Roberto Mancini will take on his first Europa League match since returning to Inter as the Nerazzurri welcomes Dnipro to the Stadio Meazza on Thursday evening.
Inter continue to keep a strangle hold on their Group F rivals, and need only to avoid defeat to advance to the round of 32. Dnipro are level on four points with Saint Etienne and Qarabag, making a first win over the home side ever more crucial to their survival hopes.
On the other hand, Inter remains undefeated in seven games against Ukrainian sides, including a 1-0 victory in their previous encounter at the NSK Olimpiyskiy in September. While Inter are also undefeated in nine European home contests, Dnipro are unbeaten in their last three Europa League away fixtures.
Despite the run of positive results in Europe, Inter have faced great adversity in Italy. Walter Mazzarri’s dismissal on November 14th signalled a chance for revitalisation for the side that now sits ninth in the Serie A table.
Mancini, a three time Scudetto winner with Inter, took the reigns for last weekend’s Derby della Madonnina and helped his side to a comeback 1-1 draw against AC Milan. Victory against Dnipro would be a much needed morale boost for the Biscione, who have not won in Serie A since the 1-0 result over Sampdoria at the end of October.
Dnipro will need to keep a cool head in their clash at the San Siro as they have accumulated more yellow cards than any other side in the group stage, with 18 thus far. The Dnipryani continue to impress in Ukraine as they sit second in the domestic league table behind Dynamo Kiev and ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk. Like Inter, however, Dnipro have not claimed three points in league play since October.
Jonathan will be the only player out with an injury for Inter, while Dnipro is missing striker Roman Zozulya due to suspension. Dnipro captain Ruslan Rotan will need to avoid being booked once again to avoid missing the final group match through yellow card accumulation.
Expected Starting XIs
Inter (4-3-3): Handanovic; Dodo, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, Nagatomo; Kuzmanovic, Obi, Guarin; Palacio, Icardi, Kovacic
Dnipro (4-2-3-1): Boyko; Vlad, Mazuch, Douglas, Fedetsky; Kankava, Rotan; Gama, Shakhov, Konoplyanka; Kalinic
