Inter plunged into crisis last weekend when they lost 2-1 to Chievo in Verona in Serie A. It was their fifth competitive match without a win and pushed them to nine points behind league leaders and city-rivals Milan.
However, the Italian and European champions returned to winning ways on Wednesday evening as they defeated Twente 1-0 at San Siro to book their place in the first knockout stage of the Champions League. It has helped eased some pressure on coach Rafael Benitez but without the suspended Samuel Eto'o on Sunday the Beneamata will find it tough against Parma.
Inter are currently sixth in the league standings with 20 points from 13 matches and haven't won a league fixture since October. The Nerazzurri have a rather disappointing record at home too as they have emerged victorious in just two of the six league encounters at San Siro. Without Eto'o, Inter could struggle for goals given that they have found the opposition's net just 14 times.
Clawing Out Of Danger
Parma have been struggling unlike last season and are still very much in danger of getting sucked into the relegation zone. The Ducali are 14th in the standings with 15 points and are just four points above the relegation zone.
Last weekend Pasquale Marino's side accomplished an encouraging result as they held Scudetto challengers Lazio to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Ennio Tardini. It followed two successive 1-0 victories over Sampdoria and Bari that pulled them out of the ugly reaches of the relegation monster.
However, maintaining that momentum isn't going to be easy for Parma as their away record is less than modest given that they have won just once away from home. Even though the Gialloblu will fancy their chances against a crisis-ridden Inter, they will have to keep their feet on the ground.
TEAM NEWS
Inter
Benitez's injury problems continue as Coutinho, Chivu, Mariga, Julio Cesar, Milito, Maicon, Obi, Samuel, Suazo and Mancini are unavailable. To add to the misery Eto'o is suspended and this means that Inter will be without their two best forwards. Pandev will start as the lone striker upfront in a 4-2-3-1 formation that will have Biabiany, Sneijder and Stankovic as the three attacking midfielders.
Parma
Paloschi, Galloppa, Morrone and Marques will miss the trip to Milan as they are injured. In a likely 4-3-1-2 design, Crespo and Bojinov will be the two strikers.
Prediction
Inter defeated Twente in the Champions League in midweek and one suspects that they may have just turned the corner. However, the Benitez's side will have to be careful against a tricky Parma team.
Inter Milan 1-0 Parma 
