Inter’s trip to Italy’s most prominent culinary region isn’t about wining and dining, a difficult test against stubborn Bologna faces the Nerazzurri. Kick-off tonight at 20:45 CET.
After a grinding, hard-fought win in a difficult setting against plucky Crotone, Inter travel to Bologna to face Roberto Donadoni’s men in this week’s second away match. While the pitch conditions at the Dall’Ara stadium should be more conducive to playing good football than those in Calabria, the stadium remains one of the tougher places to visit for the Nerazzurri.
Bologna’s season has come off to an uninspired start, with four points out of four matches, Donadoni will know that he will need to start collecting points quickly if he’s to steer the Rossoblu away from a nasty relegation battle. Worryingly for him will be the fact that his team have been unable to pick up a win at home. Donadoni will also know that if he tries to open up against Luciano Spaletti’s men, he may be risking too much. However, seeing that his side have only kept one clean sheet so far, will his defenses be able to withstand ninety minutes of an attacking Inter should he decide to field a compact defensive side?
Once again it appears that the flanks will be vital for Inter and so it appears that Marcelo Brozovic will be deployed in the trequartista role as he seems more readily able to join either Antonio Candreva or Ivan Perisic on the flanks leaving the winger from the opposite flank and Matias Vecino free to join Mauro Icardi in the box. Expect to see that move repeated often along with a freer attacking role afforded to Dalbert and Danilo D’Ambrosio.
Team News
Deja vu; it was Dalbert’s fitness that was in question post Crotone, and again he seems to have been ruled fit enough to start ahead of Yuto Nagatomo.
Probable Inter line-up (subject to change): (4-2-3-1) Handanovic; Dalbert, Miranda, Skriniar, D’Ambrosio; Vecino, Valero; Perisic, Marcelo Brozovic, Candreva; Icardi (C)
Stats
Last Season: Bologna 0-1 Inter
Last 10 Head to Head: Inter have beaten Bologna five times in the last ten encounters while Bologna have managed to pick up all three points just twice.
Keep an Eye on
Antonio Candreva: The Italy international has had a fairly muted start to the season, but with Donadoni’s left flank being guarded by inexperienced youngster Adam Masina, one can expect Candreva to be afforded to the space and opportunity to express himself more freely in the final third.
Officials
Referee: Marco DiBello
Assistants: Crispo, Posado
Fourth Official: Banti
Additional Assistants: Mariani, Vuoto
Prediction & Authors Note
Prediction & scorers: Bologna 0-2 Inter with Icardi and Candreva scoring.
Author’s Note: With a shaky defense and underwhelming attack, Bologna’s best bet will be to try and frustrate the Nerazzurri for as long as possible. Having said that, one can expect Spaletti’s tactical nous and Inter’s quality to ultimately prevail.