ROME — Antonio Conte’s Naples has been unbeatable since mid-August.

Now comes the real test.

The Serie A leaders will travel to the San Siro twice for matches against AC Milan and Inter Milan in less than two weeks and will also face Atalanta and Roma in their next four matches. The difficult period begins on Tuesday in Milan.

If Napoli manage to hold on to the lead or stay near the top after these four games, the Partenopei will be a strong contender for their second Italian title in three years – a feat that would improve on the two scudetti in four years won by the club. with Diego Maradona in 1987 and 1990.

Having won eight of their last nine matches – interrupted only by a 0-0 draw against Juventus in September – Napoli have not lost since losing to Hellas Verona in their Serie A opener on August 18.

“We accumulated the points we needed,” Conte said, “and now it’s never a walk in the park to play at San Siro, whether against Inter or Milan.”

Since the defeat against Verona, Napoli have scored 16 goals and conceded two.

But Conte’s side could be challenged by a rested Milan side after their match on Saturday was postponed due to flooding in Bologna.

Two key Milan players are however suspended: Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders.

“Milan is certainly a strong team, which let’s not forget that they were 22 points ahead of Napoli last season and they invested a lot in the transfer market,” Conte said.

Napoli went through 3 different coaches last season

After winning Serie A under Luciano Spalletti in 2023, Napoli went through three different managers last season when they finished 10th to miss out on Europe.

Conte signed a three-year contract in June and made an almost immediate impact.

“Antonio is able to get into players’ heads,” said Ciro Ferrara, Conte’s former Juventus teammate turned DAZN analyst. “He is able to get the best out of his players.”

Conte has also been a serial winner as a manager, amassing three Serie A titles at Juventus, Premier League and FA Cup trophies at Chelsea and another Serie A title at Inter Milan. He even guided Bari to the Serie B title before joining Juventus.

Lukaku, McTominay and Neres make an impact

Conte convinced Romelu Lukaku to join him at Napoli following the duo’s win at Inter and the Belgian striker was a good replacement for the departed Victor Osimhen. Another player who has made an immediate impact is midfielder Scott McTominay, who joined the team in August after playing for Manchester United his entire career.

It was McTominay’s header that allowed Giovanni Di Lorenzo to score in a scrappy 1-0 win over Lecce on Saturday.

Recently signed David Neres has also been a force, giving Napoli more options beyond Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the wings.

Naples is perfect at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli won their first five home matches at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for only the third time; having also achieved the feat with Maradona himself in 1989 and under Spalletti in 2021.

It is, however, two tough away tests at San Siro that could lend more credence to Napoli’s potential.