Hunting for a fifth consecutive win, Inter host Walter Mazzarri’s Cagliari in a match where the visitors will do everything in their power not to lose. Match tomorrow Sunday at 20:45 CET.

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter have are faced with a tough mental job ahead of Sunday’s league match. The Nerazzurri must quickly put the midweek disappointment against Real Madrid behind them and fully focus on the league.

It is clear to observers that despite being the league’s top scorers, Inter’s problems lie in their poor record of chance conversion.

Statistics released after the completion of the Champions League group stage highlight this fact clearly; the Nerazzurri are the top European team in terms of chance generation, despite not being in the top five when it comes to goals scored.

There is little doubt the Mazzarri’s Isolani will set up to play some vintage anti-football that has become so emblematic of the tactician’s preferred style of play.

Expect the hosts to find it incredibly difficult to create chances here and thus, cannot be anything but clinical when presented with such chances.

Expect Inzaghi to try and overload one of the flanks to try and make inroads into the visitor’s defensive third. Mazzarri will try and ensure that all central channels are locked down, keeping Inter’s best chance of breaking down the visitors out wide.

Cagliari are in a heap of trouble. The Sardinians find themselves in the relegation zone and despite the strong squad, neither their performances nor their results can have their supporters bullish about their side’s prospects of remaining in the top flight.

Despite having ex-Interista Keita Balde and an in-form Joao Pedro up front, Cagliari generally struggle to score multiple goals and when they do, the usually tend to let it as many, if not more, goals.

Team News

Stefan Di Vrij is finally fit and will probably start the match. Inter continue to miss the services of Joaquin Correa, Matteo Darmian, Andrea Ranocchia and Alekasndar Kolarov.

Probable Line-up (3-5-2): Handanovic (C); Skriniar, De Vrij, Skriniar; D’Ambrosio, Barella, Calhanoglu, Brozovic, Perisic; Lautaro, Dzeko.

Stats

Last Season: Inter 1 – 0 Cagliari

Last 10 Head to Head: Inter are clearly and considerably ahead of their visitors in the head to head record. The hosts hold a seven to two win lead over Cagliari.

Keep An Eye On:

Nicolo Barella: Young Nic clearly lost his head against Real Madrid with the sending off. The talismanic midfielder will want to right his midweek error and the sub-par patch of form he’s been going through as of late, especially against his former side. Barella has traditionally performed well against Cagliari and so expect this trend to continue.

Officials

Referee: Matteo Marchetti.
Assistants: Scatragli and Della Croce.
Fourth Official: Minelli.
VAR: Pairetto and Ranghetti.

Prediction & Concluding Remarks

Prediction & scorers: Inter 1 – 0 Cagliari. D’Ambrosio hail Mary around the 90th minute to win it.

Concluding remarks: Everyone expects Mazzarri to have his side play woefully negative football. Expect Inzaghi’s wasteful Inter to need an unlikely savior to win the three points.