Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has decided to start Benjamin Pavard in defense, and Dvaide Frattesi and Hakan Calhanoglu in midfield in today’s Serie A clash away to Empoli, with kickoff scheduled for 12.30 CET.
First of all, the big news is that midfielder Davide Frattesi is in the lineup from start. The 24-year-old arrived at Inter from Sassuolo over the summer.
However, Frattesi has already notched a goal and assist from the bench for Inter – now he gets the chance to play from the first minute.
Secondly, Matteo Darmian and Federico Dimarco play on the wings. Accordingly, it’s an all-Italian wingback pair, with Denzel Dumfries getting a rest and Juan Cuadrado out with an injury,
Thirdly, in defence it’s Benjamin Pavard and Alessandro Bastoni starting on either side of Italian international defender Francesco Acerbi.
Therefore, Stefan de Vrij is on the bench, having started against Real Sociedad in the Champions League.
However, Pavard made his first ever appearance against La Real during the week. The Frenchman keeps his place in the team.
Lautaro Martinez & Marcus Thuram Lead The Line
Fourthly, in midfield, Hakan Calhanoglu starts in the middle of the park. He returns from an injury that kept him out of the Champions League opener against La Real. Flanking the Turkish international are Frattesi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
As a result, Nicolo Barella gets a rest, whilst Kristjan Asllani drops to the bench after having deputized for Calhanoglu against La Real. Subsequently, up front, Argentina international forward Lautaro Martinez starts.
Martinez is Inter’s captain, starting this season. He has already scored five goals in Serie A this season. Therefore he keeps his place. And then, French international Marcus Thuram starts as the Argentine’s strike partner.
New signings like Frattesi, Cuadrado, Carlos Augusto, Yann Bisseck, and Marko Arnautovic all start on the bench once again, to complete Inter’s formation on and off the pitch.
Official Starting Lineups Empoli Vs Inter Milan
Empoli (4-3-1-2): Berisha; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Pezzella; Marin, Ranocchia, Maleh; Baldanzi; Caputo, Shpendi.
Substitutes: Perisan, Stubljar, Walukiewicz, Guarino, Bereszynski, Cacace, Kovalenko, Grassi, Fazzini, Bastoni, Cancellieri, Cambiaghi, Gyasi, Destro.
Coach: Andreazzoli.
Suspended: no one.
Injured and unavailable: Caprile, Maldini.
Inter (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Davide Frattesi, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez.
Substitutes: Emil Audero, Raffale Di Gennaro, Stefan de Vrij, Yann Bisseck, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Augusto, Kristjan Asllani, Nicolo Barella, Davy Klaassen, Alexis Sanchez, Marko Arnautovic.
Coach: Simone Inzaghi.
Suspended: no one.
Injured and unavailable: Juan Cuadrado, Stefano Sensi.
Referee: Matteo Marcenaro.
Assistant referees: Colarossi and Cipressa.
Fourth official: Fourneau.
VAR: Valeri and Gariglio.
