Inter have less than a 50% chance of knocking out Juventus in tomorrow’s Coppa Italia semi-final second leg, according to their former defender Fabio Galante.
The Nerazzurri lost last week’s first leg at San Siro 2-1 and must score at least two goals against Andrea Pirlo’s side to stand any chance of progression to the final, where they would face either Atalanta or Napoli.
Antonio Conte is not expected to make any surprise decisions regarding his starting XI, with the only doubt concerning Inter’s left wing-back position.
“Juve won at San Siro, so if I had to give percentages on who goes through I would give 60% to Juve and 40% to Inter,” Galante told Radio Nerazzurra today.
“Inter have everything it takes to overturn the result, not least because without fans home advantage no longer exists.
“They can go to the Allianz Stadium and play their own game, although we know these matches can always be decided on one or two moments.”
Galante then went on to speak about the mix-up between Alessandro Bastoni and Samir Handanovic in the first leg, which gifted Cristiano Ronaldo the winning goal before half-time.
“We are talking about two players who immediately bounced back against Fiorentina and both had a wonderful match,” he began.
“These things can happen during a long career like Handa’s and for a young player like Bastoni.
“I do not think it will affect anyone although it is clear that in the cup the fewer individual mistakes you make, the better chance a team has of going through.”
Next the former Torino player discussed what it will mean to Inter to have Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi back after both of them missed the first leg last week due to suspension.
“They are strong players, they can change the fate of the match,” Galante argued.
“There is no need to say the good things they have done but for every team they would be fundamental.
“Lukaku scores goals and makes the team play well and I cannot remember someone as fast as Hakimi, who has good timing.
“Having someone like this is a very important weapon.”
Galante recalled former Roma defender Vincent Candela’s comments that the Carabinieri would be needed to stop Brazilian Ronaldo and was asked whether the same applies for Hakimi.
“Maybe it would take two or three Carabinieri together perhaps to stop Hakimi!” he joked.
“When he gets into open space he hurts the opposition, although sometimes he doesn’t make the right decision in the final third, whereas Ronaldo was fast in the final third and scored goals.”
Asked for his prediction for the match that will be played at the Allianz Stadium, Galante said: “I would be happy with extra time, it would mean that Inter won 2-1 and then it will go however it goes.
“It would mean that we would have seen a good game and that Inter can play against anyone, although I do not like penalty shoot-outs, they are terrible.
“So I would say extra time and then a good goal in the 120th minute.”
