Inter Milan will be aiming to return to winning ways when they take on minnows Pisa SC on Sunday.
After a difficult week marked by two painful defeats, Inter Milan head to Tuscany on Sunday to take on Pisa SC with a clear mission: steady the ship and get their Serie A campaign back on course. Their visit to the Arena Garibaldi pits them against a newly promoted Pisa side showing surprising resilience in recent weeks.
Inter arrive wounded, having lost the first Derby della Madonnina of the season to AC Milan and then falling to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League just days later. Wednesday’s European setback was particularly deflating, as Cristian Chivu’s men conceded a late winner despite Piotr Zielinski dragging them level with a second-half strike.
While the Nerazzurri remain inside the top eight in their Champions League group stage standings, the defeat highlighted a worrying pattern. Indeed, Inter’s habit of faltering in high-profile matches has now become a theme. Losses to Napoli, Juventus, Milan, and now Atletico underline their struggles against elite opposition.
The Derby loss also saw Hakan Calhanoglu miss just his second penalty in 33 attempts since joining Serie A, an uncharacteristic lapse that proved costly. Slipping to fourth in the table and failing to score for the first time this season, Inter find themselves needing a confidence-boosting performance against Pisa.
The good news for the Nerazzurri is that historically this fixture has belonged to them. Pisa have lost their last five Serie A matches against Inter Milan, although the clubs have not met in the top flight since 1991. But the hosts are no pushovers.
Pisa’s long-awaited return to Serie A has been turbulent, but recent signs point to an upward curve. Alberto Gilardino’s side finally claimed their first top-flight victory in 34 years by beating Cremonese before the international break. They nearly followed that up with another win on Monday, only to concede deep into added time in a 2-2 draw against Sassuolo.
If Inter have struggled with consistency, Pisa have lived in stalemate territory. Seven draws from their opening 12 games shows resilience but also missed opportunities. Yet remarkably, both Pisa and Inter have lost the same number of league games (four), underlining the hosts’ competitive spirit.
Pisa are now unbeaten in six league matches and sit two games away from matching a club record unbeaten streak that has stood since 1986. Their defensive solidity has also become a talking point. Since mid-September, Pisa have kept the Arena Garibaldi on lockdown, playing 436 consecutive minutes of home football without conceding a goal.
Inter Milan may be favourites, but this is far from a straightforward assignment. Pisa’s momentum, defensive organisation and growing belief provide a genuine test for a vulnerable Inter side seeking stability. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Pisa SC
The home side enter this fixture with several absences that limit head coach Alberto Gilardino’s options. Calvin Stengs remains sidelined due to a long-term issue, while full-back Tomas Esteves and young defender Mateus Lusuardi are also unavailable through injury.
Inter Milan loanee Ebenezer Akinsanmiro is still recovering from a shoulder problem, ruling him out of selection, and experienced winger Juan Cuadrado continues to nurse a hamstring injury. None of the injured players are expected to feature this weekend, leaving Pisa without significant depth in wide and attacking areas.
With their Coppa Italia commitments already behind them, Pisa can fully focus on their league campaign, and any major rotation is likely to be reserved for next week’s cup tie. M’Bala Nzola, fresh from scoring the opener against Sassuolo, is expected to spearhead the attack once again as he chases his first Serie A goal at the Arena Garibaldi.
Henrik Meister, who also found the net as a substitute earlier in the week, provides strong competition for the centre-forward role and could be considered for a starting berth depending on Gilardino’s tactical approach.
In terms of shape, Pisa are expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation. Adrian Semper will start in goal, offering reliability and composure with the ball. The back three is set to consist of Arturo Calabresi on the right of defence, leader and aerial presence Antonio Caracciolo in the centre, and Simone Canestrelli operating on the left side.
Across midfield, Idrissa Toure should take up the right wing-back position, while Samuele Angori occupies the left. The central midfield pairing of Gabriele Piccinini and Michel Aebischer will be tasked with controlling the tempo and supporting both phases of play.
Further forward, Matteo Tramoni and Mehdi Leris are expected to operate as dual attacking midfielders, drifting into pockets of space to link play and support the lone striker. Leading the line, M’Bala Nzola is set to start as the central forward, offering strength, hold-up play and a direct threat in the box.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Semper; Calabresi, Caracciolo, Canestrelli; Toure, Piccinini, Aebischer, Angori; Tramoni, Leris; Nzola
Inter Milan
The Nerazzurri remain without two important wing-backs ahead of their trip to Tuscany. Denzel Dumfries continues to struggle with an ankle injury, ruling him out once again and leaving a noticeable gap on the right flank. He joins Matteo Darmian on the sidelines, as the experienced Italian is still recovering from a muscular issue. Both absences reduce Inter’s rotational flexibility in wide areas, particularly in a system that relies heavily on the contribution of wing-backs.
There is, however, some positive news for Cristian Chivu. Veteran midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is edging closer to a return and could be available for selection. His status will be assessed closer to kickoff, but if passed fit, he will provide an important boost to Inter’s midfield options. Should he be ready, the Armenian international will compete with Piotr Zielinski and Petar Sucic for a place in the centre of the pitch.
Inter Milan are expected to maintain their familiar 3-5-2 structure. Yann Sommer will start in goal, providing experience and composure in possession. The back three should consist of Manuel Akanji on the right of defence, Francesco Acerbi anchoring the line centrally, and Alessandro Bastoni operating on the left, where his progressive passing can initiate attacks.
In midfield, Luis Henrique is likely to fill the right wing-back role in Dumfries’s absence, while Federico Dimarco will patrol the left flank, offering width and dangerous delivery. The central trio is expected to see Nicolo Barella providing dynamism and vertical movement, Hakan Calhanoglu operating as the deep-lying playmaker, and Petar Sucic adding energy and forward thrust unless Henrikh Mkhitaryan is cleared to start.
Up front, Lautaro Martinez will lead the line as Inter’s primary goalscoring threat. The Argentine is most likely to be partnered by Marcus Thuram, whose physicality and link-up play complement Martinez’s sharper movement. Should Chivu seek a more direct option, Ange-Yoan Bonny remains an alternative, while Francesco Pio Esposito provides youthful unpredictability.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Sucic, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
Key Stats
- Inter Milan have won all of their matches against newly promoted teams in the current Serie A campaign, scoring at least twice in every such fixture.
- Pisa have not conceded a single goal at the Arena Garibaldi since mid-September, a run stretching 436 minutes. This is currently one of the longest active home clean-sheet streaks among bottom-half clubs in Europe’s top leagues.
- Despite losing to AC Milan, Napoli, and Juventus, Inter have collected 18 out of 18 possible points against teams ranked 10th or lower.
- Pisa have drawn seven of their first 12 matches, the highest draw count in Serie A so far.
- Lautaro Martinez has scored seven goals in his last eight matches against newly promoted sides.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
Inter Milan’s captain and talisman, Lautaro Martinez, steps into this fixture carrying both responsibility and momentum. Even with the Nerazzurri faltering in two high-profile matches over the past week, the Argentine forward has remained the most reliable attacking outlet in Cristian Chivu’s system. His movement between the lines, sharp instincts inside the box and relentless pressing make him the heartbeat of Inter’s forward play.
What makes Martinez particularly dangerous in this matchup is his phenomenal record against newly promoted teams. He thrives against defences that are still adjusting to Serie A tempo, scoring seven goals in his last eight outings versus such sides. With Pisa boasting an impressive home defensive streak, the burden will fall on the World Cup winner to break their resistance, something he has proven capable of doing time and again.
In matches where Inter struggle to control rhythm or break down low blocks, Martinez often becomes the difference-maker through moments of individual brilliance. Whether through a poacher’s finish, an intelligent run across the defence, or his ability to drop deep and link play, he brings versatility that Pisa may have no answer for.
Prediction
Pisa SC 0-2 Inter Milan
Inter Milan come into this match wounded but still significantly stronger on paper, with greater depth, quality, and experience across the pitch. While Pisa have shown admirable resilience, particularly at home, where they have gone over 436 minutes without conceding a goal, this will be their sternest test of the season. Inter’s need for a response after back-to-back defeats is likely to sharpen their focus, and the visitors should dominate long stretches of the game.
Pisa’s defensive organisation and recent unbeaten run suggest they will not crumble easily, and they may frustrate Inter for portions of the match. However, the Nerazzurri possess enough firepower through Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, and their midfield creators to eventually find the breakthrough. Inter’s superior quality should tell in the decisive moments, even if the hosts put up a spirited fight.
