Inter Milan will host Bologna at San Siro on Sunday for their second encounter within a three-week period. This match is crucial in the context of their Serie A title race, which has intensified as the season approaches its conclusion. Inter aims to capitalize on their recent form, looking for a fifth consecutive league victory.
Match Preview: Inter Milan’s Goals
Inter Milan enters this match riding a four-game winning streak. Currently, they lead the Serie A standings, albeit with a slim margin over their closest rivals. A recent 1-0 win against Atalanta BC featured a standout performance from Lautaro Martinez, who continues to shine with five goals in his last six league appearances.
- Wins this season: 12
- Losses this season: 4
- Recent unbeaten streak: 4 matches
Interestingly, Inter has only registered one draw in their last 17 league matches, a 1-1 stalemate against Bologna in the recent Supercoppa Italiana semi-final. In that match, Bologna advanced through penalties, highlighting their ability to compete at the highest level.
Bologna’s Recent Struggles
Bologna, on the other hand, has faced challenges this season, winning only one of their last 13 season openers. Despite this, they managed to score in 17 consecutive away games against Inter, indicating the competitive nature of this fixture.
- Recent form: 1 win, 1 draw, 3 losses
- League position: 7th
- Last five league meetings: 1 win for Inter, 1 for Bologna, 3 draws
Bologna’s recent decline included a surprising 3-1 defeat to Cremonese, followed by another loss to Juventus. Their last match ended in a 1-1 draw against Sassuolo, further complicating their chances for Champions League qualification.
Team News: Key Players Missing
Inter Milan is dealing with injuries to several key players. While defender Francesco Acerbi has resumed training, wing-backs Matteo Darmian and Denzel Dumfries are sidelined. French striker Ange-Yoan Bonny is also out, prompting Marcus Thuram to likely partner with Martinez in attack.
Martinez, who scored an impressive 30 goals across all competitions last year, is on the cusp of reaching double digits again this season. On Bologna’s side, Riccardo Orsolini is expected to pose a threat, having contributed significantly to the team’s attack against Inter in the past.
Projected Lineups
| Inter Milan | Bologna |
|---|---|
| Sommer | Ravaglia |
| Bisseck | Holm |
| Akanji | Heggem |
| Bastoni | Lucumi |
| Henrique | Miranda |
| Barella | Freuler |
| Calhanoglu | Moro |
| Zielinski | Orsolini |
| Dimarco | Fabbian |
| Thuram | Cambiaghi |
| Martinez | Castro |
Prediction: Inter Milan vs Bologna
Given Inter’s strong form and depth in their attacking options, they are favorites to win. However, past encounters suggest that Bologna can be competitive. A predicted scoreline is Inter Milan 2, Bologna 1. This match will be a pivotal moment as both teams eye crucial points as the new year begins.
