Inter vs Sassuolo Preview: Where to Watch, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
Inter return to league action after their Coppa Italia exploits, with a league game against Sassuolo at the San Siro on Saturday.
The Nerazzurri are hoping to remain in the hunt for the Scudetto and could temporarily close the gap on second-placed Napoli, who face Lazio on Sunday, to two points.
Meanwhile, the Neroverdi, who were eliminated from the Coppa Italia at the hands of the Neapolitans on the weekend, come into the game on the back of three successive defeats in all competitions and are hoping to get back to winning ways against Inter, who they defeated on the opening day of the campaign.
Check out 90min's preview of the game below.
Where to Watch
When Is Kick Off? | Saturday 19 January |
What Time Is Kick Off? | 19:30 (BST) |
Where Is it Played? | Stadio San Siro |
TV Channel/Live Stream? | Eleven Sports 2 |
Referee? | TBC |
Team News
Having rested several first-team players in the Coppa Italia, Inter manager Luciano Spalletti may choose to revert to some of his more familiar faces with Samir Handanović, Stefan de Vrij, Kwadwo Asamoah, Borja Valero and Matteo Politano set to return to the starting line-up.
However, the Italian may choose to keep the likes of Antonio Candreva and Lautaro Martínez, who both scored twice against Benevento on the weekend.
Sassuolo have a lengthy list of absentees including Marlon, Gian Marco Ferrari, Federico Di Francesco and Claud Adjapong, who are all out due to injury. Full-back Rogério was also replaced by Cristian Dell'Orco in the latter stages of their encounter against Napoli and is a doubt for Saturday's fixture.
Predicted Lineups
Inter | Handanović; Vrsaljko, Škriniar, De Vrij, Asamoah; Politano, Vecino, Valero, Perišić; Martínez, Icardi. |
Sassuolo | Consigli; Lirola, Magnani, Peluso, Rogério; Locatelli, Sensi, Duncan; Berardi, Boateng, Boga. |
Head to Head Record
The Neroverdi have the better record going into the game, winning seven of the previous 11 meetings, with Il Biscione triumphing on just four occasions.
Sassuolo have won the last four successive meetings against the Nerazzurri, all by a one-goal margin, and have been victorious in their last three visits to the San Siro.
Inter's last victory over Sassuolo came in December 2016, a 1-0 win away at the MAPEI Stadium, but Inter have put seven past Sassuolo on two previous occasions, home and away, and could repeat the feat, having put six past Benevento on the weekend.
Recent Form
Inter are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions, winning four of the last five games, including their last three matches.
Sassuolo are currently four matches without a victory and have lost the last three matches in all competitions. Their last victory came against 19th-placed Frosinone in mid-December.
Here's how each team has performed in their last five fixtures:
Inter | Sassuolo |
Inter 6-2 Benevento (13/1) | Napoli 2-0 Sassuolo (13/1) |
Empoli 0-1 Inter (29/12) | Sassuolo 2-6 Atalanta (29/12) |
Inter 1-0 Napoli (26/12) | Roma 3-1 Sassuolo (26/12) |
Chievo 1-1 Inter (22/12) | Sassuolo 1-1 Torino (22/12) |
Inter 1-0 Udinese (15/12) | Frosinone 0-2 Sassuolo (16/12) |
Prediction
Inter will have several of their usual starters back in contention for the game against Sassuolo, who are without key defensive options.
Nerazzurri skipper Icardi is in terrific form this campaign, with 14 goals and three assists in 23 appearances overall and got back on the scoreboard against Benevento after a run of three games without netting. If he is in the mood against Sassuolo, La Beneamata could win the game convincingly.
However, the Neroverdi will take confidence knowing they have won the last four successive meetings against Inter and have managed to win the last three previous encounters against Inter at the San Siro.
They showed great spirit against Napoli in the Coppa Italia and were unfortunate to have a goal harshly disallowed for hand ball by VAR, when they were 1-0 down.
The Neroverdi will certainly provide a test for Spalletti's men, but the third-placed side should have enough firepower to overcome a weakened Sassuolo side.
Prediction: Inter 2-1 Sassuolo
