It all comes down to this, all of Inter’s season’s objectives rest on the outcome of the ninety minutes against an Empoli that’s fighting for survival . Match tomorrow, Sunday at 20:30 CET.

An impotent loss to Napoli in the penultimate match of the season means that Inter now need three points from their last match against the relegation battling team from Tuscany. Making matters more complicated for Inter is the visitors’ current form which has seen them win three matches in a row culminating with thumping the recently impressive Torino last week. Not only do Inter have to beat a relegation battling side, which is no small task in itself, but their opponents are in the midst of the best form all season long.

Perhaps the silver lining for Inter will be the fact that to avoid relegation, Empoli must win, a draw will leave their destiny in the hands of others. All season long, Inter have struggled to break down weaker opponents who sit deep and defend in numbers, but hopefully this will not be the case on Sunday, where the Tuscans must go for their fourth win in a row leaving them more susceptible to the hosts’ attacks.

In Francesco Caputo, Empoli possess one of the league’s most dangerous forwards who will demand the Inter defence’s total attention, otherwise, Inter need to focus more on breaking down the Empoli defense than worrying about their attacks.

Clearly Inter are a superior side, there can be no question. The problem lies in this squad’s mentality and temperament (or lack thereof). If Inter are to secure Champions League qualification, they must batter their opponents. They must put a relentless pace on them from starting whistle to the final one.

The near full Meazza and millions of fans worldwide demand that the players show them that playing in the world’s most prestigious club competition means as much to the players as it does to the supporters who have been put through the wringer all season long.

This appears to be Luciano Spalletti’s last match at the Inter helm. If he is to do his legacy justice and part with the club as a man who returned Inter to consistent European Competition, Spalletti must know that he needs to muster every micro gram of man motivation within his fabric and transmit the same to his players. This is a match of mind and spirit, not of tactics and ability.

Team News

No injuries, no suspensions, that’s the word out of the Inter camp. Spalletti will have a full squad at his disposal and so he can have no excuses in that regard. As has been the case lately, questions will remain as to whether Icardi or Lautaro will start, but judging as to what is on the line, this might be the match where we finally see both players start.

Probable Inter line-up (4-2-3-1): Handanovic(C); D’Ambrosio, Di Vrij, Skriniar, Asamoah; Vecino, Brozovic; Politano, Nainggolan, Perisic; Icardi

Stats

Last Season: Not meetings as Empoli played in the Serie B.

Last 10 Head to Head: To say that Inter have dominated the head to head encounters between the two sides would be a gross understatement, Inter have won nine of the last ten matches and Empoli have just managed a solitary draw in that time.

Keep an Eye on

Matias Vecino: If, for any reason, Inter need a crunch time hero here, all eyes will be on the Uruguayan midfielder to replicate he Lazio and Tottenham heroics. Drama aside, Vecino is a very inconsistent player, and if the occasion is such that he is motivated to play to his potential for the entire match, then Inter should be able to both control the midfield and possess sufficient attacking threat from Vecino’s forward runs to eventually break the visitors down.

Officials

Referee: Luca Banti

Assistants: Vuoto and Passeri.

Fourth Official: Pasqua.

VAR Assistants: Giacomelli and Schenone.

Prediction & Concluding Remarks 

Prediction & goalscorers: Inter 2 – 1 Empoli. It will be a nervy and tight affair with Champions League qualification to be determined by a dramatic winner to be scored by Vecino.

Concluding remarks:

While Inter have given the supporters little to have faith in, it is still difficult to imagine that the players, knowing what is at stake, and in front of a near full Meazza will not be motivated to give their all.

If Inter go into the pitch and play close to their best abilities, Champions League qualification will be secured.