Inter will be coming up against familiar faces on the bench in each of their next three matches in Serie A.

This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, who note that all three of the Nerazzurri’s next three opponents are coached by former Inter players or coaches.

On Friday, Inter will travel to Liguria to face Spezia, who have been enjoying a good season under the direction of Thiago Motta.

The former Nerazzurri midfielder, who was a key player in winning the European treble in 2010 before moving to PSG, had a difficult first spell coaching in Serie A with Genoa, but he looks to have guided Spezia away from relegation this time around.

The Nerazzurri will be wary of Motta’s team despite their budget and place in the table, and they will be even more wary of their opponents after that, an in-form Roma team coached by Motta’s former boss Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese tactician has been enjoying some of the most steadiest form he has all season with the Giallorossi, and he will travel to the San Siro hoping his team can get a result against the club that he guided to the treble.

After that, the Nerazzurri will finally play their match against Bologna which had been scheduled for January 6 but postponed, and they will meet one final former player in the form of Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The Serbian coach is currently in hospital, but should he be able to appear on the touchline he will face a team that he played for as well as acting as assistant coach under Roberto Mancini.

Even if Mihajlovic is unable to be physically present his fingerprints will be all over a Rossoblu team who will be the third in a sort of gauntlet of former allies aiming to give the Nerazzurri a setback in their Scudetto run-in.