The Stadio Adriatico will hold the Serie A match between hosts Pescara and visitors Inter on Sunday 11th of September at 20:45 CET.
Pescara have started their return to Italy’s top flight in remarkable fashion. The Delfini managed a draw against title contenders Napoli in their first game and then were handed a win against the highly rated Sassuolo after the hosts fielded an ineligible player. Coach Massimo Oddo seems to have put together a side that can dream of more than just survival in the Serie A. With two decent attackers in Inter’s on-loan Rey Manaj and Gianluca Caprari, the hosts can always be a threat on the break.
Meanwhile, coach Frank de Boer will hope to put Inter’s poor start to the season behind him in what looks to be a very winnable encounter. With none of Inter’s players picking up serious injuries while on international duty, hopes are that the team’s fitness and stamina issues will have improved over the first two games allowing the players to better implement de Boer’s high intensity tactics.
Team News
Coming off an international break, Inter’s squad regroups at Appiano where the condition of all internationals must be assessed before de Boer can settle on his starting 11. The arrival of Joao Mario this week means that FdB will be under extra scrutiny to see whether he eases the Euro winner into the squad or starts him straightaway.
Cristian Ansaldi’s injury will probably still keep him out of this match, giving D’Ambrosio another start in the right full-back position. Question marks remain as to whether Antonio Candreva will be given his first start this season, or if Eder will be chosen ahead of him yet again.
Probable Inter line-up (subject to change): (4-3-3) Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Santon; Medel, Kondogbia, Banega; Candreva, Perisic, Icardi (C).
Stats
Last Meeting: Pescara 0 – 3 Inter
Last 10 Head to Head: Both sides have only ever met twice before, with the Nerazzurri winning both encounters 2-0 and 0-3 home and away respectively.
Player to Watch
Geoffrey Kondogbia: The young Frenchman has been consistently inconsistent, going from a best of the bunch performance against Chievo to a schoolboy error riddled performance against Palermo. After a poor outing last match-day, it will be very interesting to see if he has worked on his performance since then.
Officials
Referee: Antonio Damato Assistants: Li Cicero, Posado Fourth Official: De Pinto Additional Assistants: Rizzoli, Celi
Prediction & Authors Note
Prediction & scorers: Pescara 0 – 2 Inter with both Perisic and Icardi finding the back of the net
Away to Sassuolo, Massimo Oddo still set up his side to attack from the start and threatened to score first on more than one occasion. If the ex-Milan player decides to take Inter on, he might make Inter’s night a bit easier in exploiting spaces at the back. However, if Pescara decide to sit back and tighten up their defences, de Boer’s tactical nous will be tested again to try and pick them apart.
Words: Mohmed Nassar – Follow @MNassar
