Finally Serie A is back after the midseason break and Inter return to action with a trip to Tuscany to face Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Wednesday 6 January 2016 (kick off 18:00 CET).
Let’s have a look at the season so far, and it has been a superb season so far for Inter after major rebuilding in the Summer mercato as Inter sit proudly top of the Serie A table at the midway stage and even confirmed as Winter champions with a match to spare.
Roberto Mancini’s new look side have won 11 of their 17 matches so far against Atalanta(1-0), Carpi (1-2), Milan(1-0), Chievo(0-1), Hellas(1-0), Bologna(0-1), Roma(1-0), Torino(0-1), Frosinone(4-0), Genoa(1-0) and Udinese(0-4) and with draws coming against Sampdoria(1-1), Juventus(0-0) and Palermo(1-1).
The fact that Inter have won eight games with a 1-0 scoreline this season shows that they are now capable of seeing games out but it hasn’t all been great with three defeats against Fiorentina(1-4), Napoli(2-1) and Lazio last time out (1-2).
The change of form for Inter sees them with 14 points more at this stage of the season compared to the same stage last season and with the best defensive record in the division with 11 conceded and 1 point ahead of Napoli and Fiorentina in the table.
Marco Giampaolo has really did an excellent job at Empoli this season so far after talking over from Maurizio Sarri in the Summer and the 48 year old has the Tuscans challenging for a European place.
Empoli have 8 wins in their 17 games so far after beating Udinese(1-2), Sassuolo(1-0), Genoa(2-0), Palermo(0-1), Lazio(1-0), Hellas(0-1), Carpi(3-0) and Bologna(2-3), mainly due to in-form duo Riccardo Saponara and Massimo Maccarone.
With draws against Fiorentina(2-2), Sampdoria(1-1) and Napoli(2-2), the Tuscans sit in 8th place in the Serie A table on 27 points with their losses so far coming against Atalanta(0-1), Frosinone(2-0), Roma(3-1) and Juventus(1-3).
Here is the Inter team news and probable line up as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport at the time of writing:
Samir Handanovic starts in goal after an excellent first half of the season which has seen the Slovenian keep 11 clean sheets.
At right back Danilo D’Ambrosio is favourite to start ahead of Davide Santon alongside the central defensive partnership of Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo, with Alex Telles expected to start at left back.
In midfield Felipe Melo is suspended for three matches after his shocking sending off against Lazio last time out. Gary Medel is expected to be partnered by Geoffrey Kondogbia and one of Marcelo Brozovic or Fredy Guarin with the Croatian favoured.
The front three is expected to be made up of the in-form Adem Ljajic on the left with Ivan Perisic favoured over Jonathan Biabiany on the right and with captain Mauro Icardi in the centre forward position.
Probable Inter line up (subject to change): (4-3-3) Handanovic, D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Telles, Medel, Kondogbia, Brozovic, Ljajic, Icardi (c), Perisic
Bench: Carrizo, Berni, Juan Jesus, Dodo, Montoya, Santon, Ranocchia, Nagatomo, Guarin, Gnoukouri, Palacio, Jovetic, Biabiany, Manaj
Some Stats:
Inter have faced Empoli at the Stadio Castellani 10 times in the Serie A records with Inter leading the stats with 5 wins to Empoli’s 2 wins with 3 matches drawn.
In the overall Serie A records (home & away), Inter continue to lead the stats with 14 wins to Empoli’s 3 wins with 3 of the 20 matches between the sides drawn.
In last season’s corresponding fixture between the sides at the Castellani on 17 January 2015 the game finished in a 0-0 stalemate.
Inter’s last win against Empoli at the Castellani in Serie A came on 1 September 2007 with a 0-2 win thanks to a double strike from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Empoli’s dangermen this season Riccardo Saponara and Massimo Maccarone have been involved in 21 of the side’s 23 goals this season.
Empoli’s last win in Serie A against Inter came on 30 April 2006 at the Castellani, 1-0 thanks to a Marco Materazzi own goal.
Player to Watch: Adem Ljajic – Inter’s creative genius this season. When the Serbian doesn’t play Inter struggle to create chances.
My Prediction: Empoli 1-2 Inter
Scorers: Maccarone (Empoli), Icardi, Brozovic (Inter)
Officials: Referee: Domenico Celi Assistants: Posado, La Rocca
Fourth Official: Musolino Additional Assistants: Tagliavento, Fabbri
Author’s Note: I expect this to be a tough game against an Empoli side that are unbeaten in their last 5 matches. Not only that but the pressure that will come as everyone watches if Inter can bounce back from the defeat against Lazio to keep their place at the top, however, if Inter want to be champions this year then they need to be winning games of this ilk and putting pressure on the chasing pack to keep up.
Forza Inter!
PS: A big shout out to my youngest daughter Talia who will turn 7 years old on the day of the game. Happy Birthday 🙂 x