Serie A leaders Inter resume their campaign with a very tricky visit to one of the most in form sides, Empoli.
The Tuscan outfit is on a four game winning streak that has seen them take points off of teams such as Lazio and Fiorentina, and so, Inter will need to be at their very best if they want to guarantee their league leading position.
Marco Giampaolo continues to steer Empoli towards becoming this season’s revelation. The young-ish Coach has presided over a remarkable run which sees the Tuscan minnows pushing for a European spot.
Giampaolo’s Empoli is as constant as Roberto Mancini’s Inter is ever-changing. They have fielded a 4-3-3 formation in almost all league games so far and changes in personnel have always been minor and out of necessity.
Central to Empoli’s strong performances this season has been the great form of playmaker Riccardo Saponara and veteran striker Massimo Maccarone. The pair have remarkably been involved in 21 goals this season, whether as assist givers or scorers. However, their midfield trio will have to work overtime to dominate the centre of the park, something the very physical Inter have become adept at doing.
Mancini knows that this game, as with all of Inter’s post-loss matches so far this season, will be a high profile encounter where everyone will be watching the reaction to the previous defeat in order to gauge their title-winning credentials. With just four points separating the top four, Inter can see themselves going from league leaders to out of the Champions League spots in a single match-day, so the pressure will definitely be on.
Mancini, after a few daring forays in the previous games, will probably revert to a more reserved no nonsense approach to the match. Felipe Melo’s suspension means that Geoffrey Kondogbia will probably start as Gary Medel’s defensive midfield partner, the backbone on which Mancini sets up his sides.
Keep an eye on: Riccardo Saponara (Empoli) – The ex-Milan player has taken Serie A by storm since his return to Empoli this season. Having been afforded the space and confidence of his manager, Ricky Saponara has become Serie A’s joint top assist maker and has also bagged five goals of his own. He will be highly motivated to add his former city rivals to his growing list of scalps taken this season.
Form Guide: Empoli (W W W W D) Inter (L W W L W)
Last season: Empoli 0-0 Inter
Stat fact: Inter have not lost to Empoli since April 2006, registering seven victories and a draw in all competition, home and away.
Empoli (probable): Skorupski; Mario Rui, Costa, Tonelli, Laurini; Zelinski, Paredes, Buchel; Saponara; Maccarone, Pucciarelli
Suspended: None
Inter (probable): Handanovic; Telles, Murillo, Miranda, Santon; Kondogbia, Medel, Brozovic; Ljajic, Icardi, Perisic
Suspended: Melo
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