Antonio Conte's Inter Milan travel to Bologna on Saturday evening looking to make it three wins from their last four league games.

The Nerazzurri are second in the table, just one point behind Juventus, while the home side are currently 11th.

Match Preview

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Bologna were beaten 3-2 by Cagliari in the week, a result that took them to just one win in their last seven Serie A matches.

Sinisa Mihajlovic's side have shown a lot of fight from losing positions this season but they have too often played themselves into trouble by giving away costly fouls in key areas.

Likewise, they have also struggled to defend against width, something that will sound like music to the ears of an Inter side that have done some of their best work this season when making the pitch big.

Bologna won the last time these two sides played, and the likes of Riccardo Orsolini, Federico Santander and former Inter man Rodrigo Palacio will be key to repeating that on Saturday, but that is their only win in this fixture since 2013.

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After their electric start to the season, Inter have had some issues in their recent games but they have still only lost two competitive matches under Conte's stewardship.

The team's defence, which was excellent in their opening few matches, has looked a lot more leaky in recent games, with opposing teams too often able to get in behind their midfield and maximise the space.

Still, Conte's side are still getting results, as they proved in the week when they beat Brescia, despite only recording two shots on target during the entire game.

Key to that win was the dynamic partnership forming up front between Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku, who already have 12 Serie A goals between them this season.

Inter will be hoping for a big away win on Saturday in preparation for their important Champions League meeting with Dortmund in Germany on Tuesday.

Bologna recent form: DLDLWL

Inter Milan recent form: WWLWDW
Inter Milan recent form (all competitions): LLWWDW

Team News

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Bologna will definitely be without Mattia Destro, Gary Medel and influential defender Takehiro Tomiyasu at the weekend, but they are trying to ensure that Mitchell Dijks is available.

Should Dijks return, he will slot in at left-back, but beyond that Mihajlovic is expected to pick a largely similar side to that which lost against Cagliari.

Inter remain without long-term casualty Alexis Sanchez, while Danilo D'Ambrosio remains a doubt for Conte's men.

Star midfielder Stefano Sensi is likely to be fit enough to feature, although he is probably going to be preserved for Tuesday's important game against Dortmund.

With that game in mind Conte is likely to make a couple of changes, including offering recalls to Cristiano Biraghi and Alessandro Bastoni.

Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Mbaye, Bani, Denswil, Dijks; Schouten, Dzemaili; Orsolini, Palacio, Sansone; Santander

inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic; Bastoni, de Vrij, Skriniar; Candreva, Politano, Brozovic, Barella, Biraghi; Martinez, Lukaku

We say: Bologna 1-2 Inter Milan

Bologna's defensive issues look set to cost them again on Saturday against a form Inter side, although the fight they have shown in earlier games could help them push Antonio Conte's men close.

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