Sassuolo
Sassuolo have not had the best run of form to start the 2013/2014 campaign, and there is no reason to expect that to change this weekend. With two of their 3 losses having come against the other newly promoted teams, Livorno and Hellas Verona, it stands to reason that if they had a shot at an early win that chance has moved on. To make matters worse, they just lost experienced defender Terranova to a long term injury, and will be up against and Inter team that has exceeded expectations thus far. Marco Pegolo will also be unavailable due to injury.
On a bright note there is a chance promising young midfielder Luca Marrone will return from an injury he picked up over the summer, and it will be up to management whether he is deployed in his natural centre midfield role, or at centre half which he has previously shown he can occupy very capably. Other players to keep an eye on this weekend will be young striker Simone Zaza who grabbed a goal last week, and full back Reto Ziegler, who will need to be in top form on the right flank going up against Inter’s Jonathon who has played exceptionally well to start the season.
Expected line-up:
Pomini
Gazzola - Antei - Acerbi - Ziegler
Kurtic – Magnanelli – Missiroli
Schelotto - Zaza - Floro Flores
Inter
New boss Walter Mazzarri has worked wonders with what was last year an underachieving Inter squad. After opening the campaign with successive victories they managed a hard fought draw in Milan last weekend against two time reigning scudetto holders Juventus. Hopes could not be higher for the Nerazzurri, and rightfully so. Ricky Alzarez has justified his selection each week having arguably been the side’s best performer all season. Hugo Campagnaro has been spectacular following his summer move from Napoli, but most importantly, for tactical reasons, Yuto Nagatomo and Jonathon have been in top form down the flanks. Their combined success has opened up the middle for Alvarez to get forward, and he has done so excellently.
Mauro Icardi starts this weekend on the bench after scoring the lone goal last weekend, and given the form of Rodrigo Palacio it is not hard to understand. Ricky Alvarez will once again be critical to the side’s success, as well as Freddy Guarin and Saphir Taider in midfield. Regardless, if Inter can maintain form I do not see an issue with getting the 3 points.
Expected line-up:
Handanovic
Campagnaro - Ranocchia – Juan Jesus
Jonathon - Guarin – Cambiasso - Taider - Nagatomo
Alvarez
Palacio
Prediction
Like I mentioned above, the playing of the match is all but a formality. The loss of Terranova weakens a backline that has conceded at least twice in each match so far, while Mazzarri’s side have averaged two goals a match while conceding only the one to Juventus. SassuoloGranted, anything could happen, that is never more true than with calico, but I see Inter running away with this one to the tune of 3-0.