INTER MILAN
v
FIORENTINA
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Sunday 27th September, 2015, 19:45 GMT
***
Serie A leaders Inter aiming to make it six wins on the spin when they host nearest rivals Fiorentina on Sunday. After five victories in five matches, Inter host second-placed Fiorentina in what is already a crucial match in this yeara s Serie A calendar. Inter are currently enjoying their best start to a league campaign since 1966, however, on Sunday they will face a rejuvenated Viola squad. It will be the first of many tests for Roberto Mancinia s men. The Nerazzurri have enjoyed a relatively smooth start to the season and they have taken full advantage of the fixtures to date, winning all five games while conceding just one goal.
Inter’s early success has not been built on goals scored. Instead, they have relied on a watertight defence that has conceded only once in Serie A so far. Fiorentina, meanwhile, have hardly been leaking goals themselves. Paulo Sousa’s team were beaten 3-1 by Torino earlier this season, but since then have won three league games on the bounce without conceding any.
Team news and tactics
Inter Milan
Ahead of Sundaya s big match, Mancini has only one major injury doubt concerning his defence: Jeison Murillo is having some problems with a muscle injury. However, Gary Medel proved an effective defensive substitute and will play alongside Miranda if the Colombian doesna t pass a late fitness test.
The left-back position is still unclear and Mancini will once again choose between Alex Telles and Juan Jesus. Similarly up front Ivan Perisic is battling for the starting spot with Adem Ljajic. If Intera s first choice back four return to the starting eleven, then makeshift defender Gary Medel may find himself on the bench. On the other hand, if Medel is deployed in the midfield with Felipe Melo as a double pivot, Geoffrey Kondogbia can then push a little more forward and will be able to express himself more creatively in the final third.
Probable Starting Line-up (4-3-3):Handanovic(Gk); Telles, Medel, Miranda, Santon; Kondogbia, Melo, Brozovic; Perisic, Icardi, Jovetic
Fiorentina
Paulo Sousaa s Fiorentina have so far displayed attacking expansive football with a talent-packed midfield. They are on a current three match winning streak, however all games were against opposition that one would expect the Tuscans to beat. The home loss to Basel and Torinoa s comprehensive week two win are evidence that there are tangible frailties to the Viola defence. Sousa has improved the team defensively, and as a result they have conceded just three goals in Serie A to date. Gone is the possession game of Montella, Fiorentina now play with a more direct style, using a lone striker as pivot for the attacking plays.
Sousaa s main attacking threat will come from wide-men Marcos Alonso and Jakub Blaszczykowski who have been involved in four of Fiorentinaa s eight goals scored this season. The pair will probably be handful for Intera s full backs. In Khouma Babacar and Nikola Kalinic, Sousa also has a couple of lethal goal scorers at his disposal. So far Fiorentina have failed to find a stable starting eleven. The Gigliati have rotated heavily and report a clean bill of health ahead of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza clash. Giuseppe Rossi may start but is still nursing his way back to fitness following a serious knee injury.
. Probable Starting Line-up (3-4-2-1):Tatarusanu(Gk); Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori; Blaszczykowski, Badelj, Vecino, Alonso; Bernardeschi, Borja Valero, Kalinic
Key Facts
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Inter have won their last 6 matches in Serie A.
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Inter have won with a 1 goal margin in their last 6 matches in Serie A.
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Fiorentina have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 6 matches in Serie A.
Players to Watch Out For
Stevan Jovetic (Inter Milan)
Stevan Jovetic has scored three goals already since his loan move from Manchester City. The forward will go up against one of his old clubs at the weekend – he played over 100 games for Fiorentina before moving to the Premier League in 2013.
Jakub Blaszczykowski (Fiorentina)
Jakub Blaszczykowski joined Fiorentina on loan from Borussia Dortmund this summer, ending an eight-year spell at the Bundesliga club. Despite a shoulder injury, the Polish international has settled in fairly quickly and scored his first goal for his new club against Bologna on Wednesday. a Kubaa must have a decisive impact if Fiorentina are to get a positive result against the league leaders tonight.
Prediction
Inter Milan 1-1 Fiorentina
The two clubs have had an acrimonious summer filled with accusations and polemics regarding the failed move of Mohammed Salah to Inter, all of which will add to the intrigue and spectacle. Many doubts still surround Inter, especially their style of play. They have found the correct formula in defence but are yet to find their attacking rhythm in the final third. This fixture is usually highly entertaining and this time both sides will be looking to preserve their winning streaks so a potentially great game is at hand.
Blast From the Past
Fiorentina extended their unbeaten run in Serie A to eight matches with a drought-breaking 1-0 win againstInter at San Siro on Sunday.