Serie A: Inter Breathing Down Juve’s Necks!

Inter Milan vs SPAL

It’s a two horse race at the top of Serie A this season, and the prime movers are matching each other stride for stride.

Inter Milan are second in the league table, a single point behind Juventus, and a home game against relegation threatened SPAL at the San Siro on Sunday will ensure they don’t slip further adrift. The latest Serie A betting odds have Inter as the only team which can wrestle the Scudetto off I Bianconeri, while their weekend visitors are heavily tipped to return to Serie B.

SPAL boss Leonardo Semplici knows he has a real job on as his side languishes in 19^th place, struggling to score and unable to buy a win, while his opposite number, Antonio Conte has his eye on the main prize. It looks like both races will go down to the wire and while this is, in effect, a free hit for SPAL, there is no way their hosts will offer any hospitality until long after the final whistle.

Let’s be honest, anything other than a home win would be one of the Serie A 2019 results of the season, and it’d be worth seeing an interview with Conte if that happens!

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Talking Points

Inter’s big partnerships

Conte inspired an electrifying start to I Nerazzurri’s campaign, winning the first six games, including massive victories in the Milan derby and over Lazio, currently in third place. Losing the Derby D’Italia in the seventh game handed the initiative to the Old Lady but Inter hasn’t been beaten since.

The Inter boss has built partnerships right through his team with two striking pairs at either end of the pitch. The experienced Uruguay international Diego Godin has been partnered with Stefan de Vrij at the back, and he has brought with him the famed defensive prowess he showed at Atletico Madrid over nine seasons.

At the front, new signing Romelu Lukaku has ten league goals in his first season while 22 year old Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez is attracting attention throughout Europe, and he has six goals to his name. Both were on target in a 0-3 win away to Torino with De Vrij adding the third.

Inter aims to leapfrog Serie A leaders Juventus when they meet SPAL this weekend — Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring his 250th goal in his career against Slavia Praha

Conte’s team still has work to do in the Champions League, with a Group F tie against Barcelona looming, and they may need to win that to go through to the Round of 16. Before that match they have a tough assignment in the league against Roma as they continue to chase the Old Lady.

Juventus faces Sassuolo this weekend and I Bianconeri are proving they won’t give up their Scudetto without a fight, winning a difficult encounter away to Atalanta last week.

That match in Turin will finish before Inter and SPAL take the field and Conte’s team is likely to be four points adrift by then, which will be a huge incentive.

Shot Shy SPAL

Godin and De Vrij won’t give any quarter to anyone, which isn’t great news for a SPAL team which is really struggling to score. They have managed just eight goals so far and Semplici will be asking more players to support top scorer Andrea Petagna. He has four goals for I Biancazzurri this season, including a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Genoa last week. That was a missed opportunity against relegation rivals as SPAL could only hang on to the lead for two minutes.

Federico Di Francesco is on loan from Sassuolo and he can be a handful alongside Petagna. And while they have only managed to score eight, a goals against figure of 19 is a good effort for a team in 19^th. Captain Felipe is part of a defensive unit which is key to SPAL’s survival hopes.

Next week they are at home to Lecce, currently in 17^th place, and that’s a game they’ll target for three points. Meanwhile, if they can get one on Sunday they’ll have a party!

History

Since their arrival in the top league, after winning the Serie B title in 2017, SPAL have faced Inter four times, losing three and drawing one. The Nerazzurri did the double last season, including a 2-0 victory at the San Siro.

As well as failing to win in six games, SPAL have achieved just a single point on the road so far, losing five out of six.

SPAL have drawn three and lost three of the last six, but none of these games have exceeded two goals.