Serie A: No Slip-Ups for Inter Against Empoli

Inter Milan vs Empoli

Inter Milan are back in Serie A action this weekend against Empoli and head coach Simone Inzaghi will leave no stone unturned in his preparation.

I Nerazzurri return to home after two away fixtures which have seen them slip two points behind Milan in the race for the 2022 Scudetto. They come into the game on the back of a hard fought 2-1 victory away to Udinese while 14^th placed Empoli lost at home to Torino.

Aurelio Andreazolli’s visitors have little to play for but pride and contracts as they sit a comfortable 11 points clear of the drop zone and are likely to have their top-flight status confirmed this weekend regardless of their result against Inter.

Leaders Milan face Verona at the weekend and the ninth-placed side have lost just one of the last six, so that won’t be easy. But Inzaghi is well-aware that their match against Empoli is a potential banana skin which his players cannot afford to slip on.  

Here at SBOTOP we have Inter are at 1.14 to win this game while Empoli are out at 11.56 to win or 8.20 to draw, so we believe I Nerazzurri will be sure footed.   

Talking Points

Inter’s hot shots have their sights on the Scudetto

With 74 goals and a goal difference of +45, Inter Milan are streets ahead of any other team in Serie A and that could be the decider when all the matches are done and dusted. The Scudetto is a battle between the two Milan clubs and the latest Serie A 2022 betting odds slightly favour the Rossoneri, but that could all change this weekend.

I Nerazzurri open this round of games on Friday night and a win would take them a point clear of Milan, who, if they draw in Verona, will fall behind due to their inferior goal difference.

The Inter strikers have been in superb form after the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea last summer. The big Belgian has struggled on his return to Stamford Bridge, but his former strike partner Lautaro Martinez has thrived in his absence.

The Argentine hitman has scored 17 goals while the veteran Edin Dzeko has scored 13. The Bosnian forward is a superb foil for Martinez with his strength in the air and clever flick ons, while wing-man Hakan Calhanoglu has had a great campaign with seven goals and providing 10 assists. With the experienced Ivan Perisic also in support, there is no lack of ammunition for these two in-form strikers.    

A shock 2-1 loss to Bologna threatened to derail Inter’s title challenge, but the return of captain Samir Handanovic between the posts has steadied the ship. 

Lorenzo Tonelli a big miss for Empoli

Empoli’s Serie A 2022 results have stuttered following an injury to centre-back Lorenzo Tonelli in a 1-0 defeat to Fiorentina.

The Empoli defence has started to ship goals too freely. A 3-2 victory over Napoli was sandwiched by a 3-1 defeat to Torino and a 4-1 loss to Udinese as they conceded a lot of chances in all three games – 40 shots in total.

The nine goals conceded in the last four games without the 32-year-old Tonelli, is in stark contrast to the two conceded in the three previous games.

And against Torino, the Azzurri lost their discipline too. At 1-0 up, midfield ace Valerio Verre was red carded and he was followed by defender Petar Stojanovic as Andrea Belotti helped himself to a late hat-trick and Torino ran out comfortable winners. So Verre and Stojanovic will sit this one out too.   

There could be a return for Simone Romagnoli in defence while Wolves loanee Patrick Cutrone might be in line for a start, while Andrea Pinamonti with 12 goals will lead the Empoli line.  

History

In the 26 meetings between these two teams this century, Empoli have only managed two wins and two draws, losing the other 22.

Inter have won the last six games with a goal difference of 12 to three including a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture.

It was a feisty encounter as many of Empoli’s games are. The home side started well but Danilo D’Ambrosio’s header gave Inter a half-time lead. Empoli’s Samuele Ricci was red carded for a horrible challenge on Nicola Barella and Federico Dimarco made Empoli pay midway through the second half.    

Betting Tip

With no Italian interest in the Champions League, all eyes are on domestic matters in Italy and these last few games are all huge.   

With a home record of 12 wins, three draws, and two defeats this season, Inter are a sound bet to pick up the three points. And against a leaky defence depleted by injury and suspensions, I suspect they will improve their goal difference further.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.