After a very poor performance last week, Inter Milan heads home with zero points on the table. The club looks to bounce back in front of the home supporters. The match against Sassuolo clearly showed the squad’s weak points. Some of these problems were resolved in the second half, although the breakthrough never came.
Other issues with the lineup should be resolved in this game. Expect Luciano Spalletti to field the strongest team that he can in this game, eliminating the liabilities. The best way to follow up the disappointment of last week is with a strong statement win this week. With the pressure on, the Inter faithfull will be looking for a fired up Spalletti on the sideline and a motivated squad.
Anything less could result in heartbreak again. Inter will deploy a 4-2-3-1 again in this match, with a few new faces entering the fold.
Probable Starting Lineup: Handanovic; Vrsaljko, Skriniar, Miranda, Asamoah; Gagliardini, Brozovic; Politano, Martinez, Perisic; Icardi.
Radja Nainggolan looks ready to make his Inter debut and put some life into the midfield. His health continues to improve, but he will likely still start on the bench. In a news conference today, Spalletti stated,
“He is called up but we have to be careful. There will be the supervision of the medical staff of Dr. Volpi who has an assessment based on the accident. There are risks, we will evaluate tomorrow and during the match what to do.”
The Belgian was sorely missed in the season opener, as the midfield lacked any creativity. The Nerazzurri are hoping his addition to the lineup will also improve the play of those around him, particularly Marcelo Brozovic and Lautaro Martinez. Ninja should make an instant impact if and when he comes onto the pitch.
Fellow newcomer, Sime Vrsaljko, looks to make his first appearance in the black and blue as well. The Croatian back may get the start this week due to his valuable contribution on the attacking end. If Vrsaljko and Matteo Politano can establish a good connection, that right side will turn into a cross factory.
Look for Kwadwo Asamoah to start at the Left back after Dalbert Henrique’s terrible performance against Sassuolo. Rounding out the Defense, Milan Skriniar will make his season debut after a stellar 17/18 campaign.
The attack will likely look the same as last week, with several options rotating in throughout the match. These changes will give the “true Inter” everyone is waiting for a chance to shine against Torino.
Midfielder Joao Mario continues to be a hot topic in the media this past week. After several transfer approaches, the latest by Turkish side Besiktas, it seems that the Portuguese International may be set for an Inter Milan stay.
The player is clearly out of favor with Spalletti and the fans. After becoming one of the biggest flops in recent history, is it possible for JMario to earn back acceptance of the club. It is unlikely that he will be called up for this match, but it is something to continue monitoring.
Torino is heading into this match coming off of a loss themselves. The 1-0 opener against Roma is not an ideal way to start the season, but they looked poised and up to the challenge.
After Inter’s shortcomings, Torino have to be thinking 3 points this matchup also. With the dangerous Andrea Belotti at the head of the attack, Inter may have to score several times to clinch a victory. The Nerazzurri are winless in the last three meetings with Torino, which can not be understated. Walter Mazzarri’s squad will be fearless coming into Milan. Facing adversity is nothing new for Inter, but this is an important match to avoid full-on panic. After the high hopes of the preseason and being hit with a quick reality check, this game is a must-win. Forza Inter. Prediction: Inter 2-1 Torino
Match Info
Date & Time: August 26th, 8:30 pm local time. (2:30 pm EST)
Location: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza - Milan, Italy
TV/Streaming: The match will be streamed live on the ESPN+ service. A 7-day free trial is available or $4.99/month. UK viewers can watch on Eleven Sports 2. Click here for other International options.
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