inter vs carpi

 

This Sunday 24 January 2016 Inter welcome Carpi to the San Siro in match day 21 of the 2015/16 Serie A season (kick off 15:00 CET).

Inter come into this game on the back of a morale boosting 0-2 win against league leaders Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo in midweek in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals thanks to goals from Stevan Jovetic and Adem Ljajic.

Unfortunately the match against Napoli won’t be remembered for the football, but for the behaviour of Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri, who disgraced the world of Italian football after launching a tirade of homophobic abuse at Roberto Mancini, something that in this day and age can’t be happening if Serie A is to promote itself worldwide.

The result didn’t only see the Nerazzurri set up a semi-final meeting with rivals Juventus but it also ended a mini-slump of sorts for Inter who had just picked up four points in their last four games after defeats against Lazio(1-2) and Sassuolo(0-1) added to a draw last weekend against Atalanta(1-1) and a win away at Empoli(0-1).

Inter sit third in the Serie A table on 40 points, two points behind Juventus in second place and four points behind leaders Napoli on 44 points with Fiorentina in fourth place on 38 points.

Fabrizio Castori’s Carpi have had a tough time in their debut Serie A season after being promoted from Serie B last season. Indeed they started the season with just one win in their first ten matches against Torino(2-1) adding to two draws against Napoli(0-0) and Palermo(2-2) with losses against Sampdoria(5-2), Inter(1-2), Fiorentina(0-1), Roma(5-1), Atalanta(3-0), Bologna(1-2) and Frosinone(2-1).

Since then their form has improved slightly and the Biancorossi are actually unbeaten in their last three games after a draw against Lazio(0-0) and wins against Udinese(2-1) and Sampdoria(2-1) last weekend.

Carpi sit in 18th place in the Serie A table on 17 points, four points from safety and 17th placed Palermo.

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 with Danilo D’Ambrosio favoured over Davide Santon at right back. In central defence Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo are expected to start however it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Juan Jesus start as Miranda if booked would miss next week’s Milan Derby. At left back Alex Telles is favoured over Yuto Nagatomo.

In midfield there are some slight concerns with Felipe Melo, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Gary Medel all one booking away from suspension. La Gazzetta reports that the Frenchman and Chilean are likely to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

On the right Jonathan Biabiany is favoured over Ivan Perisic while in the trequartista role will be Stevan Jovetic with Adem Ljajic on the left and captain Mauro Icardi in the central striking role.

Probable Inter line-up (subject to change): (4-2-3-1) Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Telles; Medel, Kondogbia; Biabiany, Jovetic, Ljajic; Icardi (c)

Bench: Berni, Carrizo, Juan Jesus, Santon, Nagatomo, Montoya, Ranocchia, Felipe Melo, Brozovic, Gnoukouri, Perisic, Palacio, Manaj

 

Some Stats:

Inter and Carpi have only met once in Serie A and that was earlier this season on 30 August 2015 when Inter opened the scoring through Jovetic before Di Gaudio equalised, with Inter getting the win in the end thanks to a 91st minute penalty from Jovetic.

Jeison Murillo’s own goal at Atalanta last weekend was Inter’s first this season. The previous one came from Juan Pablo Carrizo away at Cagliari last season on 23 february 2015 in a 1-2 loss.

If Mauro Icardi scores it will be his 50th goal in Serie A in his time at Sampdoria and Inter.

Andrea Gervasoni has officiated in 10 games involving Inter with records slightly favouring the Nerazzurri with four wins, three draws and three defeats.

Despite being in third place Inter have only scored six more goals than Carpi in Serie A this season.

Player to Watch: Stevan Jovetic – The Montenegro international returned to scoring ways in midweek against Napoli and if started here I would expect another goal.

My Prediction: Inter 2-0 Carpi

Scorers: Jovetic, Icardi

Officials: Referee: Andrea Gervasoni     Assistants: De Luca, Tasso

Fourth Official: Ranghetti     Additional Assistants: Giacomelli, Abisso

 

Author’s Note: Inter’s midweek win against Napoli was a real confidence booster and hopefully has stopped the Nerazzurri’s mini-slump. I expect a confident win here before Wednesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against Juventus. It is also worth mentioning that Juventus face Roma this weekend and if the Bianconeri drop points Inter need to be winning this. Come on Inter no mistakes this week.

Forza Inter!