A thread to keep hoping. After the one against Napoli, Inter goes to Genoa in search of another victory, a sine qua non to keep the Champions League dream alive. The comeback against Roma, almost unthinkable until a few weeks ago, is once again possible but only on condition that the Nerazzurri, very discontinuous in this part of 2016, finally find continuity. In this sense, the match against Genoa (at 20.45 pm) will be very indicative: a success would send out a strong and clear signal and this regardless of the result for Roma (although help from Turin would be very welcome).
“The third place depends on the games against Genoa and Udinese – confirmed Mancini. – If we are able to win both then we will watch Rome – Naples (next Monday, ed) as interested spectators, vice versa we will have thrown away every possibility”. It's useless to go around it, after all, with 5 games to go, the margin for error no longer exists. The coach from Jesi knows this well, already forced to chase due to a highly discontinuous second round, dotted with many points lost against teams within his reach.
“Sometimes unfortunately it takes time to rebuild, you have to go through difficult moments – he explained from the Appiano Gentile press room. – We have certainly made mistakes but the players have always given their best, we have never been defeated in a sensational way. The drop between January and February doesn't necessarily have a culprit, look at what's happening at Barcelona: football is a strange sport." But now the gear seems to be the right one, that's why Marassi's game can't be wrong for any reason.
Mancini, after Saturday's 4-4-1-1 against Napoli, should return to a more offensive 4-2-3-1. In defense, in front of Handanovic's goal, space for D'Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo and Nagatomo, in midfield, with Kondogbia suspended, it will be up to Brozovic and Medel, while in the frontline, behind the lone striker Icardi, Ljajic, Eder should act (slightly favorites over Palacio and Jovetic) and Perisic.
Much fewer choices for Gasperini, forced to give up the injured Burdisso, Pandev, Perin and Rincon and the suspended Izzo: his 3-4-3 will thus see Lamanna between the posts, Ansaldi, Munoz and De Maio in the back department, Fiamozzi, Rigoni , Dzemaili and Gabriel Silva in the midfield, Suso (favorite over Cerci), Pavoletti and Laxalt in the offensive trident.
