<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Inter2.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-12480 alignleft" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Inter2.jpg" alt="" width="112" height="150" /></a><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Sampdoria.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-12870 alignright" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Sampdoria.png" alt="" width="119" height="150" /></a>INTER MILAN</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>v </strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>SAMPDORIA</strong><em> </em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong> </strong><em>Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong> </strong><em>25 October 2010, 00:15 AM IST</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: center;">***</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">After a scintillating midweek game in the Champions league against Tottenham Hotspurs, Champions Inter hope to see Lazio slip up so that they can go to the top of the table in the Italian Seria A. Match day 7 saw controversy spilling all over the place when Inter faced Cagliari in a match that saw racism haunting the beautiful game again. Inter will be looking to score more goals and be involved in fewer controversial incidents.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Gathering Momentum</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Having made a slow and indifferent start to their campaign, Inter are slowly climbing up the ladder and gathering momentum. They sit in 3<sup>rd</sup> place in the table behind leaders Lazio and rivals Milan, having collected 14 points from 7 games. Last time around, the Nerazzurri defeated Cagliari with a solitary goal by Samuel Eto’o. That followed with a midweek victory in the Champions league against Spurs which ended 4-3 in favor of Inter as Eto’o ended with two goals to his name.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Although Inter have been far from impressive in the title-defense this campaign, they have had no such problems at the Meazza. They have conceded only 3 goals at their fortress and are yet to lose at their home ground. The <em>La Beneamata </em>will be hoping that the run continues.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-may-2010/image/8887231?term=sneijder+inter" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8887231/sports-news-may-2010/sports-news-may-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=8887231" border="0" alt="05943015 date 22 05 2010 Copyright imago Moritz Mueller Madrid 22 05 2010 Champions League Final Wesley Sneijder Milan with Cup Bavaria Munich Inter Milan Football men Champions League EC 1 2009 2010 Madrid Final Victory European Cup victory Celebrations Vdig 2010 vertical Highlight premiumd Football Football Season 2009 10 men Team Europe Champions League Final Final Santiago Bernab u Final cheering cheering happiness Enthusiasm." width="308" height="366" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Inter too had been linked with the Wayne Rooney saga and San Siro was suggested as a possible destination for the Red Devil. But all was put to bed on Friday. Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2010/10/22/2178529/wesley-sneijder-i-think-more-about-inter-than-winning-the-ballon-">Sneijder has emphasized that it is all about the team</a> and individual glory comes second as he looks forward to collect the coveted Ballon D’or.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Ambitious</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Sampdoria have made a decent start to their Seria A season as they sit in 7<sup>th</sup> place just 3 places shy of the Champions league spot. Samp had a successful outing last weekend as they beat Fiorentina in a closely contested encounter.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">However, the Blucerchiati had a poor midweek action in the Europa league as their European aspirations were dealt a heavy blow after they lost to Metalist Kharkiv with a 2-1 scoreline away from home. This ended a 5 game unbeaten run in all competitions. Getting a positive result in the Champions den is not an easy thing to do but Samp will be looking at least to get a point.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>TEAM NEWS</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Inter: </strong>Mancini, Milito, Stankovic, Mariga and Suazo are out injured for the Nerazzurri, who are likely to field their much used 4-2-3-1 formation. This time too Eto’o will be the lone striker upfront with Coutinho, Sneijder and Pandev playing behind him.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Possible Lineup: </em>Cesar: Maicon,Lucio,Samuel,Chivu; Zannetti, Sneijder, Cambiasso; Pandev, Eto’o, Coutinho.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a><img class="aligncenter" src="http://this11.com/boards/1287904469624934.jpg" border="0" alt="Football Fans Know Better" width="281" height="430" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Sampdoria: </strong>Semioli, Lucchini and Rossini are out injured for Sampdoria. Pazzini and Cassano will start up front.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Possible Lineup: </em>Curci: Zuari, Gastalldelo,Volta, Zeigler; Semioli, Palombo, Tissone, Guberti; Cassano, Pazzini.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>FORM GUIDE</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Inter: </strong>W-W -D-W-L</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Sampdoria: </strong>L-W-D-W-D</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>TheHardTackle's PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Samuel Eto’o</strong>: The man from Cameroon is arguably the best striker in Europe at the moment. Everything Eto’o touches is turning into gold as he chases the Golden boot this season.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/inter-milan-eto-celebrates/image/9876869?term=samuel+eto%27o" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9876869/inter-milan-eto-celebrates/inter-milan-eto-celebrates.jpg?size=500&imageId=9876869" border="0" alt="Inter Milan's Samuel Eto'o celebrates at the end of their Champions League Group A soccer match against Werder Bremen at the San Siro stadium in Milan September 29, 2010. Inter Milan won 4-0 and Eto'o scored three goals. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo (ITALY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER)" width="319" height="414" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">After playing second fiddle to Milito last year, Eto’o has surely become the main man for Inter this season. He will be looking to extend his goal tally and help his team get a few wins.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>TheHardTackle's</strong></span><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong> PREDICTION</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Sampdoria had a mixed week last time out as they had a win and a loss; the men from Genoa will be looking to up the ante and produce a battling performance to gain a point or maybe even three from the Champions.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">While Inter’s defence has been poor this season, they have been impressive in the attack. They are hitting top form at the right moment and will be looking to dispatch Samp and gain the required three points.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Inter<strong> <span style="color: #000000;">2-1</span> </strong>Sampdoria</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>TheHardTackle's</strong><strong><strong> </strong>BLAST FROM THE PAST</strong></span></p> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="640" height="385" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MraEOn0Uh_s?fs=1&hl=en_GB" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="385" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MraEOn0Uh_s?fs=1&hl=en_GB" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>