This weekend Inter welcome former Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s Genoa to the San Siro on Saturday 5 December 2015 (kick off 20:45 CET) in matchday 15 of the 2015’16 Serie A season.
Inter come into this game on the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss against Scudetto rivals Napoli on Monday night which brought to an end their four match winning run.
Despite the result at the San Paolo, Inter came out of the game with a lot of pride as when down to ten men after losing Yuto Nagatomo to a second booking and two goals down, they were very much improved against an on fire Napoli and even could have got a point if not for the post and Pepe Reina, who produced a fine save from Joao Miranda’s header in the final seconds.
That defeat in terms of the league table wasn’t that bad for Inter considering that rivals Roma and Fiorentina dropped points as well in matchday 14. The result saw Napoli leapfrog Inter into first place on 31 points with Inter one point behind on 30 and Fiorentina in third on 29 then Roma in fourth on 27 points.
Genoa also come into this game on the back of a defeat against newcomers Carpi (1-2) in Genoa last weekend. That was the Grifone’s sixth defeat in a disappointing season so far with their five other losses coming against Empoli (2-0), Lazio (2-0), Juventus (0-2), Fiorentina (1-0) and Palermo (1-0).
There have been some good wins however against Sassuolo (2-1), Chievo (3-2), AC Milan (1-0) and Hellas Verona (2-0) adding to two good draws against Napoli (0-0) and Torino (3-3).
Genoa’s shaky form sees them sit in 15th place in the standings on 16 points, 3 points outside the relegation zone and their hopes won’t be helped by top scorer Leonardo Pavoletti’s suspension for this game.
Here is the Inter team news and probable line up as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport:
Samir Handanovic starts in goal with Danilo D’Ambrosio expected to keep his place at right back as Davide Santon is still injured. The central defensive partnership of Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo is also expected to start while at left back Yuto Nagatomo is suspended after being sent off at Napoli so it is between Juan Jesus and Alex Telles for the place, with the latter the favourite.
In a midfield three, Geoffrey Kondogbia will not make the game despite returning to training this week after a muscle injury so Gary Medel is expected to start alongside Felipe Melo and one of Fredy Guarin or Marcelo Brozovic with the Croatian favoured at this stage.
In an attacking trident, Ivan Perisic has had flu this week and isn’t expected to start the game with his place on the right possibly going to Stevan Jovetic and on the left Adem Ljajic should start after a great performance against Napoli.
Up top captain Mauro Icardi is expected to start despite having only 13 touches against Napoli in his time on the pitch, which was less than both goalkeepers on the night.
Probable Inter line up (subject to change): (4-3-3) Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Telles; Medel, Melo, Brozovic; Jovetic, Ljajic, Icardi (C)
Bench: Carrizo, Berni, Juan Jesus, Dodo, Montoya, Ranocchia, Guarin, Gnoukouri, Palacio, Biabiany, Perisic, Manaj
Some Stats:
Inter and Genoa have met at the San Siro in Serie A 62 times with Inter leading the stats with 38 wins to Genoa’s 12 wins with 12 matches drawn.
In the overall Serie A records (home and away), Inter continue to lead the stats with 54 wins to Genoa’s 37 wins with 34 of the 125 matches ending in a draw.
In last season’s corresponding fixture at the San Siro between the clubs on 11 January 2015, Inter won 3-1 with goals from Palacio, Icardi and Vidic.
Genoa’s last win against Inter in Serie A at the San Siro came way back on 26 March 1994 in a 1-3 win with goals from Ruotolo x2 and Skuhravy.
Inter have two former Genoa players in their ranks in Andrea Ranocchia and Rodrigo Palacio while Genoa have four ex Inter men in coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Goran Pandev, Nicolas Burdisso and Diego Laxalt.
Player to Watch: Adem Ljajic – The Serbian has been instrumental in Inter’s last two games with his creativity and link up play.
My Prediction: Inter 2-0 Genoa
Scorers: Ljajic, Icardi
Officials: Referee: Piero Giacomelli Assistants: Di Fiore, Vuoto
Fourth Official: Padovan Additional Assistants: Valeri, Baracani
Author’s Note: I expect Inter to bounce back after their high profile defeat to Napoli. Also with Inter playing on Saturday, three points is crucial to put pressure on Napoli who play a sort of bogey team for them in Bologna on Sunday who they have only beat twice in their last seven matches.
Forza Inter!
