Inter Milanvs.Genoa

Losing to Juventus in the Derby d'Italia cost them their place at the Serie A summit, and now an ex-Inter player is intent on causing more damage.

Match preview

Going down 1-0 to old foes Juventus on Sunday night saw Inter stay two points behind Napoli with 13 rounds remaining, as the Italian title race reaches a crucial juncture.

Despite dominating the first half in Turin, with Denzel Dumfries and captain Lautaro Martinez both missing chances, the Nerazzurri were ultimately left empty-handed after Francisco Conceicao finished past Yann Sommer in the 74th minute.

As a result, Inter have lost two of their last three league games - as many defeats as throughout the previous 54 - and questions are being asked about whether the reigning champions are in need of a Manchester City-style refresh this summer.

Between now and then, Simone Inzaghi's squad still have plenty to play for, with a Champions League last-16 tie scheduled midway through next month, after tackling Inzaghi's old club Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

First, Inter resume league duty, aiming to win three successive Serie A home games for the first time this season - and for the first time since last March, when they won nine in a row en route to the title.

Against teams in the bottom half this term, the second-city side have racked up 11 wins and two draws from 13 matches, while their recent record against Genoa is even better.

Inter have won the teams' last 10 league meetings at San Siro by an aggregate scoreline of 27-2, and the last time they lost this equivalent fixture was way back in 1994.

Without a league win over the Nerazzurri anywhere in 11 attempts, Genoa have at least drawn three of the clubs' last four encounters - including a 2-2 result at Marassi on this season's opening matchday, when Junior Messias netted a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.

Rejuvenated under ex-Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira, the Grifone have gradually pulled away from the drop zone after making a slow start, and Monday's clash with relegation-threatened Venezia brought maximum points.

Top scorer Andrea Pinamonti finally broke the deadlock with less than 10 minutes remaining, before Maxwel Cornet's first goal in Rossoblu colours sealed the deal; securing three consecutive Serie A home victories without conceding for the first time since 2010.

That success also took Vieira's men up to 11th place, leapfrogging Torino, and their next target will be overtaking Udinese to claim a top-half finish.

Since the French coach's arrival, Genoa have kept the most clean sheets of any team in Italy's top tier - seven in 13 matches - but they must submit themselves to the ultimate test on Saturday.

Inter Milan Serie A form:

W

W

D

L

W

L

Inter Milan form (all competitions):

W

W

D

L

W

L

Genoa Serie A form:

W

L

W

L

D

W

Team News

Ahead of two big games - a Coppa Italia quarter-final tie, then next week's potential title decider against Napoli - Simone Inzaghi may choose to make changes, with a full squad available to him this weekend.

Fit-again forward Marcus Thuram will almost certainly be promoted to Inter's starting XI, as misfiring striker Medhi Taremi drops down to the bench.

Thuram's strike partner Lautaro Martinez has failed to score in his last four league games, after finding the net in four of the previous five. 'El Toro' has also played 481 minutes across seven Serie A matches against Genoa without scoring.

Meanwhile, former Inter man Andrea Pinamonti spearheads the visitors' attack, having won the most 'Player of the Match' awards (six) in the Italian top flight this season - the latest following his vital strike on Monday evening.

Patrick Vieira must do without Honest Ahanor (knee), Morten Thorsby (calf), Milan Badelj and Vitinha (both muscular) due to injury, and the latter's absence could see either Maxwel Cornet or Caleb Ekuban join Pinamonti's supporting cast.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram

Genoa possible starting lineup:

Leali; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Masini; Cornet, Messias, Miretti; Pinamonti

We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa

Although Genoa know how to keep things tight under their current manager, they have also scored the fewest goals during the first half this season (five), while Inter have recorded the most (27).

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

Previews by email