Inter Milan return to Serie A action against Bologna on Saturday, seeking a return to winning ways at San Siro in round eight.
The Nerazzurri are joint leaders in the league but were beaten by Sassuolo in their last home game, while the Rossoblu are undefeated since the opening weekend's loss to AC Milan.
Match preview
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Inter were stunned by Sassuolo in round five in Serie A, losing 2-1 at home to the Neroverdi in what was the Nerazzurri's first loss of the campaign.
Simone Inzaghi's troops have claimed back-to-back victories since that reverse, winning 4-0 at Salernitana and securing their first Champions League success of 2023-24 with a 1-0 triumph over Benfica during the week.
Lautaro Martinez was the match-winner against the club from Salerno, scoring a stunning four times after coming on as a substitute, while Marcus Thuram came up trumps with the only goal on the continent.
Both men could feature from the off when Inzaghi's team seek to stay atop the standings in the top flight, and matching the Rossoneri's result guarantees that — Napoli, Juventus and Fiorentina are four points behind both Milan clubs.
Inter have conceded three times in seven league games this season (two against Sassuolo), and the clean sheets kings seek a sixth shutout in eight on Saturday.
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Beating Bologna will not be a walk in the part as Thiago Motta's men have recovered from an opening day defeat at the hands of Milan to rise to eighth in the table.
While four of their six-game undefeated run have been stalemates, a closer look shows the Rossoblu have held Juventus and Napoli to draws, with the former coming in a gameweek two clash in Turin.
Motta's side have kept four consecutive clean sheets in the competition, with their latest result a 3-0 thrashing of struggling Empoli at the start of October.
Indeed, Bologna have what it takes to unsettle Inter, whose defensive solidity is second to the Nerazzurri in the competition.
The club from Emilia-Romagna have let in one fewer goal than the Nerazzurri's three, hinting the league's best attack (19 goals scored) must work extra hard to unlock the away side's rearguard.
Team News
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Juan Cuadrado returned to the Inter bench midweek, but the wide defender is not expected to start against Bologna on Saturday.
Inzaghi's side are without the injured Davide Frattesi, Marko Arnautovic and Stefano Sensi, who are not expected back until after the international break.
Martinez's nine goals outranks everyone in Serie A, and the Inter captain could hit double figures this weekend.
Bologna could do without Jhon Lucumi, whose return date from a ligament injury remains unknown.
Motta has Stefan Posch and Adama Soumaoro unavailable, with the pair sidelined until November and January 2024, respectively.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; De Silvestri, Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Aebischer, Freuler; Orsolini, Ferguson, Ndoye; Zirkzee
We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Bologna
The best attack in Serie A squares up to the second-best defence; Inter's firepower and Martinez's outstanding start to the season should give Inzaghi's men the edge against Bologna.
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