Parma vs Hellas Verona
Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma
Tuesday, 29-10-2019 @9pm
Parma managed to hold Inter to a 2-2 draw at San Siro despite an injury crisis and host a Verona side struggling for goals.
The Ducali moved Gervinho to centre-forward due to the simultaneous absence of Roberto Inglese and Andreas Cornelius, which allowed Yann Karamoh to get his first start of the season. The winger on loan with option to buy from Inter made a big impact against his old club, scoring one goal and setting up another for Gervinho, so they’re expected to lead the way again with impressive Under-21 international Dejan Kulusevski.
Matteo Scozzarella is suspended, with Bruno Alves, Vincent Laurini, Riccardo Gagliolo and Alberto Grassi also sidelined.
Hellas Verona’s main issue is that none of their strikers have found the net this season, despite a consistent rotation of the forwards. It also means they failed to score in their last two games, defeats to Napoli and Sassuolo, so it’s clear where coach Ivan Juric has to intervene.
Miguel Veloso is still dealing with a muscular problem and is a major loss, as his set pieces alone make a big contribution to the team’s attacks. Salvatore Bocchetti, Daniel Bessa, Giampaolo Pazzini, Boris Radunovic, Lubomir Tupta and Emmanuel Badu also miss out.
Teenager Eddie Salcedo and Matteo Pessina are challenging Valerio Verre and Mattia Zaccagni for a role in support of either Mariusz Stepinski or Samuel Di Carmine.
Parma have won their last three home games, their best Serie A streak at the Tardini since six consecutive victories in 2012.
Brescia vs Inter Milan
Stadio Mario Rigamonti, Brescia
Saturday, 28-09-2019 @11pm
Inter wasted a golden opportunity to go top of the table and now face a tricky trip to Mario Balotelli’s Brescia.
The Nerazzurri could’ve taken back the leadership of Serie A after Juventus were held by Lecce, but instead, they too only scraped a 2-2 draw with Parma and remain one point behind. To make matters worse, Atalanta are gaining momentum and closed the gap to just two points from Antonio Conte’s men.
The coach complained bitterly about the injury crisis leaving him with “a squad reduced to the bare bones” and he’ll have to make do again without Stefano Sensi, Matias Vecino, Alexis Sanchez and Danilo D’Ambrosio.
Either Lautaro Martinez or Romelu Lukaku must get some rest soon, so Matteo Politano and 17-year-old Sebastiano Esposito are pushing for a place in the starting XI. Kwadwo Asamoah is nursing a knee issue and could again make way for Cristiano Biraghi.
Brescia have their own problems to contend with, managing just one point from the last four rounds and are fresh off a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Genoa.
Jhon Chancellor limped off with a thigh strain during that game, adding to the growing injury list that already includes Daniele Dessena, Ernesto Torregrossa, Giangiacomo Magnani, Bruno Martella and Luca Tremolada.
So much was expected of Balotelli on his return not just to Serie A, but to his hometown club of Brescia, but he is yet to make a genuine impact. There was one goal, but he was practically inconspicuous against Genoa on Sunday evening, except for during his exit, when he kicked a photographer’s camera on the touchline. He has faced his old club Inter five times in Serie A, but never found the net against them.
Alfredo Donnarumma has shaken off his injury and should be back in the starting XI with SuperMario, but Nikolas Spalek, Jaromir Zmrhal and the fit-again Emanuele Ndoj are all candidates to be trequartista, now Romulo has returned to midfield.
Inter could win their first five away games of the Serie A season, something this club only achieved in 1966-67, 1997-98 and 2012-13.
Upcoming fixtures
Wednesday, 30-10-2019
-Napoli vs Atalanta @9pm
-Cagliari vs Bologna @11pm
-Juventus vs Genoa @11pm
-Lazio vs Torino @11pm
-Sampdoria vs Lecce @11pm
-Sassuolo vs Fiorentina @11pm
-Udinese vs Roma @11pm
Thursday, 31-10-2019
-AC Milan vs SPAL @11pm
