Inter Milan are on the road this weekend as they travel to take on a transformed Genoa side under the leadership of Daniele De Rossi.
The weekend’s clash between Genoa and Inter Milan is poised to be a contest between two largely inexperienced managers. Starting with Daniele De Rossi, the AS Roma great took over from the ineffective Patrick Vieira and has somewhat transformed the results since.
Vieira went the entire season without a win in the league, and his fate was sealed after a home loss to Cremonense. As soon as the Frenchman left, a managerless Genoa side secured a first win of the season against Sassuolo, as De Rossi has since stitched together a run of four games without a defeat, including wins in the last two fixtures.
Meanwhile, the new Genoa boss faces a tough test of character ahead of the next three games, which include Inter Milan, Atalanta, and AS Roma. Taking on two of the top-four teams at the moment and coming out with positive results will be firmly on the former midfielder’s agenda, and Genoa will look to climb up the table even further after their recent run of results.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan have been a strange side in Serie A this season under Cristian Chivu. The Nerazzurri have topped most of the metrics, but have not gained top spot in the standings. Last weekend, they demolished the impressive Como, despite Cesc Fabregas’s side dominating the statistics in the game.
There has been talk of Inter Milan’s need to perform well in big games, as there is clear evidence they are unable to get the desired results in such matches. The most recent such instance was in midweek as Chivu’s side lost at home to Liverpool in the Champions League, and before that against Atletico Madrid.
Over in the league, they have suffered defeats to title rivals AC Milan and Napoli this season, which has further fuelled the argument that Chivu cannot coach against big teams. However, that should not be an issue when they take on 15th-placed Genoa, as the Nerazzurri will want to keep their current position in the standings intact, if not get above their current place, as a win will be necessary to achieve that particular objective.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
Cristian Chivu is widely expected to make some changes to the lineup from the midweek loss to Liverpool. Francesco Acerbi’s thigh-related injury could keep him out for the remainder of the calendar year, meaning Yann Bisseck should be deputising him at the back.
Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni will be there in the back three with Yann Sommer guarding the goal for Inter Milan. Hakan Calhanoglu should miss out with an abductor problem sustained against Liverpool, as his substitute in that game, Piotr Zielinski, should depoutise for the Turkish international.
Carlos Augusto should continue at right wing-back, and beyond that, Chivu is not expected to make a great deal of changes. Lautaro Martinez, who has only one goal in his past eight games against Genoa, should lead the line for Inter Milan alongside regular partner Marcus Thuram, who scored a brace against this opponent during their last visit.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Bisseck, Bastoni; Augusto, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Genoa
Daniele De Rossi has some selection decisions on his hands, as he deals with at least four players out, including top scorer Leo Ostigard. The others are Albert Gronbaek with an unspecified issue, Morten Frendrup with a calf problem, and Benjamin Siegrist has a broken finger.
The latter could still make the matchday squad if he prefers to use some kind of strapping on his broken finger. In the Genoa attack, and in Ostigard’s potential absence, De Rossi might use AC Milan loanee Lorenzo Colombo to lead the line against Inter Milan alongside Vitinha.
There is also hope for the in-demand Frendrup to return fit for this clash and play alongside Ruslan Malinovskyi and Morten Thorsby, although Aaron Martin should deputise should Frendrup be absent from the starting lineup.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Leali; Marcandalli, Otoa, Vazquez; Norton-Cuffy, Frendrup, Malinovskyi, Thorsby, Martin; Vitinha, Colombo
Key Stats
- Genoa are unbeaten in their last three league clashes against Inter Milan.
- Genoa are unbeaten in their last five games in Serie A.
- Inter are undefeated in their last 12 matches against Genoa in all competitions.
- Inter Milan’s 32 league goals have come through 12 different scorers, the highest such proportion in Serie A this season.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
Yet another flat performance from Lautaro Martinez, coupled with Inter Milan losing yet another big game this season, has placed the pressure on the Argentine international. There is a need for Martinez to perform consistently, which has been lacking from his game for a long time now.
There are ample criticisms from the media and Inter Milan fans directed towards the skipper, and he must silence those doubting him against Genoa. A solid performance this weekend should be on the cards as a priority for Martinez, although he must then build on that and bring about the consistency missing from his displays for quite some time now.
Prediction
Genoa 1-2 Inter Milan
Genoa come into this clash at the back of a five-game unbeaten run in Serie A, which might end on Sunday as they take on the formidable Inter Milan. Daniele De Rossi has managed to stabilise things, but the next three games, including the one on Sunday, will be a stern test of his character as Genoa manager.
Inter Milan may have suffered against the big teams this season, but they have been exceptional against the others, as Sunday might set another example of that theory. The Nerazzurri are fluid in their attack this season, which could result in a win away at Genoa.
