Serie A Week 29 - 22/3/09 (14.00 UK)
Inter - Reggina
Stadio Meazza
This could be a decisive weekend for Inter’s Scudetto calculations, as Juventus travel to Roma while they have on paper a relatively easy test.
The Nerazzurri may be out of the Champions League and under pressure from the media, but they fought their way to a 2-0 victory over Fiorentina last week to maintain the seven-point gap. Zlatan Ibrahimovic bagged both goals, including a blistering late free kick that cannoned in past a startled Sebastien Frey.
It is a fairly safe assumption that Jose Mourinho – who escaped a touchline ban despite his red card for dissent against Fiorentina – will be bagging the three points here. Reggina have never won at San Siro in all competition and have lost their last four consecutive visits without scoring a single goal, but conceding 10.
They were twice hammered 6-0 in this fixture, in the 1971 Coppa Italia and November 2003 Serie A game. The Amaranto have netted here just once in the last eight attempts, with David Di Michele in a Coppa clash in December 2003.
Setting history aside, current form doesn’t favour Reggina either. They are without a victory since a 3-1 result over Atalanta on November 23, going 15 rounds with only nine points to show for it. Yet Nevio Orlandi’s return to the bench following a very brief spell under Bepi Pillon has at least given them a bit of a boost, as they are unbeaten in three against the likes of Fiorentina and Napoli, while they also held Milan to a 1-1 draw in this very stadium back in Week 23.
Bernardo Corradi will be eager to make his mark at San Siro, as he was briefly signed by Inter before moving to Lazio in part-exchange for Hernan Crespo. Ex-Milan midfielder Bruno Cirillo is suspended, while Antonio Giosa, Emil Halfredsson, Santos, Andrea Campagnolo and Barreto are still injured. Ciccio Cozza and Franco Brienza provide effective back-up and assists for Corradi, who netted at Napoli last Sunday.
Inter continue their defensive problems, as Walter Samuel sits out a ban with Marco Materazzi, Nicolas Burdisso and Ivan Cordoba injured. Cristian Chivu should return in time for a centre-back berth alongside Nelson Rivas. Patrick Vieira was frozen out of the squad after his poor performance at Old Trafford and it’s likely Mourinho will continue that hardline stance. After several games upfront, Mario Balotelli could go back on the bench to make way for Adriano.
Keep an eye on: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) – Even when his team is not playing particularly well, Ibracadabra can usually be counted on to bring some magic to proceedings.
Last season: Inter 2-0 Reggina
Form guide: Inter (W W W D W) Reggina (D L D D D)
Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Rivas, Chivu, Santon; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Muntari; Stankovic; Ibrahimovic, Adriano
Reggina (probable): Puggioni; Krajcik, Valdez, Lanzaro; Sestu, Carmona, Barillà, Costa; Cozza; Brienza, Corradi
Ref: To follow.
Inter - Reggina
Stadio Meazza
This could be a decisive weekend for Inter’s Scudetto calculations, as Juventus travel to Roma while they have on paper a relatively easy test.
The Nerazzurri may be out of the Champions League and under pressure from the media, but they fought their way to a 2-0 victory over Fiorentina last week to maintain the seven-point gap. Zlatan Ibrahimovic bagged both goals, including a blistering late free kick that cannoned in past a startled Sebastien Frey.
It is a fairly safe assumption that Jose Mourinho – who escaped a touchline ban despite his red card for dissent against Fiorentina – will be bagging the three points here. Reggina have never won at San Siro in all competition and have lost their last four consecutive visits without scoring a single goal, but conceding 10.
They were twice hammered 6-0 in this fixture, in the 1971 Coppa Italia and November 2003 Serie A game. The Amaranto have netted here just once in the last eight attempts, with David Di Michele in a Coppa clash in December 2003.
Setting history aside, current form doesn’t favour Reggina either. They are without a victory since a 3-1 result over Atalanta on November 23, going 15 rounds with only nine points to show for it. Yet Nevio Orlandi’s return to the bench following a very brief spell under Bepi Pillon has at least given them a bit of a boost, as they are unbeaten in three against the likes of Fiorentina and Napoli, while they also held Milan to a 1-1 draw in this very stadium back in Week 23.
Bernardo Corradi will be eager to make his mark at San Siro, as he was briefly signed by Inter before moving to Lazio in part-exchange for Hernan Crespo. Ex-Milan midfielder Bruno Cirillo is suspended, while Antonio Giosa, Emil Halfredsson, Santos, Andrea Campagnolo and Barreto are still injured. Ciccio Cozza and Franco Brienza provide effective back-up and assists for Corradi, who netted at Napoli last Sunday.
Inter continue their defensive problems, as Walter Samuel sits out a ban with Marco Materazzi, Nicolas Burdisso and Ivan Cordoba injured. Cristian Chivu should return in time for a centre-back berth alongside Nelson Rivas. Patrick Vieira was frozen out of the squad after his poor performance at Old Trafford and it’s likely Mourinho will continue that hardline stance. After several games upfront, Mario Balotelli could go back on the bench to make way for Adriano.
Keep an eye on: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) – Even when his team is not playing particularly well, Ibracadabra can usually be counted on to bring some magic to proceedings.
Last season: Inter 2-0 Reggina
Form guide: Inter (W W W D W) Reggina (D L D D D)
Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Rivas, Chivu, Santon; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Muntari; Stankovic; Ibrahimovic, Adriano
Reggina (probable): Puggioni; Krajcik, Valdez, Lanzaro; Sestu, Carmona, Barillà, Costa; Cozza; Brienza, Corradi
Ref: To follow.
Last edited by Mahdiano on Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:37 pm; edited 1 time in total
