Inter coach Simone Inzaghi is set to put a new system of playing to the test when his side face Real Betis in a friendly today, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan in a new role.
As reported in today’s newspaper edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, a lack of attacking options has prompted Inzaghi to rework his formation, and use Mkhitaryan as a second forward playing off lone striker Edin Dzeko.
With Joaquin Correa and Romelu Lukaku not fit enough to travel to Seville for the match, and Lautaro Martinez on international duty with Argentina ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup final, Dzeko is the only senior striker available.
Inzaghi will operate a 3-5-1-1 formation and it is being tested with a view to being utilised against Napoli on 4 January, when Inter return to competitive action in Serie A.
Lukaku is expected to be fit and available then to play as the lone striker, and with doubts over Correa’s fitness and with Martinez only returning to the club on 28 December, Inzaghi may be required to use a single forward.
Mkhitaryan, meanwhile, has impressed since joining Inter from Roma in the summer and is already seen as an improvement on predecessor Arturo Vidal, particularly as he can feature in a more advanced position.