Inter host Palermo at the Stadio Meazza in the Sunday evening clash aiming to get back to winning ways after a disappointing 3-1 loss to Sassuolo in the previous round of matches.
The first encounter of the season in September ended 1-1 with Mateo Kovacic cancelling out a Franco Vasquez opener.
Since then Roberto Mancini has replaced Walter Mazzarri as coach of Inter and Palermo have continued to have a positive season under Giuseppe Iachini.
The Rosanero are currently sitting comfortably in seventh place and are somewhat surprisingly four points and six places above their Milanese rivals in the Serie A table.
Despite a proactive transfer campaign that saw the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Lukas Podolski being recruited optimism following Roberto Mancini’s return to Inter has waned after a series of poor results. They have lost their last two league matches against Sassuolo and Torino, respectively, and were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Napoli in midweek.
Palermo on the other hand have had a successful return to life in Serie A and are in the running to claim a Europa League place. Their last match saw them come from behind to earn a 2-1 victory over Verona thanks to goals from young forwards Paulo Dybala and Andrea Belotti.
A victory or even a draw will consolidate the Sicilian club’s push for European football and increase pressure on the Nerazzurri.
The match will be a chance for calico lovers to catch a glimpse of two of the best young strikers in Italy and Europe in Mauro Icardi and Dybala. The two Argentines have been in top form recently and are the top scorers for their respective sides with both of them having found the net eleven times.
Inter will be without the suspended Isaac Donkor whilst Marco Andreolli is still out injured. Yuto Nagatomo could return to the starting line up following his exploits in the Asian Cup and Mancini has decisions to make on whether Hernanes, Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Rodrigo Palacio make the eleven.
Giuseppe Iachini is expected to keep faith with the majority of the team that defeated Hellas Verona last weekend, meaning Vasquez continuing to support Dybala in attack. Andrea Belotti will have to settle for a place on the bench despite scoring the winner last Sunday. Experienced midfielder Enzo Maresca is doubtful due to injury.
Form Guide: Inter (D-D-W-L-L), Palermo (D-W-L-D-D-W)
Expected Starting XIs
Inter: Handanovic, Nagatomo, Ranocchia, Vidic, Dodo, Guarin, Medel, Kovacic, Shaqiri, Podolski, Icardi
Palermo: Sorrentino, Vitiello, Gonzalez, Andelkovic, Morganella, Bolzoni, Barreto, Jajalo, Lazaar, Vazquez, Dybala
