Whether facing Juventus or Torino, a trip to Turin is never an easy day out. Inter will want to win here against struggling Torino and really apply more pressure on the chasing pack. Match on Sunday at 15:00 CET.
Recently appointed Davide Nicola has been entrusted with the unenviable task of engineering an escape from relegation for the malaise ridden Torino.
The Granata have been ever so slightly improved since the new coach’s arrival. Despite having only won twice in the ten league matches since the new year, it’s important to remember that they’ve only lost twice and racked up a pretty decent twelve points haul in this calendar year.
Torino are a decent team that seem to do everything on the pitch fairly well, but just not well enough to actually win consistently. Expect Nicola to play with a flat 3-5-2 formation, setting his defense to sit deep to hope to frustrate Inter and soak up the pressure.
Inter must try and become the relentless predator here, they cannot allow their hosts any space to defend collectively, mount serious counter attacks or even breath.
Reports indicate that Christian Eriksen might be rested in lieu of Roberto Gagliardini, which might not be the worst of decisions, despite the two players’ difference in technical prowess.
For Eriksen to really flourish, he needs space and runners into the space to pass the ball to, don’t expect Torino to give the visitors any space.
Inter must try and score first as this could really unlock the match and make their lives so much easier, but they cannot go in search of the early goal with any disregard to tactical and defensive solidity.
Team News
Arturo Vidal has required a surgical intervention on his right knee to take care of some long standing issue and will not be available for a few weeks at least.
Despite reports that Christian Eriksen has picked up some kind of knock, the Dane is still widely expected to make the matchday squad.
Probable Line-up (3-5-2): Handanovic (C); Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Hakimi, Gagliardini, Brozovic, Barella, Perisic; Lautaro, Lukaku
Stats
Last Season: Torino 0 – 3 Inter.
Last 10 Head to Head: Inter hold an ever so slight edge over Torino with four wins to the Granata’s three. Promisingly, Inter have won the last three encounters between the two sides.
Keep an Eye on:
Alexis Sanchez: Having bagged a brace against Parma, the Chilean forward was once again brought on last week against Atalanta for the usual end-of-match injection of pace and dynamism.
Alexis has looked very good when on the pitch so far this season, and now with three goals scored in the last three matches, one can expect Alexis to make a tangible impact on the match when he makes he’s brought on; expect the same here.
Officials
Referee: Paolo Valeri.
Assistant referees: Ranghetti and Lo Cicero.
Fourth Official: Martino.
VAR: Fabbri and Mondin.
Prediction & Concluding Remarks
Prediction & scorers: Torino 1 – 3 Inter with Lukaku scoring a brace and Perisic sealing it.
Concluding remarks: Facing a relegation battling side is never a walk in the park towards the end of the season; particularly one with a storied history who doesn’t believe that relegation is deserved. Inter will have to dig deep here to take the three points.
