Having set one foot in the Champions League final with derby success in midweek, Inter Milan resume their quest for a top-four Serie A finish on Saturday, when they welcome Sassuolo to San Siro.
A lightning-quick start saw Inter seize a significant lead in their semi-final showdown with Milan, and they now aim to continue a six-match winning streak at the expense of their mid-table visitors.
Match preview
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While Inter's first-leg victory on Wednesday could hardly have gone any better from their point of view, their only real regret may be not finishing the tie during a first half that saw them race two goals ahead after a blitz of their stunned Milanese rivals.
In addition to goals from veteran duo Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Simone Inzaghi's side also hit the woodwork through Hakan Calhanoglu, and a penalty awarded to Lautaro Martinez was only overturned following a VAR review.
Nonetheless, the Nerazzurri certainly hold the upper hand ahead of next week's second leg back at San Siro, where they return to action on Saturday in need of points to secure a Champions League place for next term.
Sitting fourth in the Serie A standings - two points ahead of Milan and just two shy of second-placed Juventus - Inter have bolstered their position in that regard thanks to a sharp uptick in results and performances of late.
Following a 2-0 win at Roma last week, they have won each of their last four league matches - having not won one in their previous five - while averaging 3.5 goals per game. Furthermore, Derby d'Italia victory over Juventus set up a Coppa Italia final against Fiorentina later this month.
That surge should not mask Inter's struggle for consistency this season, though, as they have already lost 11 times in the league, including five defeats on home soil. They have also won just one of their last seven home games against Sassuolo in Serie A - a 2-1 victory back in April 2021.
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While they have fared well at San Siro in recent times - including a shock 5-2 thumping of Milan in January - all told, Sassuolo have won only one of their last eight league matches against Inter.
Due to a Dzeko brace at the Mapei Stadium, October's reverse fixture ended 2-1 in favour of the Nerazzurri - one of just five home defeats all season long for Alessio Dionisi's side.
Away from home soil, though, Sassuolo have lost nine times. Keeping the back door shut has proved a particular problem on the road, as they have conceded at least twice in all of their last four away fixtures.
Doing so again this week would see the Neroverdi record the worst such run in their Serie A history, and recent results suggests that outcome is a distinct possibility.
Following four wins in a row previously, Sassuolo have won only two of their last seven matches after Monday's 1-1 draw with regional rivals Bologna - when star man Domenico Berardi was on target again - and hopes of a top-half finish could fade further if they cannot upset Inter.
Team News
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Between two crucial derbies, Simone Inzaghi is bound to indulge in some squad rotation this weekend; aiming to keep his first-choice players fresh for Tuesday's semi-final second leg.
Only Milan Skriniar misses out due to injury, as Robin Gosens and Danilo D'Ambrosio both returned in midweek and could feature at some stage against Sassuolo.
Since the start of April, no-one has been involved in more Serie A goals than Inter duo Lautaro Martinez (five goals, two assists) and Romelu Lukaku (three goals, four assists), but the latter is more likely to be paired with Joaquin Correa as 'El Toro' takes a rest.
Marcelo Brozovic should feature in midfield after being dropped against Milan, while Stefan de Vrij could come into the Nerazzurri's defence and club captain Samir Handanovic starts in goal.
Meanwhile, Sassuolo will have first-choice striker Andrea Pinamonti back from suspension on Saturday evening following a two-match ban, and he should now start against his former club.
French forward Gregoire Defrel would therefore drop out of the side; Nedim Bajrami may also make way for Armand Lauriente in the visitors' three-man front line. The third member of that trio is Domenico Berardi, who alongside Antoine Griezmann is one of only two players throughout Europe's top five leagues with at least six goals and six assists in 2023.
Currently on eight strikes and six assists this calendar year, the Italy international could also become just the third man to reach double figures in each of the last four Serie A seasons, after Ciro Immobile and Inter's Martinez.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic; D'Ambrosio, De Vrij, Bastoni; Bellanova, Gagliardini, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Correa, Lukaku
Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Toljan, Ferrari, Erlic, Rogerio; Frattesi, Lopez, Henrique; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente
We say: Inter Milan 2-1 Sassuolo
Even if Simone Inzaghi makes wholesale changes to his lineup, Sassuolo's record on the road is such that their hosts should still expect to secure victory. With competition for places now at its peak within a fit and firing Inter squad, they can look to numerous sources for attacking inspiration.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
