The hunt for third place starts again. Inter will take the field against Bologna (at 20.45 pm) knowing they have victory as their only option: any other result, in fact, would make the Champions League dream almost impossible. Three points instead, in addition to being good for morale, would give impetus in view of the match against Roma, a real playoff to be faced in the best possible way. “Third place is still achievable – confirmed Mancini. – But now we have to think about Bologna, they are an insidious team that has found an excellent shot. He defends well, doesn't offer space and has players like Destro and Giaccarini up front who can hurt at any moment. But we are growing, we have gone through ups and downs but this is normal for a young team like ours”. In short, the worst seems to have passed: only the pitch, however, will tell if the crisis can really be considered over or if the victory over Palermo was only sporadic. Certainly a success tonight would have very important, not to say fundamental, implications for the entire Nerazzurri season, up to now below expectations. In fact, the current fifth place cannot satisfy Thohir, which is why many wonder if Mancini, beyond the circumstantial sentences, can really feel part of the future project.
“I love my job and I have a lot of stimuli – glossed over the coach. – Someone says I'm boiled but in reality I still have many years of career ahead of me”. The future topic will be dealt with later, on the other hand only the results will clarify things and therefore it is really appropriate to think about Bologna. That Mancini, as usual, could face off against, proposing the 4-3-3 despite the excellent 4-2-3-1 seen against Palermo. In defense, in front of Handanovic's goal, there will be Nagatomo, Miranda, Murillo and D'Ambrosio, in midfield it will be the trio Brozovic-Medel-Kondogbia, Ljajic, Icardi and Perisic confirmed in attack. However, the possibility of seeing one less midfielder (Kondogbia) and one more forward (one between Palacio and Eder) remains alive, but Bologna is decidedly more frightening than Palermo, especially in the away version (as many as 19 points collected away from Dall'Ara). Donadoni will confirm the typical 4-3-3, net of Mounier's absence: Mirante in goal, Mbaye, Gastaldello, Maietta and Masina in defense, Donsah, Diawara and Taider in midfield, Rizzo, Destro and Giaccarini in attack.
