The Nerazzurri finally step onto the pitch as champions of Italy and start their defense against Genoa at home. Match tomorrow Saturday at 18:30 CET.

Opening matches are always a difficult to maneuver, particularly so in Inter’s case against Genoa on Saturday. Having let go of Antonio Conte and Gabriele Orliali as well as having sold Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku, the Nerazzurri have had a very stormy summer.

Incoming manager Simone Inzaghi has been tasked with picking up the pieces and trying to mount a serious defense with what he’s been given.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, Inter have reinforced well having brought in Edin Dzeko and Denzel Dumfries to replace the two outgoing stars.

And if their preseason form and performances are anything to go by, it seems like Inzaghi has understood the team and that the feeling is mutual.

Also working in Inzaghi’s favor is the fact that the spine of the team, Italy’s best defence and central midfield partnership, has remained intact, providing the new manager a very solid foundation on which to build on.

With Lautaro Martinez suspended for the match, expect Edin Dzeko to start as prima punta with either Stefano Sensi or Martin Satriano in support.

Genoa’s summer has, in contrast, been quiet. Club president Enrico Preziosi has unusually kept the manager Davide Ballardini over the summer but sold decent attacking prospect Eldor Shomurodov to Roma without substantial replacement.

With crowds finally substantially in the stands for the first time in about 18 month, debutante Inzaghi will want to make sure his side start off the season strongly.

Expect Inter to come out racing, looking to score early and dominate the match.

Team News

Notable absences from the match include the suspended Lautaro as well as Christian Eriksen whose footballing future is still unclear as well as Alexis Sanchez who, true to form, is suffering some muscular fatigue.

The silver linings coming out of the Inter camp are that Stefano Sensi is fit and available for selection (an extremely rare occurrence) and the news that Inter and Lautaro have agreed on the player’s contract renewal terms and the signed documents are imminent.

Probable Inter line-up (3-5-1-1): Handanovic (C); Bastoni, De Vrij, Skriniar; Perisic, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Barella, Darmian; Sensi; Dzeko.

Stats

Last Season: Inter 1 – 0 Genoa.

Last 10 Head to Head: It’s almost a clean sweep for Inter against Genoa with eight wins for the Nerazzurri to the visitors’ single vicotry (dating back to September 2017).

Keep An Eye On

Stefano Sensi: The diminutive playmaker has been in excellent form throughout the summer and seems to be more central to Inzaghi’s plans than under Antonio Conte.

If the Italian international can manage to stay fit (which, admittedly is a big if) Inter might look at Sensi as an added signing this summer.

Officials

Referee: Valerio Marini.
Assistant referees: Stefano Liberti and Valerio Vecchi.
Fourth Official: Matteo Marchetti.
VAR: Paolo Valeri and Ciro Carbone.

Prediction & Concluding Remarks

Prediction & scorers: Inter 3 – 0 Genoa; with Dzeko, Satriano and Barella getting on the scoresheet.

Concluding remarks: To call Inter’s preseason tumultuous would be to undermine the very essence of tumult, that said, the club have managed to retain the spine of the team and have reinforced intelligently where talent was sold.

Expect a strong and commanding performance from a squad and manager with a point to prove.