Inter kick-off the 2023/24 Italian Serie A campaign at the San Siro on Saturday at 20:45 with AC Monza visiting.
Making their first appearance in the Champions League final in over a decade, Inter Milan were left spitting feathers as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against English champions Manchester City. This was a sour end to a successful campaign, where they finished third in the Serie A table and clinched the Coppa Italia title courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the final.
It’s been an upheaval season for the Nerazzurri in the summer transfer window as they’ve bid goodbye to several stars of their players. Andre Onana, Marcelo Brozovic, Edin Dzeko, Romelu Lukaku, Milan Skriniar and club captain Samir Handanovic have all left the club.
With several other departures too, but the team also has some new faces. Davide Frattesi, Marcus Thuram, Marko Arnautovic, Yann Sommer, Yann Bisseck, Emile Audero and ex-Monza wing-back Carlos Augusto are among the fresh faces at San Siro, so Inzaghi has some new options to consider for selection this weekend.
Since then, Simone Inzaghi’s charges have picked themselves up in pre-season, winning all but one of their five friendly matches, with a 1-1 draw against Al Nassr on July 27 being the exception.
Elsewhere, Monza suffered a first-round exit from the Coppa Italia as they were beaten 2-1 by Serie B side Reggiana last Sunday.
Prior to that, Raffaele Palladino’s men enjoyed an unbeaten pre-season, where they picked up four wins from their first four games before wrapping up their friendly schedule with a 1-1 draw against AC Milan. With last weekend’s result, Monza have now lost their last three competitive matches on the spin, conceding eight goals and scoring three since a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo on May 19.
Inter have 15 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 20 fixtures across all competition.
Head-To-Head
Inter and Monza have faced off 3 times previously and the results have been split right down the middle with both teams claiming one victory each and the last one ending in a draw.
Inter’s only victory against Monza was in a friendly game as Monza were the better side last season, getting a draw at their home before grabbing a huge win at the San Siro againt the Nerazzurri.
Possible Line-Ups
Captain Lautaro Martinez is expected to lead the attack for the Nerazzurri alongside new signing Marcus Thuram. Usual suspects in the midfield, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu should be in the starting line-up. Inter will likely face a number of her former players with Michele Di Gregorio, Gianluca Caprari expected to start for Monza.
Inter Possible Starting Lineup: Sommer; Darmian, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan/Frattesi, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Monza Possible Starting Lineup: Di Gregorio; D’Ambrosio, Mari, Caldirola; Ciurria, Gagliardini, Pessina, Kyriakopoulos; Colpani, Caprari; Mota
Prediction
This will be a different ball game compared to last season especially after a strong end to last season and a solid pre-season. The Nerazzurri also will be backing themselves to kick off the campaign on a winning note.
Scores: Inter 3-1 Monza
