Napoli today, and a hard draw for the women

The women drew Arsenal, City, Lyon and Real Madrid

Friday's league-phase draw in Nyon gave Inter six opponents in their first season at this stage. At home: Arsenal, Manchester City and Häcken. Away: Lyon, Real Madrid and Austria Wien. It is about the worst that Pot 3 could have handed them.

The six matchdays run September 22–23, September 30–October 1, October 28–29, November 10–11, November 18–19 and December 16.

UEFA writes the French club as OL Lyonnes and Inter's own piece calls them Lione — the same club, renamed. Neither UEFA nor Inter has published kickoff times for the six matchdays yet.

INTER.IT / UEFA.COM · SEPT 4

Emma Kullberg signs — from Juventus, by way of Häcken

Inter announced the Swedish defender this morning. Kullberg, born in 1991, has signed a contract to June 30, 2027. She arrives from Juventus after two seasons there that brought a Serie A title, the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. Before Italy she spent two seasons at Brighton, and before that she won the Swedish championship with Häcken.

The club kept the announcement short: “Il difensore svedese classe 1991 ha firmato con il Club un contratto fino al 30 giugno 2027” — the Swedish defender, born in 1991, has signed through June 30, 2027.

No fee was disclosed. Häcken, the club where she won her title, are one of the three sides Inter will host in the league phase.

INTER.IT · SEPT 5

Napoli at San Siro: sold out, and Sozza in the middle

Matchday 3, Saturday, September 5, at 12:00 PM ET — 18:00 in Milan. Gates open at 10:00 AM ET, 16:00 in Milan. Simone Sozza of the Seregno section referees, with Peretti and Baccini on the lines, Doveri as fourth official, Di Paolo on VAR and Dionisi assisting him.

Inter say the stadium is sold out. The only seats that came free late were season tickets put back by their holders, and the visiting section has gone as well. DAZN has the match exclusively in Italy, and Inter TV starts its pre-match show at 10:45 AM ET, 16:45 in Milan. Parking around the stadium is limited while the site is prepared for construction of the new one.

INTER.IT · SEPT 5

Chivu: “we know how strong they are, but we have to be up to it”

From Friday's press conference at Appiano Gentile. On his team: “Fiduciosa, ha lavorato bene” — confident, and it has trained well. On the opponent: “Il Napoli è arrivata seconda e due anni fa ha vinto il campionato, sappiamo quanto è forte ma dobbiamo essere all'altezza” — Napoli finished second last season and won the title the year before that; we know how strong they are, but we have to be up to it.

On the two Englishmen: “Stanno bene, li abbiamo visti in campo per qualche tratto, avranno la possibilità di far vedere quanto valgono” — they are in good shape, we have seen them in stretches, and they will get their chance to show what they are worth. On Djed Spence: “Spence sta facendo riatletizzazione e smaltendo il suo problema, quando sarà pronto vedrete anche lui” — he is working his way back to full fitness, and you will see him when he is ready.

On the eleven he would say only this: “ho 25 giocatori tutti bravi e le scelte le faccio all'ultimo” — twenty-five good players, and he picks the team at the last minute. Everything the papers have on the lineup prints on pink below.

INTER.IT · SEPT 4

Baccin presented: “profoundly grateful for this beautiful opportunity”

Inter presented Dario Baccin as Chief Sport Officer on Friday at Appiano Gentile, with Giuseppe Marotta beside him. Marotta: “Dario Baccin è una persona e un volto che conoscete bene… Gli diamo un grande benvenuto in questa nuova veste” — a person and a face you know well, and we welcome him warmly in this new role. Baccin: “Sono profondamente grato per questa bellissima opportunità” — profoundly grateful for this beautiful opportunity.

He said the timing meant something to him: it was twenty years to the day since Giacinto Facchetti died. He also credited a decade working alongside Piero Ausilio. Marotta translated the title for anyone who prefers the older vocabulary — Chief Sport Officer is what an earlier generation called the sporting director. Baccin worked with Cristian Chivu in the academy, years before either of them held these jobs.

INTER.IT · SEPT 4

Cagliari 0–1 Inter

10′  Hakan Çalhanoğlu

A right-footed shot from outside the box, past Caprile, and Inter controlled the rest of the afternoon. Six points from two matchdays and five goals scored. There has been no match since, and Napoli is the next one.

Inter.it times the goal at ten minutes and credits no assist; that is the version printed here, as always. The Lega's own table has Inter third after two matchdays.

SERIE A FORM W W · TWO FROM TWO · SIX POINTS