Inter Milan will look to end their championship-winning season on a winning note when they take on mid-table settlers Hellas Verona.
Hellas Verona secured their place in the top flight for next season after a momentous victory over UEFA Europa Conference League-finalists Fiorentina. The three points collected on Monday put them outside of harm’s way, as even if they lose on Sunday to Inter Milan, Verona will stay up.
However, there is the formality of positions at the end of the campaign, as Verona could still drop a few places on the table, which would bring them financial losses. Lecce, Cagliari, and Frosinone are all in with a chance to leapfrog Verona in the standings. But it will make little difference to the home side ahead of the final game of the season.
Meanwhile, champions Inter Milan will have been left disappointed that they cannot have a record-breaking finish to their campaign. Last week’s 1-1 draw with Lazio means they can no longer set a new club points record, as they can only finish with 96 points on board should they manage a win on the final day.
Missing out on that club record may not tarnish their season a single bit, as Simone Inzaghi will relish the challenge he took up this season against some of his domestic adversaries. Inter Milan have been tremendous all season, losing only twice.
Inzaghi will want to finish the season on a high note, and a win will be high on his agenda ahead of Sunday. Inter Milan have had a favourable recent record against Verona, scoring in their 25 recent meetings. They will come into this clash as the clear favourites to take three points.
Team News & Tactics
Hellas Verona
Verona will be without three of these key players. Thomas Henry and Ondrej Duda must serve suspensions following recent infractions. Juan Manuel Cruz also misses out with a thigh injury, although neither of those missing stars may make the manager change the lineup.
In fact, Marco Baroni might name an unchanged starting lineup that beat Fiorentina on Monday, as he might still want to keep their current position on the table intact. Verona will go with Federico Bonazzoli as the leading striker, with Darko Lazovic, Tomas Suslov, and Tijjani Noslin playing behind him.
Michael Folorunsho and Suat Serdar will keep their places in central midfield, as the two midfielders will protect the back four behind.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Montipo; Centonze, Coppola, Dawidowicz, Cabal; Folorunsho, Serdar; Lazovic, Suslov, Noslin; Bonazzoli
Inter Milan
Francesco Acerbi was Inter Milan’s only recent injury concern, and with the defender’s return to action in last week’s draw against Lazio, Simone Inzaghi will have a full complement of his squad ahead of the final day of the season. He will likely not worry too much about picking a team with a result in mind. But Inter Milan will likely field a strong enough lineup to face Verona.
Striker and skipper Lautaro Martinez will undoubtedly start and will want to improve his record against Hellas Verona, which currently stands at six goals. He has also found the back of the net 15 times away from home, and another one on the final day of the season would see him set a club record in that aspect.
Inzaghi might start with some of his fringe stars, like Emil Audero in goal and Yann Bisseck in the backline. There could be a place for Kristjan Asllani in midfield, while Carlos Augusto might replace Federico Dimarco on the left-hand side.
Denzel Dumfries, who has links with a move away from the club, will start in his customary right wing-back role. Up front, Martinez will have the company of Marko Arnautovic in the striking department.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Audero; Bisseck, de Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Fratessi, Asllani, Barella, Augusto; Arnautovic, Martinez
Key Stats
- Hellas Verona have conceded a goal in each of their last 25 meetings with Inter Milan.
- Hellas Verona last kept a clean sheet against Inter Milan back in 1992.
- Inter have scored at least two goals in 21 of their last 24 matches against Verona in all competitions.
- Inter are undefeated in 30 of their last 31 matches in Serie A.
- Lautaro Martinez has 24 goals, eight more than the nearest Capocannoniere contender Dusan Vlahovic.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
Martinez had a very big season for Inter Milan. He will relish the prospect of lifting the title on Sunday and the Capocannoniere accolade. He remains eight goals in front of his nearest competitor, Dusan Vlahovic, and it will take the Serb a record-breaking game to match the Argentine’s tally.
Martinez also has six goals against Hellas Verona and one in each of their last four meetings. His 15 strikes on the road this season are only one short of breaking the club record for away goals for an Inter Milan player, something he will try to accomplish on Sunday.
Prediction
Hellas Verona 0-3 Inter Milan
The home side will come into this clash in rather relaxed form, having beaten the drop with the win over Fiorentina on Monday. However, they are still in danger of losing their current position, with three teams in with a chance of taking their place on the table.
Inter Milan, on the other hand are champions coming into this clash, as Simone Inzaghi will look to finish off things with a staggering win. Hence, the holders are the clear favourites, with Lautaro Martinez likely to star in a game where goals will be aplenty for the away side, who might also end up keeping a clean sheet in the process.
