Match Details
Inter v Hellas Verona – 26th October 2013 – Kick Off 20:45 (CET) – Stadio Giuseppe Meazza a San Siro – Referee: D.Celi
The story so far…..
Inter: After an impressive start to the league campaign under new coach Walter Mazzarri, the Nerazzurri have hit a bump in the road. Without a win in their last three contests, Mazzarri’s men are struggling to cope with the loss of key defender Hugo Campagnaro. On top of this, last week in Turin they were without the services of star man Ricky Alvarez. A previously water tight defence has started to leak goals (7 in the last 3 matches) and more problems are on the horizon. Goalkeeper Samir Handanovic will be suspended against Verona following his contentious sending off for tripping Alessio Cerci against Torino last Sunday. The main question for Inter seems to be: Can they win without their best starting XI? Saturday night could give us an insight into the answer.
Hellas Verona: The recently promoted side are having the kind of start that probably only existed in their dreams. Following on from an opening day victory against Milan the Gialloblu have gone from strength to strength. Mandorlini’s men are the owners of a perfect home record. Although their record away from the Bentegodi isn’t as impressive, a 4-1 win at struggling Bologna has given them a platform to build on. Sitting in fourth place and above their opponents by a point Hellas will be looking to rubber stamp a quite unbelievable start to the season with victory over Inter. If they are to take anything away from their trip to the Meazza the visitors will need the likes of Luca Toni, Jorginho and young Argentinian starlet Itrube to continue their impressive performances.
Probable formations, Injuries and suspensions.
The Key men
Inter: Juan Pablo Carrizo – Despite the Argentinians incredible penalty save last week in Turin just moments after he replaced Samir Handanovic, all eyes will be on the Nerazzurri’s second choice goalkeeper this Saturday. Many felt Carrizo should have done much better with Torino’s late equaliser which came directly from a free kick wide on the left hand side. He will certainly be keen to put that costly misjudgement behind him when he fills in for the suspended Handanovic. If Inter are to put their recent defensive woes behind them they will need Carrizo to be on top form come Saturday night.
Hellas Verona: Jorginho – Hellas have had a number of top performers so far this season but it is Jorginho that stands out coming into this fixture. The midfielder has bagged five Serie A goals and is showing the kind of form that has this week seen him linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Saturday’s opponents Inter. If Hellas are to get anything out of this game they will need the 21 year old Brazilian to be in top form. His battle with Mateo Kovacic is sure to be worth watching in the middle of the park. With Verona likely to start with a 4-3-3 Jorginho’s range of passing could be vital as he looks to set the likes of Itrube into dangerous attacking positions, combined with his eye for goal the Nerazzurri will have to be on red alert each time the young maestro gets the ball.
Stat Attack. All the below stats were obtained from OPTA, the leading data provider for football statistics
Inter have won seven of their last eight league meetings against Verona, including the last three, drawing the other match.
Verona have managed just one win in the last 17 Serie A clashes against Inter in the top-flight, which came back in February 1992.
Inter are unbeaten against Verona at the San Siro in the league (W14, D10).
These two sides have drawn 18 times in the top flight (including 12 nil-nil), a record for the Gialloblu against a Serie A side.
Walter Mazzarri’s side have conceded eight goals over their last four league games, after they had conceded only one in the previous four.
Only once in their history have Verona scored more than 16 goals after the first eight match-days (17 in 1983/84).
Verona are on a run of three consecutive wins – last time they did this was in June 2001.
Verona haven’t scored three goals in back to back games in Serie A since March 1985 (vs Fiorentina and Cremonese).
Last Sunday against Torino, Rodrigo Palacio scored his 10th Serie A brace – only Di Natale (16), Totti and Cavani (12) have scored more since “El Trenza” arrived in Italy.
Inter have featured only 16 different players in their starting lineups so far – fewer than any other side