Matteo Darmian has won the battle to replace Alessandro Bastoni when Inter host Sassuolo tonight, according to a report in the Italian media.
Corriere dello Sport’s print edition said the former Manchester United defender would step in for Bastoni, who is suspended for the rearranged game at San Siro.
Roberto Gagliardini is expected to replace the suspended Marcelo Brozovic in midfield, while Lautaro Martinez will keep his place in attack ahead of Alexis Sanchez.
Nicolo Barella will start in the play-maker position for the Nerazzurri, just as he did in the reverse fixture at Sassuolo back in November.
Inter are without three first-choice players for this evening’s game, with Ivan Perisic joining Brozovic and Bastoni on the side-lines (along with Aleksandar Kolarov).
The Rome-based paper noted that this meant Antonio Conte had more starting players unavailable than he would have done if Inter had played Sassuolo as scheduled on March 20, when four players but only two starters (Samir Handanovic and Stefan de Vrij) contracted COVID-19.
Inter’s probable starting XI (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Matteo Darmian, Stefan de Vrij, Milan Skriniar; Achraf Hakimi, Roberto Gagliardini, Nicolo Barella, Christian Eriksen, Ashley Young; Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez.
