Allegri says Inter’s comeback against Napoli proves football can defy logic

Massimiliano Allegri said Inter’s remarkable comeback against Napoli demonstrated that football cannot always be explained by logic after his side surrendered a two-goal lead in Serie A.

Inter recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the third round of the competition, scoring all five goals after half-time. The result kept Inter at the top of the Serie A table with nine points, although several teams could draw level with them if they win their games.

Napoli, meanwhile, remain on three points and sit 10th.

Speaking to DAZN after the match, Allegri said: “The match was enjoyable for the fans, but less enjoyable for us.”

He added: “We could have scored the winning goal and so could Inter when the score was 2-2, but Inter scored and won. This is proof that football goes beyond logic. We wanted to defend inside the penalty area, then we conceded a goal in that way.”

Allegri also acknowledged that Napoli’s defensive performance had fallen well below the required standard.

“We have to perform better because we conceded three goals in half an hour,” he said.

The comeback was historic for Inter, who won against Napoli from two goals behind for the first time. It also provided another example of the dramatic matches associated with the club’s long-standing “Pazza Inter” identity.

Inter have traditionally been nicknamed “Pazza Inter”, or “Crazy Inter”, a reference to the unpredictable circumstances in which they have secured victories. The club’s official song once carried the same name because of those unusual winning scenarios, although former Inter manager Antonio Conte later decided to remove it.

The match also brought a significant personal milestone for Inter captain Lautaro Martinez. His goal took him level with Stefano Nyers in third place on the club’s all-time scoring list, with both players having scored 133 goals for Inter.

Only two players are ahead of them. Giuseppe Meazza leads the rankings with 197 goals, while Benito Lorenzi is second with 138.

Despite taking control of the match after falling two goals behind, Inter were also close to conceding a decisive goal when the score stood at 2-2. Napoli had an opportunity to regain the lead, but Inter ultimately found the finish that changed the game and completed the comeback.

For Allegri, the result underlined the fine margins involved in top-level football. Napoli had looked capable of securing victory after building a two-goal advantage, yet Inter’s response turned the game around and moved them to the summit.

The result leaves Inter with maximum points from their opening three matches. Napoli’s defeat, by contrast, leaves them with only one win from their first three league games and in 10th place in the early standings.