Inter will travel to Monza on Saturday in an effort to advance in the Serie A standings after beginning 2023 with a significant victory in the middle of the week.
Inter made its season debut by handing Napoli its first loss, and Monza came back from Florence with a point to move further away from the relegation zone.
Edin Dzeko’s close-range header from a Federico Dimarco inviting cross decided a tense match at San Siro on Wednesday, helping Inter defeat Napoli. Simone Inzaghi’s team put in a strong performance, culminating in the veteran striker’s goal in the 56th minute, which keeps their chances of winning the Scudetto alive as the season’s second half approaches.
They are currently in fourth place in the standings, two points behind second-placed Milan, and have won 22 of their last 25 league games against promoted teams. This weekend, they will travel to Stadio Brianteo.
Inter have not only qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, but have also climbed the domestic standings after an irregular start to the season during which Inzaghi’s contribution was heavily questioned. No team has improved more in Serie A and no team has scored more goals over the past eight matchdays.
However, they have given up at least one goal in each of their last 12 away games, which is the club’s worst run since the late 1980s. Defensive flaws on the road were the cause of their autumnal problems, as evidenced by the four losses and 18 goals they gave up before the World Cup break.
Inter will now want to build on their victory over Napoli and address their problems away from San Siro before travelling to Saudi Arabia to compete in the Supercoppa Italiana with Milan.
On Saturday, Monza will host Inter as their inaugural top-flight season continues. The Biancorossi’s performance has improved as the season has gone on, especially since owners Adriano Galliani and Silvio Berlusconi decided to replace coach Giovanni Stroppa with a relative novice after they were promoted.
Before Qatar 2022, the newcomers’ new manager Raffaele Palladino pulled them nine points clear of the drop zone, and they managed to scrape out a point against Fiorentina in the middle of the week to sit in 15th place after 16 games. By converting Patrick Ciurria’s cross into an equaliser in the second half, Brazilian wingback Carlos Augusto set up Monza for one of their toughest tests to date.
They could win three straight home games for the first time in Serie A with two home victories in their final three games before the break—2-0 against Verona and 3-0 against Salernitana. Even though a formidable barrier stands in their way, the rookies believe history can be made once more this weekend after defeating Juventus at home in Palladino’s first game.
Inter Team News
While Lukaku has already been involved directly in 9 goals from 7 games played against promoted opposition throughout his time in Italy, Dzeko has scored 2 braces in his most recent 4 Serie A away matches.
After recently resuming training and making a brief appearance from the bench against Napoli, Simone Inzaghi now has a choice between Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko to partner Romelu Lukaku up front.
Inzaghi has no other significant injury worries, but Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic is still out with a calf strain that could keep him out until Inter’s Supercoppa Italiana match against Milan later this month.
Possible Lineup
Andre Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lukaku, Edin Dzeko
Monza Team News
Due to an ankle injury, Stefano Sensi is unable to face his parent club, and Nicolo Rovella might also be absent on Saturday.
Pablo Mari, a Spanish defender who was stabbed in an unprovoked attack two months ago, was back on the bench in Florence and could now begin in Raffaele Palladino’s back three.
Possible Lineup
Di Gregorio; Marlon, Pablo Mari, Izzo; Ciurria, Pessina, Ranocchia, Augusto; Colpani, Caprari; Tony Mota
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