Inter v Qarabag: Nerazzurri hope to regain composure

Date: 2nd October 2014 at 8:10am
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Inter will play against Azerbaijani side Oarabag on Thursday night in the Europe League.

Both teams were unbeaten on the opening day of Group F fixtures. The Nerazzurri won 1-0 away against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk whereas the Horsemen drew 0-0 at home with French giants Saint-Etienne.

In their domestic leagues though, both teams had mixed fortunes. Qarabag won 3-1 in an away game against Neftchi Baku whereas Inter were thrashed 4-1 at home by bottom-placed side Cagliari.

There have been calls in the Italian media for Mazzarri to ditch his three-man defence after the humiliation against Cagliari. There have also been reports that Mazzarri could use two defensive midfielders and leave Brazilian playmaker Hernanes on the bench.

This will be the second Europa League campaign in which Inter has played against an Azerbaijani team. Previously in the 2012-13 edition, the Nerazzurri won 3-1 against Neftchi in Baku and then drew 2-2 in Milan in their Group H fixtures.

Qarabag were knocked out in the Champions League third qualifying round by Austrian club FC Salzburg but they eliminated 2009-10 Dutch Eredivisie champions FC Twente in the Europa League qualifiers on the away goals rule. After drawing against Saint-Etienne, the Horsemen will once again try and prove to Europe’s elite that they are no pushovers.

Inter could have up to five players ruled out for the Qarabag game because of injuries. Nemanja Vidic and Dodo have knee strains, Mateo Kovacic has a foot injury, Jonathan is suffering from fatigue and Hugo Campagnaro is battling with a left thigh injury.

Qarabag go into the game with no suspensions but Brazilian forward Reynaldo might be ruled out because of injury.

Expected Starting XIs

Inter: Handanovic; Andreolli, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus; Nagatomo, M’Vila, Medel, Hernanes, Dodo; Osvaldo, Palacio

Qarabag: Sehic; Guliyev, Guseynov, Teli; Ahmadov, Aleskerov, Gurbanov, Muarem, Tagiev, Yusifov; Nadyrov

 

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