Finally, the last international break of the calendar year is over and Serie A returns with Inter welcoming Frosinone to the San Siro on Sunday 22 November 2015 (kick off 20:45 CET) in matchday 13 of the season.
Inter come into this game on the back of a 0-1 win away at Torino thanks to Geoffrey Kondogbia’s first ever Serie A goal.It was a game like a lot of Inter games this season with the Nerazzurri taking the lead then defending like warriors for the rest of the game.
The media are now labelling Inter with playing ‘ugly football’ but it is certainly effective in getting results as has been shown in Inter winning seven matches by a 1-0 scoreline this season which also sees Inter with the best defensive record in Serie A with only seven goals conceded.
The ‘Mancini effect’ as ex Inter forward Christian Vieri has labelled Inter’s defensive record this season sees Inter joint top of the standings alongside Fiorentina on 27 points with Roma in third on 26 points and Napoli in fourth on 25 points.
Serie A newcomers Frosinone have had a roller coaster season so far under Roberto Stellone with good wins against Carpi (2-1), Sampdoria (2-0) and Empoli (2-0) added to impressive draws against Genoa (2-2) last weekend and Juventus in Turin (1-1).
Despite these great results however Frosinone have lost seven of their matches this season against Fiorentina (4-1), Udinese (1-0), Lazio (2-0), Bologna (1-0), Roma (0-2), Atalanta (2-0) and Torino (1-2) which sees them sit in 18th place on 11 points, 5 points ahead of the bottom two teams Hellas Verona and Carpi.
Here is the Inter teams news and probable line up as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport:
Samir Handanovic starts in goal after his man of the match performance against Torino. The Slovenian has had a tough week internationally after his country’s Euro 2016 play-off defeat against Ukraine, resulting in Samir retiring from international football.
At right back Danilo D’Ambrosio is expected to start as Davide Santon is unavailable with an Achilles injury. In central defence the partnership of Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo start with Yuto Nagatomo favourite over Alex Telles to start at left back.
In midfield Roberto Mancini has a slight selection headache as if Gary Medel, Felipe Melo or Geoffrey Kondogbia were to be booked in this match they would miss next week’s crucial game against title contenders Napoli.
It is thought than Mancini will take a chance and start last week’s match winner Geoffrey Kondogbia and Felipe Melo despite the cautions alongside Fredy Guarin who returns from suspension.
Croatian Ivan Perisic could start in the trequartista role in an expected 4-1-2-1-2 formation with a front pairing of Stevan Jovetic and captain Mauro Icardi.
Probable Inter line up (subject to change): (4-1-2-1-2) Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Nagatomo; Felipe Melo, Guarin, Kondogbia; Perisic; Jovetic, Icardi (C)
Bench: Carrizo, Berni, Juan Jesus, Telles, Montoya, Ranocchia, Medel, Gnoukouri, Brozovic, Palacio, Biabiany, Ljajic, Manaj
Some Stats:
This will be the first ever meeting between Inter and Frosinone in official competition.
Inter’s top scorers this season are Stevan Jovetic and Mauro Icardi on 3 goals, the same as Frosinone’s top scorer Federico Dionisi, who is suspended for this game.
Frosinone don’t travel well as has been shown in 5 defeats out of their six away matches this season so far.
Last season Frosinone won promotion to Serie A after finishing 2nd behind Carpi in Serie B, this was their second promotion season in a row.
As mentioned Inter have won 7 matches this season by a 1-0 scoreline. Only 3 times in the history of the club have Inter got more wins with this score in a Serie A season, 8 in the 1986/87 and 1952/53 seasons, and 9 in the 1963/64 season.
Player to Watch: Mauro Icardi – Despite Icardi being Inter’s joint top scorer this season with 3 goals, at this stage last season he had double that amount with 6. I’m expecting a goal from Maurito against a team that has conceded 18 goals this season to settle his critics.
My Prediction: Inter 2-0 Frosinone
Scorers: Icardi, Perisic
Officials: Referee: Marco Guida Assistants: Marrazzo, Tasso
Fourth Official: Vivenzi Additional Assistants: Fabbri, La Penna
Author’s Note: I think Inter should be able to win this game comfortably as they have far more quality than their opponents Frosinone. Roberto Mancini will surely change from the 3-5-2 counter attacking formation used against Torino and he will want a more attacking and controlled performance. Although I would be happy with another 1-0 win, I feel we need to be beating opposition like this with ease especially going into next week’s match against Napoli.
Forza Inter!
