Having seen hopes of regaining the Scudetto fade further with defeat last time out, Inter Milan visit winless Cremonese on Saturday, at Stadio Giovanni Zini.
Humbled at home to Empoli on Monday, Inter suffered a heavy landing on their return from Saudi Arabia as Supercoppa Italiana champions, while their hapless hosts once more failed to record a first Serie A victory since promotion.
Match preview
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After crowning a positive start to 2023 with last week's 3-0 win over city rivals Milan, the glory of claiming the Supercoppa for a second straight season soon faded for Inter.
Once Stefan de Vrij's dismissal reduced the Nerazzurri to 10 men against Empoli at San Siro, there was always a chance events might slip out of their control, and after the visitors' young star Tommaso Baldanzi then struck in the 66th minute, Inter were unable to respond.
As a result, they have lost six matches in the first half of a Serie A campaign for the first time since the turbulent 2016-17 season, during which Frank de Boer, Stefano Vecchi and Stefano Pioli each held the manager's role for a short spell.
While that record does not make easy reading for current coach Simone Inzaghi, his side have still won eight of their last 11 matches in the top flight - including against now-distant leaders Napoli - and sit fourth in the standings: just a point shy of second-placed Milan.
They are also set to meet near neighbours Atalanta BC in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals next week, as their defence of that trophy continues into its latter stages, and will enjoy home advantage in that tie. On the road, though, Inter have conceded goals in each of their last 13 Serie A away games, representing the club's worst such streak since 1988.
Inzaghi will surely fancy his team's chances of ending that run against another Lombardy side on Saturday, when they encounter Cremonese, who the Nerazzurri have previously beaten 12 times in 15 Serie A meetings.
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As the two clubs' last top-flight encounter at Stadio Zini came as long ago as April 1996, the hosts are now aiming to write a new page in history this weekend - one to end several chapters of gloom in Cremona since the start of this season.
Also in action on Monday, Cremonese became only the second side since 2004 to go without a win during the first half of a Serie A campaign, when Bologna held them to a 1-1 draw at Dall'Ara; David Okereke's 50th-minute penalty was soon cancelled out by a Vlad Chiriches own goal.
Though they will join Saturday's visitors in the Coppa quarters, following their shock defeat of an under-strength Napoli in Davide Ballardini's first match in charge, it is clear that Massimiliano Alvini's successor has an almighty challenge on his hands to stop an immediate return to Serie B.
Alvini departed with the team rock-bottom of the Serie A standings, having lost each of their last four league matches, so the well-travelled Ballardini has at least made some impact by going unbeaten in his first two fixtures.
Nevertheless, the Grigiorossi face a gruelling relegation battle between now and June, as they are nine points adrift of safety and must tackle Inter, Napoli and Roma during their next five league games.
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Not only will Inter have to do without Stefan de Vrij on Saturday, midfield schemer Nicolo Barella is also sidelined by suspension due to accumulated bookings.
Marcelo Brozovic is unavailable too - in his case because of a cautious recovery from injury, with next week's Milan derby in mind - but veteran goalkeeper Samir Handanovic should return to the bench.
In the absence of De Vrij, Francesco Acerbi will be drafted back into the visitors' defence, while either Roberto Gagliardini or Kristjan Asllani deputises for Barella.
Romelu Lukaku, scorer of just one league goal this season, is likely to remain benched having gone without a goal in his last six Serie A appearances - his worst streak in Italy to date. By contrast, teammate Lautaro Martinez has not only fared better of late, but has also been involved in 11 goals in his last nine matches against promoted opponents - including one against Cremonese in August's reverse fixture.
Meanwhile, Cremonese are also deprived of a midfield regular by suspension, as Charles Pickel must serve a one-match ban this weekend. The most likely candidate to step in to his boots is Marco Benassi, who was a product of Inter's primavera.
First-choice striker Cyriel Dessers is a doubt due to a minor muscular problem, and Davide Ballardini will hope to have the Nigeria international available, as he has had a hand in three-quarters of the Grigiorossi's goals at home this season - two of his own and one assist.
Daniel Ciofani could partner David Okereke again if Dessers cannot start, with ex-Roma starlet Felix Afena-Gyan offering a more dynamic alternative.
Cremonese possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Bianchetti, Chiriches, Ferrari; Sernicola, Benassi, Castagnetti, Meite, Valeri; Okereke, Ciofani
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Gagliardini, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
We say: Cremonese 0-3 Inter Milan
With bouncing back from their slip-up at San Siro foremost on their mind, Inter can make another fast start and take a stranglehold on a game it would be simply unacceptable to lose.
The Nerazzurri have scored the most goals of any Serie A side during the first half-hour (13), while Cremonese have conceded the most (also 13), so the contest could be all but over early on.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
