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Inter Milan vs Hellas Verona: Match Preview

Inter look to breathe more life into their title defense against a tricky opponent

Hellas Verona FC v FC Internazionale - Serie A Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images

With many Interisti still basking in last weekend’s victory over Juventus, the club set their sights on an interesting matchup against stiff opposition in Igor Tudor’s Hellas Verona. The Croatian manager’s side gave Inter nearly all they could handle in the first match between the two this season, before a Joaquin Correa brace rescued the Nerazzurri. Inter will be looking for a similar result Saturday, but hopefully one without the same type of scares.

Juventus v FC Internazionale - Serie A Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

It was not pretty at all, but the result was beautiful. A narrow 1-0 win seems to have put the wind back in Inter’s sails. Simone Inzaghi’s team has gained ground on the frontrunners Milan, as the Rossoneri slipped up with a 0-0 draw at home to Bologna. The combination of these results has put Inter two points closer to the summit, now four off with a game in hand. However, Inter will need to keep up this pressure with another win over Verona.

After accumulating another yellow card against Juventus, Lautaro Martinez will be forced to sit out against Verona. This opens the chance for Joaquin Correa to possibly get a start alongside Edin Dzeko. Correa scored his first two Inter goals against Verona early in the season. The Argentine was also on his way to putting in his best performance in black and blue when he got the start beside Dzeko against Roma before picking up an injury that he seems to have just now fully recovered from after a setback against Empoli in the Coppa Italia. With Lautaro and Dzeko not clicking, this could be a chance for Correa to get a real run in the team if he can prove his worth in goals and assists, two things Inter really needs down the stretch.

Hellas Verona FC v Genoa CFC - Serie A Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images

Verona accomplished the impossible on Monday, handing Alexander Blessin’s draw machine Genoa side their first loss under the new manager. An early goal from Giovanni Simeone was enough to sink the Grifone, keeping Verona in a comfortable 9th place in the Serie A table. After taking over from Ivan Juric, Tudor seems to have found the same balance in the team without much of a chance in form.

The only fitness concern for Verona is midfielder Antonin Barak. The Czech has played a big part in Verona’s success this season and will be a substantial miss for the visitors if he is not on the pitch for this match.

Previous Results

3-1 (A) - 27/8/2021

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1-0 (H) - 25/4/2021

Predicted Starting XIs

Predicted starting lineups via Gazzetta dello Sport

Prediction: Inter 3-1 Verona

It may be a simple take, but this match could be very similar to the first between the two. Verona are a dangerous attacking team and may find a goal, but it will not be anything a rejuvenated Inter cannot overcome. If the Nerazzurri are serious about getting back to the top of the table, they have to win this match. Watch for Correa and Dzeko to possibly click and give Inter a more dangerous striking look going forward.