Inter vs. Crotone: Match preview, how to watch and match thread

Inter Milan, following arguably their worst performance of the season, amidst unnecessary internal drama, and after evermore transfer window disappointment, look to get back on track against a struggling Crotone side at the San Siro on Saturday night.

Now winless in seven straight, Luciano Spalletti & Co. continue to scramble for answers. They’ll be forced to do so vs. Crotone without captain and top-scorer Mauro Icardi leading the attack, as he’ll miss through injury.

This team needs to rediscover its form, and fast. As Spalletti said at his latest press conference, “We can only turn things around by working hard day in, day out. We need to rediscover all of the traits that allowed us to become players, and in my case coach, of Inter in the first place.” Thanks to Roma’s equally abysmal form, Inter haven’t fallen out of the top four...

Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

Yet.

Crotone, on the other hand, sit in 17th place, two points off the drop zone. They don’t play attractive football — there’s really no way around it. The southerners, managed by former Nerazzurri legend Walter Zenga, average the least possession in all of Serie A (41.5%). Additionally, they average more inaccurate long balls per game than any other team (they attempt the most) and less accurate short passes per game than any other league side.

Tony Pulis-esque, no?

Photo by Antonino D'Urso/KONTROLAB /LightRocket via Getty Images

The question remains, however: can Inter take advantage of the opportunity presented to them? In September, despite finding it somewhat difficult, the Nerazzurri walked out of the Stadio Ezio Scida with all three points after late goals from Milan Skriniar and Ivan Perisic.

Two of the players who featured in that match, Joao Mario and Yuto Nagatomo, are now gone. Following a rocky, frustrating January, Luciano Spalletti will have to deal with the same weak spots in his starting XI as he did before.

There may be a silver lining to Mauro Icardi’s injury. While he is our leading goal scorer, he’s been relatively useless as of late. Sometimes it seems we become a bit too over-reliant on him, and in turn, get sapped of all creative motivation. If he’s not firing, no one is. With Eder leading the attack, maybe the likes of Perisic, Candreva, and Valero will feel obliged to take more creative responsibility.

Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

Despite Inter’s currently nonexistent confidence and Icardi’s absence, the Nerazzurri should have enough talent and home support to get all three points from Crotone.

Key word ‘should’.

Inter 2 - 1 Crotone

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Match Info

Date & Time: Saturday, February 3rd, 2018; 8:45 PM CEST (2:45 PM on the U.S. East Coast)

Location: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza; Milan, Italy

TV/Streaming: In the U.S., the game is available on beIN Sports 4, with streaming through beIN Sports Connect and fuboTV. In the U.K., the match will be shown on BT Sport Live and BT Sport 2. Click here to find out where you can catch the match anywhere else in the world.

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Inter’s Matchday Squad

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Match Thread Rules

There are only three rules: don’t be hateful, don’t disrespect anyone else’s opinion and enjoy the game!

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