Reigning Serie A champions Inter take on out-of-sorts Parma in the first matchday after September’s international break. Saturday’s clash at San Siro will also mark the beginning of a new era for the Crusaders.
Inter’s title defense has been off to a near-flawless start. Cristian Chivu’s men won their opening four league matches before hauling back a two-goal deficit to hold Roma to an enthralling 2-2 draw at the Olimpico. Level on points with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side at the top of the table, they head into proceedings determined to get back to winning ways.
Encouragingly for the home fans, Lautaro Martinez is firing on all cylinders following a rather slow start to the season. After drawing a blank in the first two matches, El Toro has netted a brace in back-to-back league appearances as Inter fought back from 2-0 down to avoid defeat against Napoli (3-2) and Roma.
Unlike the Nerazzurri, Parma’s season has started with a whimper rather than a bang. Despite a 2-1 home victory over Genoa on the stroke of the international break, manager Carlos Cuesta parted ways with the Crusaders during September’s window, with former striker Alberto Gilardino taking his place in the dugout.
Gilardino’s first assignment will be to steady the ship after Parma suffered three defeats in the opening five league games (W1, D1). However, the task at hand is nothing short of Herculean.
Match Preview
Inter
Chivu’s men have been in an unforgiving mood at home in the infancy of this campaign. After beating Monza, Napoli, and Udinese by an aggregate score of 12-6, Inter could open a season with four consecutive home league victories for only the third time in the last 35 years.
Yet, the defending champions would be well-advised not to take anything for granted. Inter have lost two of their last four Serie A fixtures to arrive immediately after an international break, suggesting this could be a tricky test for the division’s most prolific side (15).
Facing Parma could help Inter defy that narrative, with the Nerazzurri going undefeated across nine successive Serie A meetings with the Crusaders (W6, D3). Furthermore, they’ve been ruthless in front of goal, scoring precisely twice in seven of their last eight top-flight encounters.
With Lautaro in red-hot form and Marcus Thuram steadily returning to his best, Chivu has every reason to expect Inter to continue their impressive run against a Parma side that’s widely expected to fight for survival this term.
Parma
Gilardino couldn’t have hoped for a sterner test on his touchline debut as Parma lost their last two Serie A visits to this venue by a two-goal margin. In search of good omens, the visitors had kept Inter winless in five prior meetings at San Siro (W1, D4), bagging multiple goals on three occasions.
Achieving a similar feat here could be easier said than done, considering Parma’s recent road record. In addition to losing their last four Serie A away games, they failed to get on the scoresheet three times in a row before falling to a 2-1 defeat at Como last time out.
Notoriously slow out of the blocks after an international break, they’ve won just one of their last 12 such Serie A fixtures (D6, L5). Therefore, Parma’s hopes of upsetting the apple cart here to post consecutive league wins for the first time since April seem far-fetched.
Simone Lontani, who has already tallied three goals this season, could be Parma’s savior in Lombardy, although he has yet to score away from home.
Team News
Summer signing John Stones remains unavailable for Inter, and the same goes for Curtis Jones, who could remain on the sidelines until November. Jones’ injury may fly under the radar now that Hakan Calhanoglu has regained match fitness, with the Turkish set-piece specialist expected to reclaim his place in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, Parma Pontus Almqvist and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia won’t be at Gilardino’s disposal. There is a question mark over Dominik Drobnic, but with David Romero fit for this trip, Parma will have their best striker ready to lead the line, seeking his third Serie A goal this season.
Inter vs Parma Potential Starting Lineups
Inter (3-5-2): Provedel; Bisseck, Akanji, Augusto; Diouf, Barella, Stankovic, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, L. Martine.
Parma (3-5-2): Corvi; Delprato, Carlos, Troilo; Britschgi, Bernabe, Keita, Sierro, Valeri; Toure, Romero.
Inter vs Parma Prediction
It would take something truly remarkable from Parma to keep Inter out of the win column, but even the ‘new manager bounce’ is unlikely to be enough to upset the odds here. The Nerazzurri should stroll to another home victory and maintain their superb domestic form at the start of the season.
Prediction: Inter to Win
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The post Serie A Preview: Inter vs Parma – Team News, Lineups & Prediction appeared first on The Cult of Calcio.
