Preview: Inter Milan vs. Palermo

Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini will be aware that he is under pressure to bring a halt to the club's poor form in all competitions when his team host Palermo.

Mancini only made his return to the Italian giants in November but just four wins in 14 games, including defeats in his last three, has seen the Nerazzurri fall down to 13th position as well as be eliminated from the Coppa Italia.

Last week's 3-1 setback against Sassuolo has left Inter eight points above the relegation zone but further defeats could see them dragged into a scrap for their Serie A status.

Defender Davide Santon should make his first league start since his return to Milan, while Lukas Podolski may feature despite being left out of the club's European squad in favour of Xherdan Shaqiri.

Seventh-placed Palermo will travel to San Siro confident that they can heap further misery on Mancini after suffering just one defeat in their last 13 games.

The Rosanero have scored in each of those fixtures, but their performances in defence will be a concern after keeping just one clean sheet in their last 11 outings.

Coach Giuseppe Iachini saw striker Andrea Belotti come off the bench to score the winner against Hellas Verona last weekend, and that impact could see the 21-year-old drafted into the starting lineup.

Inter Milan:

Form in Serie A: DDWDLL Form in all competitions: WDWLLL

Possible starting lineup: Handanovic, Vidic, Ranocchia, Dodo, Santon, Medel, Guarin, Shaqiri, Kovacic, Palacio, Podolski

Palermo:

Recent form: DWLDDW

Possible starting lineup: Sorrentino, Morganella, Vitiello, Andelkovic, Gonzalez, Lazaar, Barreto, Bolzoni, Jajalo, Belotti, Dybala

Sports Mole says: 1-2