Serie A Week 22 – 28 Jan 2017 (19.45 UK)
Inter – Pescara
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
With six consecutive Serie A victories, Stefano Pioli’s resurgent Inter look to make it a lucky number seven against basement boys Pescara.
Just like last time, it appears the Delfini simply weren’t ready for the step up in quality after achieving promotion. Massimo Oddo’s men may be delightful to watch with flowing attacking play, but a lack of substance has left them lying low in the table. Although they are not lagging behind fellow newly-promoted side Crotone in 18th, already being 12 points away from safety suggests that Pescara’s fate may be sealed.
However, if there was ever a beacon of hope for an underperforming side, it is Saturday’s opponents Inter. The Nerazzurri have put Frank de Boer’s shameful spell behind them and are already knocking on the door of Champions League qualification, although it will take a run of consistent form not seen in the blue and black side of Milan since the days of Jose Mourinho to really get Roma and Napoli worried.
With six consecutive victories (eight in all competition), the Beneamata are one of Serie A’s form sides, meaning it is seemingly not a prediction of if Inter will win, but by how many goals.
As Inter have been active in the January transfer window with the recent big money signing of Roberto Gagliardini, Pescara recently confirmed their first acquisition of 2017 in the form of Sulley Muntari, a member of Inter’s 2010 Treble-winning squad. Should the Ghanaian make his debut it will be sure to hold good memories for the opposing fans, as well as the combative midfielder. However, now at 32, one must wonder how much fight he has left.
As Pioli has introduced a more positive style of play, Inter are not as easy to call as they were, with the former Lazio Coach using several different systems successfully, but it is expected that he will continue with a possession based 4-2-3-1. Roaming Argentine left-back Cristian Ansaldi will sit out through suspension, so Yuto Nagatomo will likely be included for a rare start. Pescara will likely look to hit Inter early with quick attacking play from kick-off. Although it is often a tactic used to throw opponents off their game, it has become such a common part of Pescara’s set-up that most sides will see it coming. With only one player missing out through suspension of their own in Gianluca Caprari, who funnily enough will be joining Inter next season, Oddo’s favoured 3-5-2 system should remain intact.
Keep an eye on: Geoffrey Kondogbia (Inter) – The big money signing from Monaco endured a tumultuous campaign last season and has yet to break through in 2016-17 despite being offered plenty of chances from both Coaches. Just like Yann M’Vila proved, not all starlets go on to stardom, meaning another anonymous display from the former Sevilla man could lead to Inter pulling the plug on a midfielder that promised so much, which would prove disastrous for both parties.
Form Guide: Inter (W W W W W) Pescara (W L D L L)
Last season: Not played
Stat Fact: Despite 2012-13 Pescara being viewed by many as the worst side in recent Serie A history, by match day 20 they had already accumulated 20 points, while this season at the same milestone they sit bottom with nine – and three of those were handed over for Sassuolo fielding an ineligible player.
Inter (probable): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Murillo, Miranda, Nagatomo; Gagliardini, Kondogbia; Candreva, Perisic, Brozovic; Icardi
Pescara (probable): Bizzarri; Fornasier, Stendardo, Coda; Crescenzi, Verre, Bruno, Memushaj, Biraghi; Bahebeck, Cerri
Top tip: Inter to score at least two goals in the second half
