Napoli returns to title defence in high spirits
After its triumph in the Supercoppa Italiana, Napoli will return to the task of defending its Serie A title full of confidence when it travels to take on Cremonese this weekend.
Napoli beat AC Milan 2-0 in the semi-final and Bologna by the same scoreline in the final to clinch the Supercoppa for the first time since 2014 as Antonio Conte continues to find success in Naples.
Conte won the league title in his first season, and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis sees no reason why the good times should come to an end.
"Did you have any doubts about Conte? Conte is a maestro, so he didn't need long to settle in as a winner," De Laurentiis said after the cup win.
"It is not since the Maradona era that we didn't win two trophies in a single calendar year. I tell the fans, dream away."
The trophy win was a welcome boost after Napoli's loss to Udinese in its most recent league outing which dropped it to third in the standings, one point off second-placed AC Milan and two behind leader Inter Milan.
An away game at Cremonese awaits Conte's side, with the promoted club 11th in the standings after two games without a win, and Napoli will hope David Neres continues his fine run of form.
The Brazilian winger netted three of Napoli's four Supercoppa goals, along with three in its past four league games.
There was also a welcome sight for Conte and the club's fans on the bench in Riyadh.
Romelu Lukaku was named among the substitutes for both games, and while the Belgium striker did not make it on to the pitch, he may be close to a welcome return having not played this campaign after a pre-season thigh injury.
Napoli has also had to do without its other Belgian, Kevin De Bruyne, for the past two months after the midfielder suffered a hamstring injury which required surgery, but so far, Conte has found a way of overcoming whatever adversity comes his way.
While Napoli returned from Saudi Arabia full of festive cheer, Inter limped home after losing to Bologna on penalties, and it is away to Atalanta on Monday (AEDT).
Inter's three-game winning run in the league took it to top spot, but it will face a tough test in Bergamo against an Atalanta side which has won its past two in Serie A and recently defeated Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League.
Milan hosts struggling Hellas Verona on Monday (AEDT). The visitors are third from bottom and battling relegation after failing to win in its opening 13 games but a recovery could be on the cards after two successive wins.
While the top three were in Super Cup action, Juventus beat AS Roma last weekend and is four points off the top with a game more played. It is away to second from bottom Pisa on Sunday (AEDT).
