Football Italia
·3 November 2024
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·3 November 2024
Piotr Zielinski takes the midfield reins with Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, as Inter try to close on leaders Napoli against Venezia.
It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT.
The Nerazzurri have an opportunity to blow the Scudetto race wide open again, as Napoli were beaten 3-0 at home by Atalanta this afternoon, so a victory here would take them within a point of top spot.
Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi are back on the bench after several weeks out injured, but not risked from the start, as they hope to play against Arsenal in the Champions League midweek.
Instead, Zielinski is the playmaker, with Carlos Augusto and Kristjan Asllani not fully fit.
They were expected to rotate the strikers too, but Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez lead the way.
FERRARA, ITALY – MARCH 26: Gaetano Pio Oristanio of Italy U21 during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and Turkey U21 at Stadio Paolo Mazza on March 26, 2024 in Ferrara, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Venezia had a truly disastrous start to the season following promotion via the play-offs, with change of coach to Eusebio Di Francesco.
There have been signs of recent improvement, as they drew 2-2 away to Monza, then completed an epic comeback from 2-0 down to beat 10-man Udinese 3-2 on Wednesday evening.
Bjarki Bjarkason is the only remaining absentee, with Marin Sverko not at 100 per cent either.
There are quite a few familiar faces in the squad, as Filip Stankovic is on loan from Inter and the son of former midfielder Dejan Stankovic.
Gaetano Oristanio is also on loan from Inter after coming up through their youth academy.
Inter: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; M Thuram, Lautaro Martinez
Venezia: Stankovic; Idzes, Svoboda, Altare; Zampano, Crnigoj, Nicolussi Caviglia, Andersen, Haps; Oristanio, Pohjanpalo