Inter Milan will take on Genoa in Serie A on Monday night, looking to extend their lead at the top of the table with a home win.
Inter Milan are on a six-match winning run, 12 points clear at the top of the league table ahead of the visit of Genoa at San Siro. They are the firm favourites to win the league title this season and should be able to grind out a positive result here as well.
Meanwhile, Genoa are 12th in the league table, and they are unbeaten in five of the last six league games. It will be interesting to see if they can create problems for the title favourites with a strong performance here. They will be aiming for a top-half finish this season and need to pick up important results at this stage of the season.
The home team are full of confidence and momentum, and the visitors will have to play out of their skin to grind out a win away from home. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
The home team will be without Alessandro Bastoni, who has been suspended after an accumulation of yellow cards. Davide Frattesi remains a doubt with a muscle injury. Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi are struggling with muscle injuries as well.
Stefano Sensi misses out with an ankle problem, and Marcus Thuram is sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury along with Juan Cuadrado, who has a similar problem. Meanwhile, Inter Milan are likely to shape up in a 3-5-2 formation against Genoa, with Yann Sommer in goal.
In the back three, Benjamin Pavard will start alongside Stefan de Vrij and Carlos Augusto. Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco will be deployed as the wing-backs and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch.
In the middle of the park, Nicolo Barella will start alongside Kristjan Asllani and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The three players will look to add creativity and control from the middle of the park. Marko Arnautovic will lead the line alongside Lautaro Martinez for the home team.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Arnautovic, Martinez
Genoa
The visitors have a fully-fit squad to choose from apart from Alan Matturro, who could miss out with physical discomfort. Genoa are likely to shape up in a 3-5-2 formation as well, with Josep Martinez in goal.
In the back three, Koni De Winter, Mattia Bani, and Johan Vasquez are likely to start as the central defenders. Stefano Sabelli and Aaron Martin will start as the wing-backs, and they will look to keep things compact at the back and help out during counter-attacks.
In the middle of the park, Junior Messias will start alongside Milan Badelj and Morten Frendrup. They will look to add control and defensive cover to the side. Finally, Matteo Retegui will lead the line for Genoa alongside the in-demand Albert Gudmundsson.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Martinez; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez; Sabelli, Messias, Badelj, Frendrup, Martin; Gudmundsson, Retegui
Key Stats
- Inter Milan have scored at least four goals in their last four matches in Serie A.
- Inter Milan have won their last nine home matches against Genoa in all competitions.
- Inter Milan have kept a clean sheet in their last seven home matches against Genoa in all competitions.
- 14 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
- Genoa have failed to score in five of the last six meetings against Inter Milan.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
The 26-year-old Argentine international has been in phenomenal form for the league leaders. Martinez has 23 goals in 24 league appearances this season and he has influenced the game in the final third with his creativity as well.
The Inter Milan captain will look to continue his red hot form and punish the Genoa defence here. The World Cup winner has scored eight goals in his last ten outings for the Nerazzurri, and he is thus our key player to watch out for.
Prediction
Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa
The away side have been difficult to beat in the recent outings, but they are up against the best team in the country. Inter Milan have been unstoppable in recent weeks. They will be full of confidence momentum here and they should be able to grind out all three points. In addition to that, Inter Milan have an outstanding head-to-head record against Genoa in recent years. A comprehensive home win is on the cards.
