Inter Milan vs Sampdoria Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Inter Milan will be keen to keep up their winning momentum when they welcome Sampdoria to the Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday.

Fresh from securing qualification to the Last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, Inter Milan will be in excellent spirits as they prepare to welcome Sampdoria to the Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday.

After a poor start to the season, Simone Inzaghi’s side appear to have found their bearings and are now picking up momentum. Inter have won their last three league games on the trot and will go into the weekend’s clash as favourites.

Sampdoria, meanwhile, won their first game in Serie A this season last week against Cremonese. This has finally taken them off the foot of the standings to the 18th spot. Unless Inter icon Dejan Stankovic’s side can go on a winning run, they are in for a long and hard season, with relegation a real threat.

With the bottom five clubs separated by a mere five points, small margins could prove decisive come the end of the season. Stankovic certainly has brought about a change in I Blucerchiati’s demeanour but could be asking for a lot to take away something from Giuseppe Meazza.

With the final UEFA Champions League group stage clash against Bayern Munich set to be a trivial encounter, Inter can focus their efforts on getting their league campaign back on track. The last thing they need now is to drop points to Sampdoria and undo the good work over the past few weeks.

The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

Inter Milan

Simone Inzaghi was given a massive boost midweek when Romelu Lukaku returned to action against Viktoria Plzen. The Belgian international scored on the night and appeared to be in fine nick. This will give Inter added bite to the attack as games come thick and fast in the lead-up to the World Cup in Qatar.

Marcelo Brozovic has returned to individual training but is unlikely to be risked prematurely. The Croat looks set to sit out the game as he continues his recovery. Inter have an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from for the game.

To say that Inzaghi will persist with his trademark 3-5-2 formation is akin to claiming that water is wet. With Champions League qualification guaranteed, the Nerazzurri boss can now focus their attention on the league.

Andre Onana is the number one goalkeeper at the club and will keep his spot between the sticks ahead of Samir Handanovic on the night. The trio of Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni will act as the rearguard with Matteo Darmian and Federico Dimarco playing out wide.

Kristjan Asllani is likely to be brought back into the eleven, with Hakan Calhanoglu afforded a breather. He is likely to start at the tip of the Inter midfield between Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella. Roberto Gagliardini is another player who is in with a shout.

Lautaro Martinez should keep his spot up front, with Joaquin Correa partnering him in the attack. Lukaku is likely to come off the bench and will be keen to build up his match fitness. With all four strikers now fit, Inzaghi has options off the bench who could turn the tide of the game.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Onana; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Correa

Sampdoria

The Italian minnows have struggled all season in Serie A and only got their first win of the campaign against Cremonese last time out. Having also seen off Ascoli on penalties in the Coppa Italia, Stankovic’s side goes into the game with reasonably good morale on their hands.

A major reason for Sampdoria’s struggles is their lack of cutting-edge upfront. They have found the back of the net just six times all season and have the numerically worst attack in Serie A this season. It is unlikely to change against a formidable Nerazzurri backline that is regaining its form.

They are likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation that will look to outdo their opponents in midfield. Stacking numbers in the middle of the park could prove key in Stankovic’s plans to disrupt Inter’s flow. As long as they keep things tight and close off passing lanes, it could prove effective.

Harry Winks is still unavailable, while Jeison Murillo joins him on the injured list. Stankovic has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from. Emil Audero should start in goal behind a back four of Bartosz Bereszynski, Bruno Amione, Omar Colley and Tommaso Augello.

Tomas Rincon and Gonzalo Villar will form the double pivot and a screen for the Sampdoria defence. The trio of Manolo Gabbiadini, Abdelhamid Sabiri and Filip Djuricic will be tasked with crafting goalscoring opportunities for striker Francesco Caputo.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Audero; Bereszynski, Amione, Colley, Augello; Villar, Rincon; Gabbiadini, Sabiri, Djuricic; Caputo

Key Stats

• Inter Milan have lost just one of their last ten meetings in the Serie A against Sampdoria. They have won eight games and drawn one during this run.
• Inter Milan can match their record streak of wins at home against Sampdoria to six should they win on the night. The Nerazzurri last achieved it from 1984-1990.
• Sampdoria have a poor record away to Inter and have won just once in the last 20 visits.
• Inter Milan have now gone 20 Serie A games without a draw. This is their longest such run since the 1940s. Curiously, the last side to go 21+ games without a draw was Lazio in 2021, then managed by Simone Inzaghi.
• A win on the night will see Sampdoria record consecutive Serie A victories for the first time since 2021.

Player to Watch

Romelu Lukaku

Although he is likely to come off the bench on the night, the Belgian’s return represents a huge boost for Inter Milan. The Serie A MVP when Inter won the Scudetto in 2020/21, Lukaku is a proven talent who dominated the Italian top flight in his earlier spell at the Giuseppe Meazza.

While his injury layoff has coincided with a poor run of results for the Nerazzurri, Lukaku made a goalscoring return against Viktoria Plzen. Another such cameo off the bench would aid his cause and also add to his match fitness.

Lukaku appeared dangerous against Viktoria Plzen, and in Sampdoria, Simone Inzaghi has the perfect team to pit the nearly fit Belgian up against. Whether it be a late run-out or even a tactical shift, Lukaku offers Inter a reliable threat upfront. The sooner he returns to top form, the better for Inzaghi and co.

Prediction

Inter Milan 2-0 Sampdoria

With Lautaro Martinez in hot form and Inter regaining their footing, the home side are heavy favourites to come away with a win. Dejan Stankovic will be familiar with the arena having spent many years there, and will look to make life difficult for his former side. In the end, Inter’s quality should tell, and they should romp home to a comfortable win by at least two goals.