily at Eindhoven, leaving them with 3 points from 3 games. The season so far shows a Napoli capable of big moments but also vulnerable to the tougher tasks of the continental stage.

Ending on a lighter note, football refereeing continues to be the sport’s favorite soap opera: the crowd roars, the analysts debate, and the ball still somehow finds its way into the net. And yes, if VAR ever starts taking coffee breaks, we’ll all be sipping popcorn in the stands. Punchline 1: If this penalty was a weather forecast, it would read: partly wrong with a chance of VAR miracles. Punchline 2: Napoli found the headlines; Inter found the punchlines.