Inter Milan will be looking to return to the top of Serie A when they welcome Genoa to San Siro on Saturday evening.
Antonio Conte's side dropped to second on Wednesday with Juventus overcoming Sampdoria, but a win for Inter over 19th-placed Genoa would see them return to the summit on goal difference.
Match preview
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Inter won the last of their 18 league titles in 2010, but their form in the opening months of the 2019-20 campaign suggests that they are certainly capable of making a strong challenge for this season's crown. It will be tough to wrest the title away from a dominant Juve team, but a win against Genoa would see them return to the summit on goal difference.
A record of 12 wins, three draws and one defeat from 16 matches has brought Inter 39 points, three off the leaders Juve and three ahead of third-placed Lazio, who will also feel that they are in the title argument at this point.
It has not been the best December for Conte's team, though, as they have been held by Roma and Fiorentina in their last two league matches, in addition to exiting the Champions League in the group stage.
Inter's European journey this season will continue in the Europa League - where they have been drawn with Ludogorets in the round of 32 - and Conte will hope that his squad is much stronger by the time that the two-legged affair rolls around.
The omens are not exactly terrific for Genoa considering that they have lost their last two league games against Inter by an aggregate score of 9-0. That said, the Red and Blues did beat them on home soil in February 2018.
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Genoa have actually won the Italian league title on nine occasions, although their last success arrived in 1924. While they have not anywhere near the summit in recent years, the club have been in Serie A since 2007.
Indeed, not since the 2006-07 campaign have the team competed outside of the top flight, but there is no question that they are currently in a relegation battle heading into the winter break.
A total of just 11 points from 16 matches has left them in 19th spot in the table, four points off the safety of 17th spot. Thiago Motta's side have only won two league fixtures all season, suffering nine defeats in the process.
Worryingly for Genoa, they have not triumphed in Serie A since the end of October, which is a run that stretches back seven matches. That said, Il Grifone only narrowly lost at Juve earlier this season and will fancy their chances of causing an injury-hit Inter some issues on Saturday night.
Inter Milan Serie A form: WWWWDD
Inter Milan form (all competitions): WWWDLD
Genoa Serie A form form: LDDLDL
Genoa form (all competitions): DDLWDL
Team News
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Injuries have not been kind to Inter in recent weeks, and Conte will again be without the services of a number of important players this weekend.
Alexis Sanchez, Stefano Sensi and Nicolo Barella all remain on the sidelines, while Roberto Gagliardini and Kwadwo Asamoah are still doubts.
Antonio Candreva could overcome a back problem to feature at wing-back, though, while Diego Godin should return to the back three having been named on the bench against Fiorentina last weekend.
Marcelo Brozovic and Lautaro Martinez are both suspended, however, and there remains a doubt surrounding Borja Valero, meaning that Conte will be forced into a reshuffle this weekend.
There might well be a start for 17-year-old Lucien Agoume in midfield, while Valentino Lazaro and Matteo Politano could both start in attack.
As for Genoa, Christian Kouame, Lukas Lerager, Cristian Zapata and Riccardo Saponara remain on the treatment table, while experienced forward Goran Pandev is suspended.
Peter Ankersen and Filip Jagiello are both pushing for spots in the XI having appeared off the bench in the defeat to Sampdoria last weekend, but Antonio Sanabria is expected to keep his spot in the final third.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Godin; Candreva, Vecino, Agoume, Biraghi; Lazaro, Lukaku, Politano
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Radu; Biraschi, Romero, Criscito; Ghiglione, Cassata, Radovanovic, Pajac; Schone; Pinamonti, Sanabria
We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa
Inter's injury and suspension situation is far from ideal heading into this weekend's match, but it is difficult to see Genoa picking up a positive result. We fancy Conte's side to return to the summit with a comfortable win.
Matt Law
