Preview: Inter Milan vs. Salernitana - prediction, team news, lineups

Friday's battle is first against bottom, with the home side keen to open an even wider margin at the top of the table, while the Salerno outfit look for an unanticipated result to avoid falling further away in the battle for survival.

Match preview

Simone Inzaghi did not need Capocannoniere favourite Lautaro Martinez scoring last weekend as the Nerazzurri ended Roma's undefeated run under Daniele De Rossi, with Francesco Acerbi, Marcus Thuram and Alessandro Bastoni the Inter goalscorers at the Olimpico.

The upshot of the league-leading club's seventh consecutive victory in all competitions in 2024 — five on the trot in Serie A — saw Inzaghi's men open a seven-point lead over Juventus before the Old Lady's game with Udinese.

Massimiliano Allegri's men were stunned by the Udine outfit in Turin, making the Nerazzurri favourites for this season's Scudetto, and they could extend that advantage to double digits when they aim for their 10th success at San Siro on Friday.

Inzaghi's men (60 points) have a game in hand over Juventus (53) and AC Milan (52), pointing to last year's Champions League runners-up almost having a hand on the trophy at the season's culmination.

With the first leg of Inter's European tie against Atletico Madrid to be played next week, the Nerazzurri hope to avoid the trap of looking too far forward when they face a side in dire straits this week.

Salernitana are undoubtedly in disarray after yet another defeat in the relegation six-pointer against Empoli last weekend, resulting in Filippo Inzaghi being relieved of his duties after four months at the helm.

The 3-1 defeat to Davide Nicola's resurgent side was probably foreseen, even if two late goals from M'Baye Niang and Matteo Cancellieri won it for Empoli when a draw seemed on the cards.

Inzaghi has been replaced by Fabio Liverani, becoming Salernitana's third head coach of a season that seems to be heading for relegation from the top flight.

The club from Salerno are six points behind Hellas Verona in 18th and seven behind 17th-placed Sassuolo, and the gap opening between the bottom side and the clubs they seek to supplant continues to widen.

Points are desperately needed for Liverani, who hopes to hit the ground running despite the mammoth task of ending Inter's six-game winning league run at San Siro.

Inter Milan Serie A form:

D

W

W

W

W

W

Inter Milan form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Salernitana Serie A form:

L

L

L

L

D

L

Team News

Inzaghi could rotate on Friday with an eye on next Tuesday's Champions League encounter with Atletico, possibly giving opportunities for Marko Arnautovic, Carlos Augusto and maybe Alexis Sanchez to play significant minutes.

Acerbi was substituted in last weekend's win over Roma, and the centre-back should miss Salernitana's visit to San Siro; meanwhile, Davide Frattesi and Juan Cuadrado are unlikely to play, with the former not expected to return for another fortnight, while the Colombian may not feature until next month.

Domagoj Bradaric is suspended for the Salerno outfit after the defender picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Empoli.

Federico Fazio and Norbert Gyomber are missing due to their respective muscle injuries and are anticipated to be absent for about a fortnight before returning.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Augusto; Martinez, Arnautovic

Salernitana possible starting lineup:

Ochoa; Pierozzi, Boatang, Bronn; Zanoli, Maggiore, Basic, Pellegrino; Candreva, Kastanos; Dia

We say: Inter Milan 3-0 Salernitana

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