Inter
Sassuolo
07 April 2021
17:45 UK/ 18:45 CET
Serie A
San Siro
Inter will be aiming to extend their winning run to eight games when they take on Sassuolo in a postponed fixture.
The Nerazzurri are leading the chase for Scudetto, but Antonio Conte must warn his men against complacency.
Even though Ivan Perisic and Aleksandar Kolarov are sidelined with injuries, the league leaders are seen as hot favourites to win the midweek clash.
The Neroverdi, on the other hand, will be without Bourabia, Defrel, and Ayhan in Wednesday’s clash, while Caputo and Berardi are major doubts.
Sassuolo did well to hold Roma to a 2-2 draw in their last home game, but seeing that they are not regarded as good travellers, we are tempted to put our money on Antonio Conte’s troops.
In the first half of the season Inter recorded a routine 3-0 win over Sassuolo at Mapei Stadium – Citta del Tricolore.
Inter Milan vs Sassuolo Head-to-head
Teams Inter Sassuolo played so far 16 matches.
Inter won 6 direct matches. Sassuolo won 8 matches. 2 matches ended in a draw. On average in direct matches both teams scored a 3.13 goals per Match.
Inter Milan vs Sassuolo Prediction
Inter in actual season average scored 2.38 goals per match. In 17 (85.00%) matches played at home was total goals (team and opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 15 (75.00%) matches in season 2021 played at home was total goals (team and opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
Sassuolo average scored 1.62 goals per match in season 2021. In 13 (92.86%) matches played away was total goals (team and opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 8 (57.14%) matches played away team was total goals (team and opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
Team News:
Inter's Croatia international Ivan Perisic is unlikely to feature again, having sat out the weekend win over Bologna with an injury sustained while representing his country, so Ashley Young should continue to deputise on the left flank.
Veteran defender Aleksandar Kolarov was also unavailable through injury on Saturday and remains doubtful, while Danilo D'Ambrosio has only just recovered from COVID-19.
Coach Antonio Conte will be unable to call upon midfielder Marcelo Brozovic and centre-back Alessandro Bastoni either, as both must serve a one-match ban for accumulation of bookings.
Therefore, Stefan de Vrij should be brought back into the central defensive unit, with Andrea Ranocchia earning rare back-to-back starts alongside him, and Roberto Gagliardini is favourite to cover Brozovic's absence - ahead of Matias Vecino and Stefano Sensi.
Star strikers Domenico Berardi (thigh) and Francesco Caputo (back) are expected to be ruled out once again for Sassuolo, with midfielder Mehdi Bourabia (hamstring) and long-term injury absentee Filippo Romagna (knee) both unlikely to make their comebacks yet.
Meanwhile, Italy pair Gian Marco Ferrari and Manuel Locatelli have returned negative COVID-19 tests and will be considered for selection by Roberto De Zerbi.
Scorer of the Neroverdi's opener against Roma, young Hamed Traore should continue in the first XI, given Berardi's absence, while winger Jeremie Boga must compete with Lukas Haraslin and versatile Filip Djuricic to keep his place.
After his dramatic, late intervention on Saturday, stand-in skipper Giacomo Raspadori will again start up front.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Ranocchia; Hakimi, Barella, Eriksen, Gagliardini, Young; Martinez, Lukaku
Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Rogerio, Ferrari, Marlon, Toljan; Magnanelli, Locatelli; Djuricic, Lopez, Traore; Raspadori