Getty Images
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
INTER  Julio Cesar Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo Zanetti, Cambiasso, Motta, AlvarezPazzini, Milito | PALERMO  Viviano Pisano, Silvestre, Mantovani, Balzaretti Migliaccio, Donati, BarretoIllicic Miccoli, Budan |
Attempting to get back on track from their loss to Lecce, Inter coach Ranieri has received the positive news that Thiago Motta (should he not leave before the end of the transfer window) has recovered from a knock to his calf and is available for selection in midfield, the player having rejoined training alongside his team-mates.
Ranieri himself stated that Inter look more solid in a 4-4-2 formation, meaning Wesley Sneijder could drop to the bench - or Giampaolo Pazzini and Diego Milito will vie for the lone forward role ahead of the Netherlands international.
As for the absentees, Diego Forlan and Dejan Stankovic remain on the sidelines and Sulley Muntari is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana.
On the other side of the pitch, Palermo are looking for their third win in a row and in-form veteran Fabrizio Miccoli should line up alongside Igor Budan with Josip Ilicic in the trequartista role once again for boss Bertolo Mutti. Goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, still co-owned by Inter, impressed in the recent 2-0 win over Novara and will be looking to do the same against the Nerazzurri.
Young Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez is nearing full fitness, but should still miss this particular encounter and midfielder Luigi Della Rocca has picked up a fever, defensive midfielder Armin Bacinovic is still a month away from a comeback due to an injury to his left meniscus.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Inter ended a run of seven consecutive league victories in a row on the weekend when they suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Lecce.
- Diego Milito has struck five times against Palermo since joining Inter in 2009, his favourite target as a member of the blue-and-black squad along with AC Milan.
- Juventus were the last side to score more than one goal against Inter in league play, during a 2-1 triumph for the Turin-based side in October.
- Palermo have won their last two matches (over Genoa and Novara) after enduring a spell of seven matches without a victory.
- The Rosanero's 4-3 win over Inter on the opening day of the 2011-12 campaign was their first victory against the Nerazzurri since 2005.
- The Sicilian outfit have yet to win on the road this season, collecting three draws and seven defeats. They have only scored twice away from home this campaign.
Although Palermo have had a recent mini-revival, they have yet to prove they can win on the road and despite matches typically showcasing plenty of excitement when they face Inter, they often come up short. The Sicilians may make it interesting at first, but expect the quality and experience of Ranieri's side to decide the match in the end.
Editor's Prediction
Inter 3-1 Palermo 
