Genoa have already started to crop up the table in Serie A and have commenced to climb up the charts. Last week’s 1-0 win has propelled the Grifone to ninth in the league standings, with 11 points from eight matches.
The victory last weekend did ease pressure on coach Gian Piero Gasperini but the Genoa tactician should know that his side will have to carry on winning or else pressure will be back again on him. Genoa have won just four times against Inter in the past 50 years but playing at home on Friday evening will give them an advantage.
An added incentive for the Grifone is that they lie just four points behind the Italian and European champions – a win will see them close the gap and make them believe in themselves even more.
Closing In On Lazio
Inter’s 1-1 draw with Sampdoria last weekend means that the Beneamata cannot go top of Serie A come what may. At the moment Rafael Benitez’s side are third in the table with 15 points from eight matches.
However, a win will see the Italian and European champions close the gap between them and leaders Lazio to just a point and also leapfrog city-rivals Milan to second.
But Inter need to improve and rediscover their scoring touch. In their last four league fixtures, the Beneamata have scored just twice. Their away form in the league has not been exceptional either, as they have scored just thrice in four matches, winning twice.
TEAM NEWS
Genoa
Jankovic, Rudolf, Veloso, Palacio, Kharja, Sculli and Palladino have been ruled out because of injuries. Gasperini is likely to opt for a 4-4-2 formation with Toni and Destro as the two strikers.
Inter
Chivu, Stankovic, Mariga, Thiago Motta and Suazo are out injured. Benitez will opt for a 4-2-3-1 system that will have Eto’o as the main striker with Pandev, Sneijder and Coutinho as the three attacking midfielders behind him.
Prediction
This promises to be an exciting match and will be very competitive. Genoa will make it very tough for Inter and will fancy a win too. However, one is tempted to go for a narrow win for Inter but it could eventually ended in a draw.
Genoa 1-1 Inter Milan 
