Inzaghi to field weaker side as Inter set sights on new target.

2024-09-22

Struggling Sassuolo face an uphill battle as they host newly-crowned champions Inter Milan in a crucial clash aimed at ending a six-game winless streak and boosting their Serie A survival hopes.

Sassuolo

Sassuolo failed to find an end to a five-game winless streak, going down 5-1 against Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi last Sunday. This defeat left the team in 19th place in Serie A, five points shy of safety, with 26 points (6W, 8D, 20L).

With four games left to play and 12 points up for grabs, they take on Inter, hoping to pick up an unlikely win in a bid to remain in the race for Serie A survival. Following a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in September, the Neroverdi could complete a Serie A double over the Nerazzurri for the first time since 2017-18.

Sassuolo have won nine of their 21 matches against Inter in Serie A (9W, 2D, 10L). Against no other team has the Neroverdi won more in the top flight. However, Sassuolo’s torrid run of form could extend to a seven-game winless run, having secured only one win in their last 15 Serie A matches (1W, 4D, 10L).

Moreover, Sassuolo have the second-worst defensive record in the competition, conceding 70 goals with an average of 2.06 goals per game. They are second only to already-relegated Salernitana, who have conceded three more.

A 4-4-1-1 formation with Andrea Pinamonti in attack is expected from Alessio Dionisi. Kristian Thorstvedt, who scored a consolation goal for Sassuolo in the defeat against Fiorentina, will be in support behind the 24-year-old Pinamonti, who is the club’s top scorer with 10 goals.

Inter

Newly-crowned champions Inter picked up a 2-0 home win over ten-man Torino last weekend after a brace from Hakan Çalhanoğlu [56’, 60’]. This win left Inter with 89 points [28W, 5D, & 1L], 19 points ahead of 2nd-placed Milan, who bagged a point in a goalless draw against Juventus last weekend.

Inter, whose only defeat this season came against the hosts, will be looking to pick up three wins in a row on Saturday when they make the trip to Sassuolo. The Italian champions will likely have a number of changes to their starting lineup for the weekend’s game, despite the new target to finish with at least 100 points.

The familiar 3-5-2 formation will remain in place, but Simone Inzaghi could choose to deploy Marko Arnautović and Alexis Sánchez in attack.