Inter Milan will be aiming to maintain pressure on AC Milan at the top of the Serie A table when they take on Torino on Sunday.
Following their UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool in midweek, Inter Milan will turn their attention back to the Serie A when they travel to Turin to face Torino on Sunday. It could be a vital clash in the context of the title race as the two Milan clubs fight it out with Napoli for the Scudetto this season.
As things stand, defending champions Inter are currently second in the league table, behind AC Milan. However, they have a game in hand, and the current two-point deficit could be overcome if they can build a winning momentum during the final phase of the campaign.
Unfortunately for Simone Inzaghi and his team, they have been quite inconsistent this year, with the 5-0 win over Salernitana last weekend putting an end to a run of one win in their previous seven competitive encounters. The Nerazzurri have no room for complacency this time around when they travel to Olimpico de Torino, as they look to extend their winning streak to three games in all competitions.
Torino, though, are not the easiest of opponents, as they boast a formidable defence that has managed to keep the likes of Juventus and Lazio quiet. Ivan Juric’s men have developed a reputation for their great defensive grit, as indicated by the fact that the club have lost several games only by a slender one-goal margin.
Inter themselves had narrowly beaten Il Toro in the reverse fixture, and their attack might could be put to the test once again in this crucial Serie A encounter this weekend.
Team News & Tactics
Torino
Torino may have to deal with the absence of Dennis Praet heading into this contest. But on a positive note, goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic appears likely to overcome his fitness issues and is in line to replace Etrit Berisha in between the sticks.
Rifinitura pre #TorinoInter ⌛️?#SFT pic.twitter.com/TVIqTZtpoG
— Torino Football Club (@TorinoFC_1906) March 12, 2022
Tactically, Juric is likely to persist with his tried and tested 3-4-2-1 formula, where the two advanced midfielders can effortlessly drift into a central midfield role, if necessary, creating numerical superiority in the second line of press.
Conversely, they are able to move out wide to provide crosses for the central striker Andrea Belotti, who has a prolific scoring record in the Serie A and will remain Torino’s main weapon going forward. However, it will be equally important for wide attackers Marko Pjaca and Josip Brekalo to offer dynamism on the counter.
As far as the midfield is concerned, Juric could make a couple of changes from the side that drew with Bologna. Rolando Mandragora and Samuele Ricci might make way for the more defensively astute Karol Linetty and Tommaso Pobega.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji, Bremer, Rodriguez; Singo, Linetty, Pobega, Vojvoda; Pjaca, Brekalo; Belotti
Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi will be heading into this game without influential centre-back Stefan de Vrij. The Dutchman picked up a fresh injury at Anfield and has been ruled out until the end of the international break. His absence could see Danilo D’Ambrosio make a return to the starting eleven, although the experienced Andrea Ranocchia is also pushing for a start.
? | TRAINING
Nerazzurri hard at work in Appiano ahead of #TorinoInter ?
More photos ? https://t.co/vijuKZA2Ss
— Inter ??? (@Inter_en) March 11, 2022
Inzaghi could be compelled to make other changes to the side, given the midweek travel to Merseyside. The ageing Ivan Perisic could be rested in favour of January signing Robin Gosens. The German’s crosses could be a key source of creativity for his side.
Elsewhere in midfield, Marcelo Brozovic has been cleared to play against Torino after initial doubts over his fitness. His availability could be a major boost for the Nerazzurri, helping the visitors retain more control in a game where they are likely to have more possession.
With Brozovic holding the fort, the onus will be on Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu to provide creativity in the middle of the pitch. Their ability to provide a forward thrust could be essential in supplying the two centre-forwards, Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Skriniar, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Gosens; Dzeko, Lautaro
Key Stats
- Inter Milan have won each of their last five league games against Torino, scoring 2.6 goals on average.
- Torino have only won two of their last 17 home Serie A games against Inter, failing to score in 10 matches in this period.
- Torino have not won any of their last six league games under Ivan Juric; the last time the Granata recorded a longer streak without a win in the Serie A under a single manager was in December 2020, under Marco Giampaolo (eight games).
- Inter Milan have drawn each of their last three away league games (vs Atalanta, Napoli and Genoa). The last time they registered a longer run of draws on the road was in December 2004 (six, under Roberto Mancini).
- Torino have the largest difference (14) between the points picked up in home matches (24) and those gained away from home (10) in the Serie A this term.
Player to Watch
Edin Dzeko
?? Edin Džeko vs Salernitana:
? Key Passes – 3
⚽️ Goals – 2
?️ Assists – 1
? Shots – 3
? Aerial Duels Won – 100% ✅75 minutes played, 9.3 @FotMob rating pic.twitter.com/sxS7UyE1w9
— BH live ?? (@BHlive_official) March 4, 2022
Edin Dzeko is a player worth keeping an eye on in this crucial Serie A encounter against Torino. After a prolific start to his career at Inter Milan, the veteran striker has struggled with consistency since the turn of the year, with just four of his twelve league goals coming in 2022 – including a brace in the last league game against Salernitana.
Although Dzeko was not involved in the midweek win over Liverpool in the Champions League, he will be hoping to capitalise on his excellent performance against Salernitana to build some momentum as we head towards the final phase of the campaign.
Even from a tactical perspective, Dzeko’s physical prowess and his ability in the air could be useful up against a Torino side that defends deep and offers minimal space for the attackers in the final third.
Prediction
Torino 0-1 Inter Milan
This game does not promise many goals as Torino have a reputation for being involved in cagey affairs due to their grit and resilience at the back. Inter themselves haven’t been in the best of form, despite a 5-0 demolition of Salernitana last weekend.
With that in mind, this game could be decided by the barest of margins, with set-pieces likely to play a crucial role in creating scoring chances for both teams. We are expecting Inter to nick three points, with Dzeko likely to star due to his physical and aerial qualities inside the box.
