The Derby D’Italia is back. The Nerazzurri will host Juventus at the Meazza on Sunday afternoon at 18:00 CET.
Inter go into the Derby D’Italia off an embarassing 2-0 defeat to Hapoel Be’er Sheva in midweek. The performance simply wasn’t their from the largely changed team who achieved a morale boosting win over Pescara in their last league encounter at the weekend. There, the Nerazzurri had to dig deep and come from behind to beat the Delfini in a game that saw Frank de Boer lay down a marker as to how aggressive he wants his side to be. Against the Serie A champions, Inter will be required to show the same desire to win, but in a much more patient, measured and tactically balanced fashion.
Juventus come into this game after a very frustrating home draw with Sevilla in the Champions League. The Italian champions huffed and puffed but couldn’t find an opening. This will probably put some pressure on Juve that they could do without. A response will be expected from them against Inter, and they will be out for blood. If Inter and FdB play their cards right and frustrate Juve for long enough, the spoils of the most acrimonious derby in the Serie A can be Inter’s for the taking.
Team News
Unlike Thursday night, Inter are going to field their best possible XI available to them. Some of those afforded starts on Thursday will either be on the bench or left out entirely. De Boer will hope that Cristian Ansaldi can finally overcome his injury; however, it is unlikely that the Argentine will make his season debut in such a high profile encounter. Yuto Nagatomo will be expected to start the game, while question marks remain as to whether Geoffrey Kondogbia will start alongside Joao Mario and Ever Banega ahead of Gary Medel in midfield. While the tactical setup might not change much from the previous game, expect the individual player roles to be much more disciplined, aggressive and defensive. Both Ivan Perisic, assuming he shakes off his fitness issues, and Antonio Candreva will be required to put in as much effort defensively as they do going forward.
Probable Inter line-up (subject to change): (4-3-3) Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Nagatomo; Medel, Joao Mario, Banega; Candreva, Perisic, Icardi (C).
Stats
Last Season: Inter 0 – 0 Juve
Last 10 Head to Head: in the last ten Serie A encounters between the two sides, Inter have won just once, while Juve won six of the remaining nine.
Player to Watch
Mauro Icardi: Inter’s Argentine hitman has gotten his season off to a very bright start, scoring three goals in three games. It is a well known fact that Maurito has a reputation of scoring against Juventus and the Nerazzurri will be looking to add to his personal tally here.
Officials
Pablo Tagliavento is the appointed referee for the fixture. His assistants are Passeri and Costanzo and the fourth official is Cariolato. The additional assistants are Banti and Valeri.
Prediction & Authors Note
Prediction & scorers: Inter 2-1 Juventus with both Icardi and Candreva finding the back of the net for Inter and Dybala scoring for the visitors.
Author’s Note: While Juve are a force to be reckoned with in any encounter, perhaps meeting them so early on while FdB’s tactics are not as well known to his opponents might just give Inter a slight element of surprise.
Words: Mohamed Nassar
