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Today the Serie A is beggining it's second part of the season, and because we're playing their champions in the last 16 of the Champions League, i guess we should have a thread in wich we should discuss their matches, players, form, injuries and other things related to them.
They play today against Cagliari at home. It looks a certain win for the champions. But you never now
Serie A Preview: Inter - Cagliari
Exciting New Year For Inter
Jose Mourinho’s Inter could hardly be entering 2009 in more confident mood. Going into Serie A’s winter break, they earned eight consecutive victories and they currently hold an impressive six-point lead over Juventus on top of the table. True, their latest victory away to Siena was highly controversial, as Maicon’s second goal was a couple of metres offside, but overall Inter’s domestic season so far has confirmed they are the team to beat in Italy.
It took a little while, but the Special One seems to have finally found his first choice starting XI and formation, after trying his preferred 4-3-3 system at the start, with mostly disappointing results. New arrivals Ricardo Quaresma and Amantino Mancini buckled under the pressure time and time again up front, so Mourinho eventually reverted to the more efficient 4-4-2 system used by his predecessor Roberto Mancini, and since then Inter have been unstoppable in Serie A.
However, now comes a crucial moment in the season. At this point a year ago, the team suddenly suffered a drop in form, although it must be said they also had to cope with a slew of injuries. Key players such as defenders Ivan Cordoba and Walter Samuel, who have been rock-solid so far this season, and main man Zlatan Ibrahimovic were out for an extended period of time. Mourinho will hope he has all his best men available particularly for the Champions League knock-out tie against Manchester United, which is sure to produce fireworks as the former Chelsea coach will lock horns with an old rival in Sir Alex Ferguson.
Of course, the Serie A race should not be underestimated either. Juventus especially have shown they have the consistency necessary to keep up with the Nerazzurri, and six points is by no means an insurmountable gap, also considering that Inter nearly threw away an 11-point lead over Roma last season. As for Milan, they obviously have a huge potential and probably have the most skillful team of the whole Serie A, but so far they have not shown enough consistency and defensive solidity to be able to keep up their Scudetto challenge, and they are currently nine points behind.
On paper, Inter’s next few matches don’t look too daunting, and they will not be facing a "big" team until the derby on 15 February, by which time they will hope to have built on their nine-point lead over their city rivals. Aside from a defeat to Milan early in the season, the Nerazzurri’s form against the more prestigious teams has been very impressive, as they thrashed both Lazio and Roma away from home, and beat Palermo (away), Juventus, Napoli, and Udinese (all at home).
Still, they should not take the home match against Cagliari, Inter’s first of 2009, for granted, as the Sardinian team have been known to give them a hard time in the past, and they are currently on a highly impressive run of form.
FORM GUIDE
Inter
20/12 (Serie A): Siena-Inter 1-2
14/12 (Serie A): Inter-Chievo 4-2
09/12 (Champions League): Werder Bremen-Inter 2-1
06/12 (Serie A): Lazio-Inter 0-3
30/11 (Serie A): Inter-Napoli 2-1
Team News
Patrick Vieira is still out injured, while Maicon is suspended.
goal.com
They play today against Cagliari at home. It looks a certain win for the champions. But you never now
Serie A Preview: Inter - Cagliari
Exciting New Year For Inter
Jose Mourinho’s Inter could hardly be entering 2009 in more confident mood. Going into Serie A’s winter break, they earned eight consecutive victories and they currently hold an impressive six-point lead over Juventus on top of the table. True, their latest victory away to Siena was highly controversial, as Maicon’s second goal was a couple of metres offside, but overall Inter’s domestic season so far has confirmed they are the team to beat in Italy.
It took a little while, but the Special One seems to have finally found his first choice starting XI and formation, after trying his preferred 4-3-3 system at the start, with mostly disappointing results. New arrivals Ricardo Quaresma and Amantino Mancini buckled under the pressure time and time again up front, so Mourinho eventually reverted to the more efficient 4-4-2 system used by his predecessor Roberto Mancini, and since then Inter have been unstoppable in Serie A.
However, now comes a crucial moment in the season. At this point a year ago, the team suddenly suffered a drop in form, although it must be said they also had to cope with a slew of injuries. Key players such as defenders Ivan Cordoba and Walter Samuel, who have been rock-solid so far this season, and main man Zlatan Ibrahimovic were out for an extended period of time. Mourinho will hope he has all his best men available particularly for the Champions League knock-out tie against Manchester United, which is sure to produce fireworks as the former Chelsea coach will lock horns with an old rival in Sir Alex Ferguson.
Of course, the Serie A race should not be underestimated either. Juventus especially have shown they have the consistency necessary to keep up with the Nerazzurri, and six points is by no means an insurmountable gap, also considering that Inter nearly threw away an 11-point lead over Roma last season. As for Milan, they obviously have a huge potential and probably have the most skillful team of the whole Serie A, but so far they have not shown enough consistency and defensive solidity to be able to keep up their Scudetto challenge, and they are currently nine points behind.
On paper, Inter’s next few matches don’t look too daunting, and they will not be facing a "big" team until the derby on 15 February, by which time they will hope to have built on their nine-point lead over their city rivals. Aside from a defeat to Milan early in the season, the Nerazzurri’s form against the more prestigious teams has been very impressive, as they thrashed both Lazio and Roma away from home, and beat Palermo (away), Juventus, Napoli, and Udinese (all at home).
Still, they should not take the home match against Cagliari, Inter’s first of 2009, for granted, as the Sardinian team have been known to give them a hard time in the past, and they are currently on a highly impressive run of form.
FORM GUIDE
Inter
20/12 (Serie A): Siena-Inter 1-2
14/12 (Serie A): Inter-Chievo 4-2
09/12 (Champions League): Werder Bremen-Inter 2-1
06/12 (Serie A): Lazio-Inter 0-3
30/11 (Serie A): Inter-Napoli 2-1
Team News
Patrick Vieira is still out injured, while Maicon is suspended.
goal.com