Inter Milan vs Cagliari - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking a 12-point pb astatine the apical of Serie A, Inter Milan volition purpose to instrumentality different stride towards the rubric erstwhile they invited Cagliari to San Siro connected Friday evening.

Inter are tantalisingly adjacent to the Scudetto aft winning a seven-goal thriller past weekend, portion their Sardinian counterparts are successful a conflict for top-flight survival.

Match preview

Following a play of conflict since their limp Champions League exit, Inter person yet recovered a spark, thumping Roma 5-2 earlier prevailing successful a superb Serie A clash astatine Stadio Sinigaglia.

Having trailed by 2 goals until conscionable earlier the break, the Nerazzurri bravely fought backmost to bushed Como 4-3, portion their closest challengers - defending champions Napoli and metropolis rivals AC Milan - some dropped points. 

So, triumph extended their pb astatine the apical to 9 with conscionable six rounds remaining, and they tin summation that vantage to treble digits earlier their pursuers play again this weekend.

It would instrumentality a spectacular illness for Inter to fail, and Cristian Chivu's archetypal run could adjacent extremity with a home double: adjacent week, their Coppa Italia semi-final against Como volition reason successful Milan.

The Nerazzurri person present scored 75 goals successful Serie A this play - astatine slightest 19 much than immoderate different broadside - and they are presently unbeaten successful 9 league games astatine San Siro.

Chivu and co tin marque large advancement towards their aims by winning back-to-back location games, with Cagliari acceptable to sojourn earlier Como travel to town.

After a 2-0 distant triumph earlier this season, Inter are unbeaten successful 12 meetings with the Rossoblu - including 7 wins from the past 8 - and volition commencement arsenic beardown favourites.

Indeed, Cagliari person traditionally struggled against Inter astatine San Siro, trying and failing to support a cleanable expanse connected 26 abstracted occasions implicit the past fewer decades, portion conceding an mean of 2.2 goals per game.

Expectations whitethorn beryllium low, then, earlier the Sardinian broadside acceptable disconnected for Italy's 2nd city, adjacent aft putting a halt to their damaging eight-match winless run.

Having accrued conscionable 2 points during that period, Fabio Pisacane's men were heavy successful information earlier boosting their endurance hopes with a important 1-0 triumph implicit Cremonese past week. 

Inter loanee Sebastiano Esposito scored the lone extremity arsenic the Rossoblu bushed nonstop relegation rivals and moved six points wide of the driblet portion - albeit information is acold from secured. 

Now, with 3 defeats from their past 4 roadworthy trips - and nary cleanable sheets successful the past 9 - picking up thing against the league leaders would beryllium a large bonus.

Inter Milan Serie A form:

W L D D W W

Inter Milan signifier (all competitions):

D L D D W W

Cagliari Serie A form:

D L L L L W

Team News

After making his long-awaited comeback earlier this month, Inter skipper Lautaro Martinez is presently sidelined by a thigh strain and is acceptable to miss consecutive matches.

While 'El Toro' is inactive unavailable, his onslaught spouse Marcus Thuram has been backmost successful signifier since ending a agelong planetary drought for France.

Following his brace against Como, the second has present scored 10 Serie A goals this play and could soon scope treble figures for a 3rd consecutive campaign.

Chivu's lone different wounded interest relates to German centre-back Yann Bisseck, portion Petar Sucic indispensable service a suspension.

Meanwhile, semipermanent absentees Mattia Felici and Riyad Idrissi are some ruled retired for Cagliari, who anticipation to invited seasoned striker Leonardo Pavoletti backmost to the bench. 

However, midfielder Luca Mazzitelli whitethorn miss retired with a thigh contented that forced him disconnected against Cremonese.

Set to reconvene with younger member Pio - who scored for Inter successful September's reverse fixture - Esposito has notched 4 extremity involvements successful his past 5 games and volition beryllium keen to radiance against his genitor club.

Inter Milan imaginable starting lineup:

Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, P. Esposito

Cagliari imaginable starting lineup:

Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Rodriguez; Palestra, Folorunsho, Gaetano, Deiola, Obert; S. Esposito, Borrelli

We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Cagliari 

Now successful free-scoring form, Inter should comfortably instrumentality attraction of concern against 1 of their favourite opponents.

Yet different location triumph volition instrumentality them adjacent person to the Scudetto, arsenic they tin ruthlessly exploit Cagliari's leaky backmost line. 

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