Seeking to extend their perfect start to the new Serie A season, Inter Milan host Fiorentina at San Siro on Sunday evening.
Inter have kicked off the 2023-24 campaign with successive wins and are yet to concede a goal, while their Viola visitors are also unbeaten in the league and have just sealed a Europa Conference League group-stage place.
Match preview
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After Inter saw off Lombardy neighbours Monza on the opening day, thanks to a Lautaro Martinez brace, the Nerazzurri's new captain was back on the scoresheet in Sardinia last time out.
Effectively killing Cagliari's hopes of making their Monday night clash a real contest, 'El Toro' netted soon after Denzel Dumfries opened the scoring, as Inter cruised to victory over their promoted hosts.
As a result, Simone Inzaghi's side have won while keeping a clean sheet twice in Serie A this season: the last time Inter started with three shut-out wins came as far back as 1966, but that will be their aim on Sunday.
In fact, they have not leaked a single top-flight goal since a stoppage-time strike by Atalanta in May, with some 270 minutes played since then; such defensive resilience could help combat the chronic inconsistency that cost them a shot at last season's Scudetto.
While they excelled in Europe, Inter finished a distant third in the final Serie A standings, so ending a week when they were drawn with Benfica, Real Sociedad and RB Salzburg in this year's Champions League group stage with another domestic win will be upmost in their thoughts.
Having bolstered his squad with two late signings, in the shape of top target Benjamin Pavard and midfield back-up Davy Klaasen, Inzaghi will now lead his team out at San Siro, where they lost to this week's visitors just over five months ago.
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Fiorentina finally recorded an overdue victory against Inter in April, with Giacomo Bonaventura's strike separating the sides in Milan; following a dramatic 4-3 home loss earlier in the season and an overall streak of 11 Serie A matches without a win over the Nerazzurri.
Having started this season undefeated, the Viola may fancy their chances of repeating their feat this week, although they could so easily have joined Inter on maximum points so far.
After thumping Genoa on the opening day, Vincenzo Italiano's men were two goals ahead against Lecce last Sunday, through goals from Alfred Duncan and in-form winger Nicolas Gonzalez, but they let victory slip through their fingers by conceding twice after the break.
There was no time to dwell on their mistakes, as four days later Fiorentina were faced with a crucial European tie at Stadio Franchi, in which Gonzalez scored twice - including a coolly converted last-minute penalty - to overturn a first-leg deficit to playoff opponents Rapid Vienna.
Last term's Europa Conference League finalists have since been drawn with Ferencvaros, Genk and Cukaricki in Group F of the 2023-24 competition and will aim to go one step further on this occasion.
Now that the interminable Sofyan Amrabat saga has finally reached its conclusion - as the Moroccan midfielder swaps Florence for Manchester on loan - Italiano can focus fully on the remaining members of his squad, which will head to the second city in good spirits this weekend.
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Team News
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While Benjamin Pavard has arrived in Italy following a summer-long pursuit, Inter are likely to name an unchanged back three on Sunday, particularly as Francesco Acerbi remains unavailable due to injury.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is expected to overcome a minor knee problem, but Simone Inzaghi could still hand Italy midfielder Davide Frattesi his first start in a Nerazzurri jersey.
Fellow new boys Marko Arnautovic, Juan Cuadrado and Yann Bisseck may all have to make do with a place on the bench, as Inzaghi prioritises continuity.
Fiorentina's most recent acquisition, Maxime Lopez - who effectively replaces Sofyan Amrabat among the Viola's midfield options - is sidelined by suspension following a red card in his final game for Sassuolo last week.
In addition to Amrabat's long-expected departure, Luka Jovic has also left - joining Inter's city rivals AC Milan - which leaves Lucas Beltran and M'Bala Nzola to battle it out for a start up front.
One of the first names on Vincenzo Italiano's teamsheet, Nicolas Gonzalez has already scored four times this season; another regular, ex-Milan midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura, has been directly involved in eight Serie A goals against Inter to date - including the winner at San Siro last season.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Ikone, Gaetano Castrovilli and Antonin Barak could all miss out due to injury, with Abdelhamid Sabiri also a doubt.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Darmian, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Ranieri, Biraghi; Duncan, Arthur; Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Kouame; Nzola
We say: Inter Milan 2-1 Fiorentina
Both teams have started productively this season, so several goals could be on the cards - if not quite the total of seven shared out in last autumn's thriller. Inter's squad is more settled than Fiorentina's, which has been in flux right up until deadline day, and they should start September with a win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
