Italian and European champions Inter have made an Alice In Wonderland-esque start to the new year under new coach Leonardo and suddenly after four months of flirting with disaster they seem to be on course for the Scudetto.
With league leaders and city-rivals Milan drawing twice in a row in Serie A and Inter winning three league fixtures in succession, the gap between the two sides has now been trimmed down to nine points with the Nerazzurri having two games in hand.
One of those games is tonight against Cesena, who seem to be engaged in a long-term relationship with the relegation demon. A victory for Inter will propel them to go level on points with Roma on 35 points and just six behind Milan; and indeed maximum points should be comfortable for the Beneamata.
However, Inter coach Leonardo warns against complacency and said on Tuesday, "The first few minutes against Cesena are decisive because they set the pattern for the match. The way you approach a game is important and against Bologna (a 4-1 win last weekend) it was virtually perfect. We'll try to do the same again tomorrow against Cesena."
Realising The Impossible
Cesena are in real danger of suffering relegation from Serie A at the end of the season after just one year in the Italian top flight. The Seahorses are currently stuck to one place above the bottom-three with just 19 points, same as many as Lecce, who are 18th.
The trip to Milan comes off the back of a 1-0 home loss to Scudetto-challengers Roma, which followed an encouraging goalless draw with Genoa at home. The start of the new year has been good for Massimo Ficcadenti's side, who defeated fellow relegation candidates Brescia 2-1 in their opening game of 2011.
Last time the Seahorses played against a Milanese side, they won 2-0 as they conquered Milan at the Dino Manuzzi, but this time, Ficcadenti admits, it will be be tough and explained, "We must start again, we knew from the beginning it would be a difficult championship.
"We're trying to do something but everyone is looking for strikers, even the big teams to make up for injuries. We do need to score goals, though.''
TEAM NEWS
Inter
Thiago Motta has been rested with a minor injury but Sulley Muntari has been included in the 20-man squad despite his recent handing of a transfer request. Samuel Eto'o and Diego Milito are expected to lead the line again.
Cesena
21 players have been called up to the squad for the trip to Milan. Steve von Bergen and Maximiliano Pellegrino are expected to be the two centre-backs, with Erjon Bogdani as the lone striker ahead of attacking midfielders Emanuele Giaccherini and Luis Jimenez in a 4-3-2-1 formation.
Prediction
A win for Inter looks to be the most likely result. With Samuel Eto'o in death-defying form and Diego Milito rediscovering his old self, it is going to be a Herculean task for the Cesena defensive unit to contain the Italian giants.
Inter Milan 3-0 Cesena 
