Inter kick-off the second half of the campaign with a short trip to Monza in a crucial fixture setting the tone for the remainder of the season
After back-to-back non-convincing games against Genoa and Verona, resulting in four points, Inter will look to regain the in-form dominance that they showed before Christmas. An 11-mile trip north to Monza will require concentration for 90 minutes if the Nerazzuri are to head home with the full three points. Currently comfortable in mid-table, AC Monza is a squad with a good mix of experience and youth, including many ex-Inter players: Di Gregorio, Carboni, Caldirola, D’Ambrosio, Gagliardini, and for a short period Caprari. While Inter cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win in the opening match of the season at the San Siro (thanks to a Lautaro brace), this away match is expected to be more challenging, as Monza has conceded just six goals in nine home matches this season.
With talent sprinkled throughout the pitch, it all starts with Di Gregorio in goal for Monza. He has been sensational this season, with some calling him the best goalkeeper in Serie A so far this season (however, Di Gregorio is expected to miss the match due to injury). Ahead of him is an experienced three-man defense that has consisted of all ex-Inter players in the past two matches (D’Ambrosio, Gagliardini, and Caldirola). In attack, Monza will typically alternate starting three of the following four forwards (as Caprari has been out injured): Colpani (6 goals and 1 assist), Colombo (3 goals and 1 assist), Valentín Carboni (2 goals and 2 assists) and Mota (2 goals and 1 assist). In midfield, Ciurria and Pessina are the ones to watch.
With Juventus hot on their tail, Inter cannot afford to lose points to mid-table teams, especially those that have scored 25 fewer goals and conceded 11 more goals than them. With only Cuadrado out injured, Simone Inzaghi will have an entire squad, including the newly acquired Tajon Buchanan (expect to see him get some minutes late in the match). Last year, Inter visited Monza in early January and was able to only garner a 1-1 draw.
Projected Monza lineup (3-4-2-1): Sorrentino; D’Ambrosio, Mari, Caldirola; Ciurria, Pessina, Gagliardini, Perreira; Colpani, V. Carboni; Colombo.
Projected Inter Milan lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez.
Monza-Inter is set to kick-off on Saturday, January 13 at 20:45 CET / 14:45 EST.
Man, am I glad or what that Lord Gags is finally playing for someone else…
+1
2 really, really good goals and overall in total control. Especially in the first half. I am ok with the subs, but maybe we should have subbed off Thuram or Lautaro.
We’ve definetely played better than in the previous 3 ones.
Lautaro with the goal to 1-4.
Bravo.
This game has got slip up written all over it! And our upcoming fixture list is not looking good. By the time we face Rube they would’ve played one more game than us. Even if we beat Monza and Fiorentina away! No doubt they will be top of the league and our game in hand will be against Atalanta. Yikes!
That’s right. And we can all remember the game in hand in Bologna. On the other hand, Juve isn’t convincing either, or at all, but they’re are still grinding out results. Can’t fathom we are only 2 points ahead. But they too have to win their games to stand a chance against us.
But the italian press has started a smear campaign along with the referee ass. that states that Inter has been helped a lot more than any other teams, especially that stinking club from Turin. So again, Juve is this great big offer, that we all should feel sorry for.
They still keep talking about the Verona game and the elbow from Bastoni, as it is some great injustice. If one sees it from another angle there could easily have been whistled for a penalty against Bastoni in the lead up. Furthermore it wasn’t even an elbow but a clear shoulder. Even the foul on Arnautovic leading up to the equalizer, doesn’t get mentioned.
So Inter only lead because of help from referees, and not for their magnicient and sparkling display. They are first in every positive statistics. Not only in Italy, but in most of Europe. I feel disgusted by that narrative that no one objectively aren’t challenging. I feel like vomiting all over it all.
As always, Forza Inter per sempre. Forza ragazzi.
Ha have you seen the list of official mistakes admitted by the referee designater?? Rube have the most in their favour!!
No haven’t seen the list. The only talk about the last big 8 refereeing mistakes.
Where have you seen it Renato?
I saw a post about it on twitter, not sure where you would locate it now, sorry.
Ha this has aged well….thankfully! But as soon as I saw Gagliardini was in defence I knew we’d be alright lol