Inter Milan will be eager to correct their error on the European front and regain momentum in Serie A when they face US Lecce away from home.
Heading into the clash with Inter Milan this weekend, US Lecce have many things to correct, which include their form, position in the standings, and their dreadful record against the Nerazzurri. The Serie A strugglers have gone winless in their last nine meetings with Inter, while failing to score past the leaders in the last 222 minutes of action, as this drought dates back to almost four years.
Eusebio Di Francesco knows that goals are a big problem for his side, but the team have improved recently on that front, scoring four in their last two games in the league. Those strikes have certainly helped Lecce stay out of the relegation zone, although only three points separate them from 18th-placed Fiorentina heading into the weekend.
Lecce do come into this clash with Inter Milan with some momentum, having won their last two Serie A encounters against Udinese and Cagliari. However, the task of upsetting Inter Milan remains big, and something nobody will expect them to do at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan got a glimpse of what Manchester City and Atletico Madrid experienced in recent Champions League games against Bodo/Glimt. The Norwegian side hosted the Italian leaders in sub-zero conditions in the Arctic Circle, as the Nerazzuri struggled for relevance.
A 3-1 result in the Champions League playoff made a huge dent in their hopes of progressing into the next round of the competition. However, Cristian Chivu will be confident that they can turn things around in the second leg, but before that, there is the challenge of getting past Lecce on the horizon.
AC Milan’s draw against Como made sure the Rossoneri could not win their game in hand, which ensured Inter Milan kept their seven-point gap at the top of the table. The Nerazzurri can extend their lead with a win over Lecce and continue their stellar six-game winning streak in the league.
That run also includes a controversial win over Juventus last weekend, which was marred by officiating decisions. With a big game out of the way, Inter Milan will look to do a double over Lecce this season, as their stellar form against the Serie A strugglers suggests Chivu’s side are the favourites in this clash.
Team News & Tactics
US Lecce
Eusebio Di Francesco does not have too many injuries to contend with as Francesco Camarda and midfielder Medon Berisha are on the sidelines. There are some selection decisions for the Lecce boss to make, as misfiring strikers Walid Cheddira and Nikola Stulic could hope they find a place in the lineup.
It is unlikely that Di Francesco will select the two, with only Cheddira likely to keep a place in the lineup, as January arrival Omri Gandelman has already put in some impressive performances. The attacker might be preferred to play behind Cheddira in the lineup, while top scorer Lameck Banda will play on the left wing for the team.
Lassana Coulibaly and Ylber Ramadani are expected to start in midfield, while Santiago Pierotti will have his place on the right wing. Di Francesco will continue to. prefer a back four that has worked out in the last few games, with Danilo Veiga and Antonino Gallo expected in the full-back roles, while Gaspar and Tiago Gabriel will take up the central positions in the backline.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Veiga, Gabriel, Gaspar, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Pierotti, Gandelman, Banda; Cheddira
Inter Milan
Cristian Chivu will have to tinker with his lineup, keeping in mind the midweek second leg clash with Bodo/Glimt to consider. Hence, there could be a bit of rotation, with Yann Bisseck, Piotr Zielinski, and Federico Dimarco likely to start here. Francesco Pio Esposito might also continue in the front line.
Alternatively, Esposito could be kept on the bench if the manager deems Ange-Yoan Bonny to start alongside Marcus Thuram. The main concern is with skipper Lautaro Martinez, who suffered a calf problem in midweek, which could see him being ruled out of the clash with Lecce.
Inter Milan are also missing Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu through suspensions ahead of the game against US Lecce, which could force Chivu to retain Petar Sucic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the lineup.
Denzel Dumfries is still sidelined, meaning Luis Henrique will continue on the right flank, while Yann Bisseck could come in for Francesco Acerbi at the back. Alessandro Bastoni and Manuel Akanji will be stationed in the back three alongside the German.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Henrique, Sucic, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito
Key Stats
- US Lecce have not won against Inter Milan in their last nine meetings.
- US Lecce have failed to score against Inter Milan in approximately 222 minutes, which stretches back to almost four years.
- Inter have kept a clean sheet in their last six matches against Lecce in all competitions.
- Inter have won their last six matches in Serie A.
Player to Watch
Marcus Thuram
Thuram has failed to match the consistency from last season, as he continues to display patchy form this term for Inter Milan. However, with a big performance needed from the Frenchman, a trip to Serie A strugglers Lecce could be the game he probably needs.
With an even bigger clash waiting for the team in midweek, Inter Milan must wrap up this tie with Lecce at the earliest possible opportunity. With a good performance in the game, especially if he can get early goals, Cristian Chivu can rest his main forward and keep him fresh for midweek, when Lautaro Martinez is expected to miss out.
Prediction
US Lecce 0-2 Inter Milan
Lecce have been in a good vein of form of late, but that does not negate the fact that they have thoroughly struggled for relevance against Inter Milan. Without a win in their last nine games against the Nerazzurri and not scoring against this particular team in almost four years now, it is difficult to see their fortunes changing anytime soon.
Inter Milan are on a six-game winning run in Serie A heading into this clash, which Chivu is likely to extend. The Nerazzurri are the heavy favourites even without skipper Lautaro Martinez in the team, and the visitors are expected to at least maintain their seven-point advantage at the top of the table.
