One of the great Serie A games takes place on Sunday night as table-topping Napoli head to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and a date with third-placed AC Milan.
After winning another Scudetto last season under Antonio Conte, it's so far so good for the Partenopei.
Napoli the only team with a 100% record
Four wins out of four in the Italian top-flight is the only 100 per cent record remaining in the league, though they could still be leapfrogged by Juventus if the Old Lady beat Atalanta 24 hours before Napoli take to the pitch in Milan.
The Rossoneri are also in great form under Massimiliano Allegri, winning three of their four matches and losing the other.
In Christian Pulisic, they have a player who has scored three goals already in 2025/26, which is the joint most in the league.
The hosts will have to guard against the creativity of summer signing, Kevin de Bruyne, of course. The former Man City ace has simply carried on where he left off at the Etihad Stadium.
Not only has he settled into the Napoli midfield with ease, bringing colleagues consistently into play with his stunning array of passing, but he has also scored twice for his new team.
Milan will therefore have to track the Belgian's late runs into the box, which, if they go unnoticed, will almost certainly cause huge problems for the home side.
Recent history against Milan
Napoli haven't been defeated in a Serie A away game since February 23 against Como either, suggesting that the Rossoneri might well have their work cut out to take anything from the match.
Indeed, in the last 11 matches between the sides that have taken place at the San Siro, Milan have only won three times, while drawing three and losing five.
In three of the last six meetings (at either stadium), Napoli have also scored twice, something that Milan have done on just one occasion, in a 2-2 draw back in October 2023.
When the two sides last met, Napoli triumphed 2-1 thanks to goals from Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku, the latter of whom is injured for this fixture. Luka Jovic scored a consolation for Milan in the 84th minute.
Attacking game expected from both teams
Last time out Napoli won 3-2 against Pisa at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, whilst their opponents this weekend also won, earning all three points after a 3-0 win over Udinese at Bluenergy Stadium.
Sunday's match should be one for the purist too, given that both teams are ranked joint first in the division for their passing accuracy this season (89%).
Where the Partnopei also lead the way is with regards to their shots on target (25) and the total number of passes they've made so far (2,234).
Conte's side are in the silver medal position when it comes to goals scored (nine - Inter have 11), total shots at goal (65) and their shot conversion rate (21%).
With three clean sheets so far in 25/26, it's Milan that lead the way here, whilst their 65 shots at goal also place them second.
In all other metrics, the Rossoneri need to improve, and there'll never be a better time to do just that than against the reigning champions.
Equality reigns
In terms of a head-to-head in various aspects, it's quite remarkable how well-matched the teams are.
For example, both Napoli's Politano and Milan's Santiago Gimenez lead the way for their teams in terms of total shots taken (13 each), with Gimenez and teammate Pulisic, as well as Napoli's Scott McTominay, all having five shots on target to date - the most from either side.
Politano has created the most chances for the visitors (nine), and that's the same number as Luka Modric and two more Milan players (Pulisic and Alexis Saelemaekers).
What will be interesting to watch unfold is whether the timings of when the sides tend to score goals continue.
Milan would appear to be more attacking in the moments leading to half-time and just after, whereas Napoli have been at their most incisive in the opening 15 minutes or the last quarter hour.
Given that the hosts haven't actually conceded after the hour in any game so far this season either, the Partnopei will need to work extra hard if the game is still in the balance at that point.
Napoli hit by injuries
It's been 16 games since the visitors have tasted defeat in the league, and if they're able to strike the first blow, it could well be game over, as Milan haven't been able to win after conceding the first goal this season.
Injury-wise, however, Napoli have been hit hard over the past few days.
After having lost Lukaku before the season began, Nikita Contini was ruled out on September 11th with a hand injury.
Then, in the space of two days during the past week, Pasquale Mazzocchi and Alessandro Buongiorno joined the above pair on the sidelines. Only Ardon Jashari is out for Milan.
With so much clearly riding on the outcome at this early stage, it is sure to be an absorbing watch.
