Preview: Inter Milan vs. Empoli

Inter Milan will be looking to record just their seventh home win of the season when they host Empoli on Sunday evening.

Empoli travel to San Siro with their Serie A status intact for another 12 months, but they will be keen to improve their away record having won just twice on the road this campaign.

Inter Milan

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Ever since he made his return to Inter, Roberto Mancini has endured an up-and-down reign at San Siro and he will probably be pleased that the season is coming to an end.

Mancini has done well to leave the club still having a chance of achieving seventh spot in the standings, but that remains significantly below the level expected by the Inter hierarchy.

However, there is an understanding that they are going through a transitional period and the former Manchester City chief will be given an opportunity to build a squad for next season.

The Nerazzurri need a win to avoid their worst points total since 2001, while it is also required to guarantee eighth place ahead of Torino, who host lowly Cesena this weekend.

The last two fixtures against Juventus and Genoa have been lost in the closing stages, but Mancini will be relying on Mauro Icardi to find the back of the net for the 23rd time this season in order to help his side to just their seventh home win since August.

Recent form: WWDWLL

Empoli

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After a six-year absence from the top flight, Empoli have comfortably achieved their target for the season by avoiding an immediate return to the second tier of Italian football.

The fact that this was achieved in April represents a terrific season for Maurizio Sarri who, in three years, has lifted the team from near relegation from Serie B to establishing the club in Serie A.

The Azzurri haven't won in three games, but that's a minor blot on the copybook and Sarri and his squad will enjoy their trip to the home of the two Italian giants.

Empoli possess a record of 10 draws from 18 games on the road this season, which includes a 1-1 result against AC Milan at San Siro back in February.

Veteran striker Massimo Maccarone netted on that occasion, and the former Middlesbrough man will be hoping to score his 11th of the season in a city where he started his youth career.

Recent form: DWWLLD

Team News

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January signing Xherdan Shaqiri could find himself back in the starting lineup for Inter's final 90 minutes of a inconsistent year.

The former Bayern Munich winger could be preferred to Marcelo Brozovic, who is currently on loan from Dinamo Moscow.

Sarri could potentially name the same team that were unfortunate to only secure a 1-1 draw with Sampdoria last weekend.

Sampdoria's equaliser came in the closing stages of the game, and Sarri could place trust in the team that had established a slender lead in the opening hour of the contest.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup: Handanovic, Nagatomo, Ranocchia, D'Ambrosio, Juan, Hernanes, Medel, Brozovic, Kovacic, Palacio, Icardi

Palermo possible starting lineup: Bassi, Laurini, Hysaj, Rugani, Barba, Croce, Valdifiori, Vecino, Saponara, Maccarone, Pucciarelli

Head To Head

As expected, Inter dominate the head-to-head record between the two clubs, winning 13 times in comparison to just two successes for Empoli.

Mancini's men are unbeaten in the last seven fixtures, which have included six victories for the loss of just one goal.

However, the last meeting between the sides in January ended in a goalless draw at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.

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We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Empoli

After a disappointing time of it at San Siro since August, Inter are almost obligated to deliver three points to end the season and with players potentially playing for their future, they should have the quality to see off what could be a stern challenge from Empoli.