Without a win in five games following their controversial cup tie in midweek, Inter Milan aim to halt their decline on Friday, when they visit Serie A strugglers Salernitana.
Inter's Coppa Italia semi-final clash with Juventus ended in chaos, just days after they had lost their third straight league game. Meanwhile, the Granata are unbeaten in five but have drawn each of their last four.
Match preview
© Reuters
Meeting for the third time this season, Derby d'Italia rivals Inter and Juventus played out a tense first leg of their Coppa Italia semi on Tuesday - a game which only exploded into life when the Nerazzurri fell behind in the 83rd minute.
Less than three weeks since Juve sealed a Serie A double over Simone Inzaghi's men at San Siro, the teams convened again in Turin, and another defeat was on the cards for Inter until Bremer handled the ball during stoppage time and substitute Romelu Lukaku stepped up to slot home the spot-kick.
All hell then broke loose, as Lukaku was sent off for shouting at the home fans - reportedly after receiving racist abuse - and Inter captain Samir Handanovic saw red after the final whistle following a bust-up with Juan Cuadrado, who was also dismissed. The fall-out spilled over into scuffles in the Allianz Stadium tunnel.
All of which leaves Inzaghi and co level before the second leg later this month but also winless since a 2-0 defeat of Lecce at the start of March; despite narrowly progressing in the Champions League, they have lost three times in Serie A since then.
Their most recent reverse brought up a total of 10 league losses, and being beaten 1-0 by in-form Fiorentina last Saturday leaves them clinging on to a top-four place by virtue of goal difference.
Several other sides now join both Milan clubs in scrapping it out for three spots behind distant leaders Napoli to claim Champions League football - including Juventus. Therefore, seeing off Salernitana for the second time this term is crucial if Inzaghi is to stop the rot.
© Reuters
Beaten 2-0 in October's reverse fixture, Salernitana's total deficit to Inter over the clubs' three meetings since they returned to Serie A now stands at 12 goals - the Salerno club suffered two 5-0 drubbings last season.
Given their visitors' declining form over recent weeks, Paulo Sousa's side may fancy their chances of ending such a grim streak though, but first they will have to put a halt to their habit of letting leads slip.
Having twice led at home to Bologna before the international break, but on both occasions conceded soon after, the Granata were a goal to the good heading into the final 20 minutes at Stadio Picco last week yet still could not get the job done.
Bringing up their fourth straight draw, a 1-1 stalemate with Spezia keeps them nine points clear of the relegation zone, though safety - and a third consecutive top-flight campaign at Stadio Arechi - is not sealed quite yet.
A former Inter midfielder, Sousa's start to life in Campania has certainly seen his team become tougher to beat, and having held Milan at San Siro last month, he will now target an even better result against another second-city giant on Friday.
Team News
© Reuters
Though upcoming suspensions for Romelu Lukaku and Samir Handanovic will see them miss the second leg of Inter's Coppa Italia semi-final, both will be available on Friday evening.
Neither may start, however, as Edin Dzeko and Joaquin Correa contend with Lukaku to partner Lautaro Martinez up front, while Andre Onana replaces the Nerazzurri's veteran skipper in goal.
Hakan Calhanoglu (muscular) and Milan Skriniar (back) both sat out the trip to Turin and could be sidelined again. One man certainly unavailable at the Arechi will be Danilo D'Ambrosio, who started on Tuesday but serves the second of a two-match Serie A ban - in his case, for being dismissed against Juve in last month's league fixture.
While Inter's strikers all search for their best form, Salernitana's Boulaye Dia has recorded 10 goals and four assists already this term, and also scored in successive matches for Senegal during the recent international period.
The Villarreal loanee should therefore start in support of his attacking colleague Krzysztof Piatek, who by contrast is suffering a goal drought which dates back to November.
Pasquale Mazzocchi and Domen Crnigoj are doubts for the home side due to injury, but Paulo Sousa should have the rest of his squad available.
Salernitana possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Daniliuc, Gyomber, Pirola; Sambia, Vilhena, Coulibaly, Bradaric; Candreva, Dia; Piatek
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Lukaku
We say: Salernitana 1-1 Inter Milan
Lacking fluency in the final third, Inter may find their winless run prolonged down in Salerno, as their hosts have not lost since February and offer a goal threat themselves. Pressure is growing on Inzaghi - particularly with several high-profile coaches available in the summer - and he is starting to show the strain.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
