Serie A: Inter Eager to Cast Aside Juve Slip-Up

Empoli vs Inter Milan

Inter Milan are not Serie A champions without good reason.

They have been the undisputed Italian number one in recent seasons with genuine quality from back to front leading to periods of domestic dominance and tangible European progression.

Despite not being at their best so far in 2024-25, they remain the team to beat.

However, a gap is developing at the top with Simone Inzaghi’s team currently trailing 2023 champions Napoli by four points at the summit.

They will want to close that gap as soon as possible, beginning with a Wednesday teatime trip to 10^th-placed Empoli.

 

Talking Points

The gap is that bit wider because Inter were involved with Serie A 2024 highlights, and the game of the season so far on Sunday teatime – a 4-4 draw in the Derby d’ Italia.

I Nerazzurri, for whom Piotr Zielinski scored two first-half penalties, led 4-2 early in the second half but could not press home that advantage against Juventus.

It was a result which hugely frustrated Inzaghi who claimed his team should have scored ‘seven or eight,’ and had “no warning signs” of the comeback.

Inter had started to look almost comfortable when leading 4-2 until the 70th minute, also wasting numerous opportunities to add a fifth, forcing several Michele Di Gregorio saves.

Sunday afternoon’s events in the San Siro were certainly something of a surprise.

Inter had the best defence in Serie A last season and are yet to concede in three Champions League games, but have been leaking goals in Serie A recently, something Inzaghi will want to put right immediately.

Empoli were also in action on Sunday afternoon and led at newly promoted Parma but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

It could have been worse had Parma not missed a second-half penalty.

The Tuscans have only been beaten in two of their opening nine league outings but have drawn five so are struggling to see teams off.

They must surely expect to welcome an Inter team gunning for victory, even without the influential set-piece specialist Hakan Calhanoglu who remains a doubt.

Brazilian wing-back Carlos Augusto and veteran defender Francesco Acerbi are still sidelined, but fringe players such as Yann Bisseck, Mehdi Taremi, and Davide Frattesi may be handed starts if Inzaghi shuffles his pack.]

Empoli will again be without Samuele Perisan, Tyronne Ebuehi, and long-term absentee Saba Sazonov due to injury.

 

History

The best result Empoli have managed against Inter in the past nine years is a goalless draw in January 2015.

Since then, Inter have won 14 consecutive clashes, 13 in the league and one in the Coppa Italia.

In both league matches last season, Inter edged home.

They won this corresponding fixture thanks to a solitary goal from Federico Dimarco.

Dimarco was also on target in the San Siro return last Easter, scoring the opener before Alexis Sanchez sealed a 2-0 victory.

 

Betting Tip

It’s Inter all the way with the SBOTOP Serie A 2024 betting odds.

You can tip the champs 1X2 @ 1.40 and Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.02. Empoli are much further adrift, priced 1X2 @ 6.40 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.21.

The draw @ 4.29 represents extremely good value.

If you are going for a first goalless encounter in nearly a decade, then Correct Score will ensure you a pay day of @ 13.50, while a repeat of the contest last season, a 1-0 Inter win, is worth @ 6.70.

Goals are expected and that is reflected in the difference between Total Goal 0-1 @ 3.65 with 2-3 @ 2.04 and 4-6 @ 2.90.

Although they have done well away from home, Empoli have yet to taste victory on home soil so far this term and have even failed to score in all of their four home league matches to date.

They did, though, push Napoli close just over a week ago before going down to a 1-0 defeat, courtesy of a debatable penalty.

I can see a fair few goals in this, possibly one from the home side, but I simply cannot see beyond an Inter victory.

   

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