Inter travel to Sicily this weekend to face Palermo in matchday 9 of the season on Saturday 24 October 2015 at the Stadio Renzo Barbera (kick off 20:45CET).
Inter come into this game after a pulsating 0-0 draw last weekend in the Derby D’Italia against Juventus. It was a performance of two halves for Inter, who dominated the first half before tiring in the second half.
More positive news also came in midweek when Inter beat AC Milan in the 24th edition of the Trofeo Berlusconi, with the players who didn’t play against Juve and the Primavera players gaining a 1-0 win and giving coach Roberto Mancini some food for thought with their performances on the night.
After the 0-0 draw with Juventus, Inter currently sit 3rd in the Serie A table, joint on 17 points with 2nd placed Roma, who face the leaders Fiorentina on 18 points on Sunday.
Palermo currently sit in 11th place in the Serie A table on 10 points and come into this game on the back of a win away at Bologna (1-0) which brought to an end a four match losing streak, with the losses coming against Roma (4-2), Torino (2-1), Sassuolo (1-0) and AC Milan (3-2).
Before those losses the Sicilians had won 7 points from their first three games of the season with wins against Genoa (1-0) and Udinese (1-0) adding to a draw against Carpi (2-2).
Here is the Inter team news and probable line up as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport:
Samir Handanovic starts in goal with Davide Santon at right back. The defence stays the same as last time out against Juventus with a central defensive pairing of Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo, who has been suffering with a cold and fever this week. At left back Juan Jesus is expected to keep his place in the team ahead of Alex Telles.
Roberto Mancini is expected to start with a 4-2-3-1 formation and a surprise inclusion in the holding roles with Gary Medel to be partnered by Geoffrey Kondogbia instead of Felipe Melo.
In the attacking roles in midfield, Ivan Perisic starts on the left with Jonathan Biabiany set for a surprise start on the right ahead of Marcelo Brozovic and Fredy Guarin.
Stevan Jovetic is expected to play in the same role as against Juventus which is as a support striker to captain Mauro Icardi.
Probable Inter line up (subject to change): (4-2-3-1) Handanovic, Santon, Miranda, Murillo, Juan Jesus, Medel, Kondogbia, Biabiany, Perisic, Jovetic, Icardi (C).
Bench: Carrizo, Berni, Telles, Montoya, Ranocchia, D’Ambrosio, Nagatomo, Guarin, Gnoukouri, Brozovic, Melo, Palacio, Ljajic, Manaj.
Some Stats:
Inter and Palermo have faced each other at the Stadio Barbera 27 times in Serie A with Inter ahead on the stats with 9 wins to Palermo’s 6 wins with 12 matches drawn.
In the overall meetings in all competitions Inter continue to lead the way with 30 wins to Palermo’s 7 wins with 20 of the 57 matches drawn.
In last season’s corresponding fixture on 21 September 2014 the sides drew 1-1 with goals coming from Franco Vazquez and Mateo Kovacic.
The last time Inter won in Sicily against Palermo was back on 19 September 2010 with a 2-1 come from behind win, with Josep Ilicic opening the scoring before a double strike from Samuel Eto’o sealed the 3 points.
Player to Watch: Mauro Icardi – Last season’s top scorer has only 2 goals to his name this season and really needs to find his form, however his form is not all down to him as Inter’s midfield haven’t created much for the Argentine.
My Prediction: Palermo 0-2 Inter
Scorers: Jovetic, Icardi
Officials: Referee: Daniele Doveri Assistants: Vuoto, Ranghetti
Fourth Official: Meli Additional Assistants: Damato, Pasqua
Author’s Note: In my opinion this is a very winnable game for this season’s Inter and it is now time to get back to winning ways if they want to keep up their pace in Serie A especially with Napoli in great form and having a good run of fixtures coming up against Chievo, Palermo and Genoa. I hope to see Inter create more for Icardi as currently his talent is being wasted.
Forza Inter!