Inter Milanvs.Como

While Inter recently thumped one of their title rivals before cruising through in the cup, the Lariani head for Italy's second city on the back of a landmark success.

Match preview

Laying down a marker in what looks set to be a closely contested Scudetto race, Inter moved within touching distance of top spot with a resounding 6-0 win over Lazio at Stadio Olimpico, serving notice they are intent on retaining their title.

Though Simone Inzaghi's side still trail leading pair Napoli and Atalanta BC, they have one game in hand on both, with more than half the campaign remaining.

After slaying his old club in the capital, Inzaghi then oversaw a more routine Coppa Italia victory in midweek, as Inter strode through to the quarter-finals by beating Udinese 2-0 in Milan.

The first goal came via a combination between back-up strikers Marko Arnautovic and Mehdi Taremi, before Kristjan Asllani netted the second directly from a corner, and they will battle Lazio again for a spot in the semi-finals.

Though they lost to Bayer Leverkusen in a contest between the reigning Italian and German league champions earlier this month - ending their unbeaten record in the Champions League - Inter have excelled in Serie A since suffering derby defeat to AC Milan back in September.

Winning eight of their last 10 league games, Inzaghi's men have scored 30 times in the process, with goals coming from all quarters of a well-stocked squad.

Now set to face Como for the first time since March 2003, Inter will hope to replicate their 4-0 home win on that occasion, when a Christian Vieri brace was complemented by goals from Luigi Di Biagio and Gabriel Batistuta.

After winning their first away match against Inter in Serie A - played over 70 years ago - Como have lost all of the next 12, stretching across several decades.

Yet, the Lariani's current squad will make the short trip across Lombardy inspired by beating Roma 2-0 last time out, giving them a taste for an upset.

While the Giallorossi may be in some disarray, there were still joyous scenes at Stadio Sinigaglia when long-serving striker Alessandro Gabrielloni emerged from the bench to put Como in front during second-half stoppage time and Nico Paz sealed the deal moments later.

A first win since September inched them out of the drop zone, and rookie coach Cesc Fabregas has now seen his team through three games unbeaten - they have yet to go four without defeat this season.

Last term's Serie B runners-up are slowly adapting to the rigours of top-tier football, having also drawn their last two away fixtures - against relegation rivals Genoa and Venezia - but they must now step up a few levels to deny Inter.

Inter Milan Serie A form:

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Inter Milan form (all competitions):

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Como Serie A form:

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Team News

Blessed with plenty of seasoned internationals to choose from, Simone Inzaghi rotated his squad on Thursday, but big hitters such as Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez will return to face Como.

The latter has struggled to hit last season's heights, and only one of his last six league goals has come at San Siro, but Inter's captain is still set to start up front, as Mehdi Taremi and Marko Arnautovic make way.

In addition to the continued absence of defensive duo Benjamin Pavard and Francesco Acerbi, midfield star Nicolo Barella is struggling with a thigh problem and may miss out, instead returning to face former club Cagliari before playing in next month's Supercoppa Italiana.

Meanwhile, Como cannot count on Maximo Perrone, Alberto Moreno and Marco Sala, with the latter pair's absence meaning that Federico Barba could again fill in at left-back - potentially putting him up against Denzel Dumfries.

Recently linked with Inter and several other major clubs, Nico Paz has registered two goals and three assists in Serie A this season, making him the visitors' joint-top contributor, tied with Patrick Cutrone.

Ex-Milan striker Cutrone may have to settle for a place on the bench as he returns to San Siro; his form has tailed off and Cesc Fabregas now prefers Andrea Belotti.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram

Como possible starting lineup:

Reina; Van der Brempt, Goldaniga, Kempf, Barba; Da Cunha, Roberto; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Belotti

We say: Inter Milan 3-0 Como

Only free-scoring Atalanta have attempted more shots than Inter (233) and Como (232) in Serie A this season, so it could be an entertaining contest when they meet for the first time in more than 20 years.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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