Conte warns Napoli: 'Parma have always given us trouble'

Inter Milan manager says Napoli must be wary of a tough test against Parma despite their recent strong form.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:40pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic action of a soccer match between Napoli and Parma, with the players' forms abstracted into angular, overlapping geometric shapes and the ball and field blending into a kinetic, energetic composition.Conte's warning about Parma's ability to frustrate Napoli suggests the Serie A title race remains tight, with the two teams' upcoming clash potentially having major implications.Parma Today

Antonio Conte, the manager of Serie A leaders Inter Milan, has warned Napoli that they should not underestimate Parma in their upcoming match. Conte, who previously managed Napoli, said the team has 'always had trouble' against Parma, citing past 0-0 draws between the two sides. Napoli are currently in second place and hoping to keep the pressure on Inter at the top of the table, but Conte cautioned that Parma will provide a stern challenge despite their lower position in the standings.

Why it matters

The Serie A title race remains tight, with Napoli hoping to catch up to Inter Milan at the top of the table. Conte's warning about Parma's ability to frustrate Napoli suggests the match could have major implications in the Scudetto battle, as Napoli cannot afford to drop points against a lower-ranked opponent if they want to stay in the hunt.

The details

Napoli are currently on a five-game winning streak and sit second in the Serie A table, five points behind leaders Inter Milan. However, Conte pointed out that Napoli have historically struggled against Parma, citing 0-0 draws between the two sides in each of the last two seasons. Conte said Napoli will need 'patience and quality' to break down Parma's defensive blocks and find space to score. Parma will be missing several key players through injury, including David Neres, Antonio Vergara, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani and Romelu Lukaku.

  • The match kicks off at 14.00 UK time (15.00 CEST) on April 12, 2026.
  • Inter Milan face a tricky away match against Como later the same day.

The players

Antonio Conte

The manager of Serie A leaders Inter Milan, who previously managed Napoli and is warning them about the threat of Parma.

Rasmus Hojlund

Parma striker who missed the previous match against Milan with a stomach bug but has recovered and will start this game.

Scott McTominay

Parma midfielder who will start alongside Hojlund and Kevin De Bruyne.

Kevin De Bruyne

Parma midfielder who will start alongside Hojlund and McTominay.

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What they’re saying

“We need the right mentality, which is that we have an objective of Champions League qualification to achieve. We are second right now, it is inevitable we will look not only over our shoulders, but also at those in front of us. Naturally, those in front have their fate in their hands.”

— Antonio Conte, Inter Milan Manager

“This is one of the seven remaining games, so whatever result we get, we'll be in a similar situation next week. What I can say is that in my two years at Napoli, we always had trouble with Parma. We drew 0-0 here last season, then 0-0 at home earlier this term. We have struggled to score goals against them, so I expect this to be a tough test.”

— Antonio Conte, Inter Milan Manager

What’s next

Inter Milan face a tricky away match against Como later the same day, which could have implications for the Serie A title race depending on the results of both matches.

The takeaway

The Serie A title race remains tight, with Napoli hoping to catch up to Inter Milan at the top of the table. Conte's warning about Parma's ability to frustrate Napoli suggests the match could have major implications, as Napoli cannot afford to drop points against a lower-ranked opponent if they want to stay in the hunt for the Scudetto.