Following their successful jaunt to Saudi Arabia, Supercoppa winners Inter Milan resume domestic duties on Monday, when they host Empoli at San Siro.
Just one point adrift of their city rivals in Serie A following a 1-0 victory over Verona, Inter then claimed silverware at Milan's expense last Wednesday. Their visitors, meanwhile, are undefeated since returning from the winter break.
Match preview
© Reuters
Continuing their impressive start to 2023, Inter's 3-0 crushing of their Rossoneri rivals in Riyadh not only saw them lift the Supercoppa Italiana for a second straight season but also marked the first time they have beaten Milan in a final - having lost in two previous attempts.
After Federico Dimarco put the Coppa Italia holders ahead on 10 minutes, veteran striker Edin Dzeko doubled their advantage midway through the first half with a cool finish into the bottom corner.
When Lautaro Martinez then put victory beyond doubt in the 77th minute, jubilant celebrations were not far behind, as Simone Inzaghi's men seized the trophy and victory in a Derby della Madonnina like no other.
Inter had warmed up for the task by seeing off lowly Verona, when Martinez struck early on and they essentially cruised through the rest of the game. As a result, they have won eight of their last 10 in the top flight - including against previously unbeaten leaders Napoli - and sit third in the standings following the recent demise of Juventus.
In-form Martinez has been inspired since returning from Qatar a world champion, as he also scored in the Coppa Italia clash with Parma which ultimately saw the Nerazzurri through to a quarter-final with Lombardy neighbours Atalanta later this month.
That continues a good run in the cups for Inzaghi, who has not only guided them through to the Champions League knockout stages again but also entered elite company by matching legendary coaches Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello on four Supercoppa wins.
Indeed, for a relatively unloved figure at San Siro, the ex-Lazio boss has fared well enough since switching to Milan: following Inzaghi's arrival, Inter have won the most home games (22 out of 28), gained the most points at home (69) and scored the most home goals (69) throughout Serie A.
© Reuters
Inter have won each of their last nine league matches against Empoli with an aggregate score of 20-7, and the Tuscan team last won this fixture back in 2006. Furthermore, the Azzurri have lost 93% of their away games against Monday's hosts in Serie A.
Empoli did taste victory in their most recent outing, though, as a 1-0 win over Sampdoria lifted them to within a point of the top half of the table.
Now 90 minutes from the midpoint of the Serie A season, recent results have eased any relegation fears in the camp - only all-conquering Napoli have beaten them in their last five matches.
In fact, just one side outside the top seven have turned the Tuscans over all season - and not since the opening day - so Paolo Zanetti's return to the club he once represented as a player is going perfectly well so far.
Only the league's bottom three have scored fewer goals, however, and Zanetti will hope the re-signing of experienced poacher Francesco Caputo can inspire Empoli to greater things in the second half of the campaign. Beating Inter at San Siro is surely too much to ask, though, as they have not managed back-to-back Serie A wins since December 2021 or successive clean sheets in the top flight for nearly five years.
Team News
© Reuters
Amid a hectic schedule for his squad, Simone Inzaghi may well consider some rotation on Monday, with Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij and Kristjan Asllani the main contenders for promotion to Inter's starting lineup.
Romelu Lukaku recently returned to full training and is set to feature on the bench, but both Samir Handanovic and midfield regular Marcelo Brozovic are still short of fitness.
In Lukaku's absence from the hosts' attack, Edin Dzeko should partner Lautaro Martinez up front. The latter has nine league goals this term and could become only the third foreign player in Inter history to reach double figures in at least four different Serie A seasons.
Dzeko, meanwhile, has three goals in his last two starts against Empoli, and a tally of four in his last five games. Among players with at least five strikes in the top five European leagues this term, the evergreen Bosnian is the oldest at 36 years of age.
Empoli will be without Razvan Marin due to suspension, while Ardian Ismajli (thigh), Mattia Destro (calf) and Alberto Grassi (thigh) are sidelined by injury.
The visitors' Guglielmo Vicario has made the most saves (212) throughout the top five European leagues since August 2021 - he is also one of only two Serie A stoppers who have not missed a single league match during that period (56, along with Roma's Rui Patricio). As such, the former Cagliari man is - in all senses - Paolo Zanetti's first name on the team sheet.
Meanwhile, Inter loanee Martin Satriano should partner Ciccio Caputo up front against his parent club, despite scoring just once so far this season.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Onana; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Stojanovic, De Winter, Luperto, Parisi; Fazzini, Bandinelli, Akpa Akpro; Baldanzi; Caputo, Satriano
We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Empoli
Following their third-minute winner against Verona last week, Inter have scored eight times during the first 15 minutes of play in Serie A this season - more than any other team. Given the effects of their trip to the Middle East and subsequent celebrations, they may take more time to get going on Monday, but can still see off an Empoli side which has won just once away from home.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
