Napoli and AC Milan renew title chase as Italy reels from World Cup failure

Rome: Napoli and AC Milan are set to meet on Monday in a key Serie A fixture with leaders Inter Milan still in view, although the resumption of domestic football over Easter has been eclipsed by the fallout from Italy’s failure to qualify for another World Cup.

Inter, six points clear of Milan with eight matches left, would normally be considered favourites to move closer to a 21st league title when they host Roma on Sunday. However, the title race has tightened again after Napoli and Milan revived their challenge, aided by Inter taking only two points from their last three league outings before the international break.

Napoli sit one point behind Milan after winning their last four matches, a run that followed the end of what had been described as a near-season-long injury crisis. They will, however, be without Romelu Lukaku after the Belgium forward angered the reigning champions by remaining in his home country for treatment on a hip issue.

Even so, the dispute over Lukaku, the weekend’s marquee clash and the title contest have all been pushed into the background by the national team’s latest setback. Italy’s defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Hercegovina in Tuesday’s play-off means the country has now failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

The response has mirrored the reaction to the previous two qualification failures, with calls for sweeping change across Italian football. Football federation chief Gabriele Gravina resigned on Thursday afternoon, having said two days earlier that he would wait a week before deciding his future. National team general manager Gianluigi Buffon also stepped down, while coach Gennaro Gattuso is expected to leave in the coming days.

Pressure grows across Italian football

The debate in Italy has now turned to how the country can restore its standing after repeated disappointments at international level and a prolonged decline among its leading clubs in European competition.

Inter had been the one Italian side still competing with Europe’s elite, but they too added to the gloom after being eliminated from the Champions League by Bodo/Glimt of Norway. Cristian Chivu’s team has also come to reflect the wider malaise, with defender Alessandro Bastoni sent off in the first half against Bosnia and academy graduate Pio Esposito blazing over the opening penalty in the shoot-out.

Roma, meanwhile, will try on Saturday to ease their own frustrations by keeping alive their push for a top-four finish. After their Europa League exit to Bologna and inconsistent league form, Roma have struggled badly against the division’s strongest sides and are three points behind fourth-placed Como.

With Como travelling to Udinese on the back of five straight wins, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma, who are sixth and level on 54 points with Juventus, could lose further ground in the race for Champions League qualification.

Martinez boost for Inter

Inter’s recent dip in form has coincided with the absence of Lautaro Martinez, but the Argentina striker is expected to return to the starting line-up at the San Siro on Sunday night.

Martinez has not featured since suffering muscular problems during Inter’s heavy home defeat to Bodo/Glimt. In the five league matches played without him, Inter have collected eight points.

The 28-year-old is the leading scorer in Serie A with 14 goals, and Inter will be hoping he remains fit through the closing weeks of the campaign as they seek to steady their title bid.