Inter return to San Siro on Saturday with the status of reigning Italian champions and the immediate demands of a season beginning to tighten. Parma provide the opposition in the sixth round of Serie A, but the afternoon also marks Alberto Gilardino’s first match in charge of the Emilian club.
The decision
Gilardino’s opening assignment could hardly be more testing: a visit to the Giuseppe Meazza, where Cristian Chivu’s Inter resume after the international break. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 on Saturday 10 October, with Kevin Bonacina of Bergamo appointed referee.
For Inter, the return to domestic football comes with Champions League commitments approaching. Chivu must therefore manage a squad facing two competitions from the outset, while maintaining the standards expected of champions in front of their own supporters.
The expected Inter selection is set up in a 3-5-2, with Josep Martinez in goal behind Benjamin Pavard, Yann Bisseck and Carlos Augusto. Andy Diouf, Nicolò Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Federico Dimarco are expected across midfield, with Marcus Thuram alongside Pio Esposito in attack.
Chivu could also call on Ivan Provedel, Raffaele Di Gennaro, Manuel Akanji, Alessandro Bastoni, Djed Spence, Luis Henrique, Aleksandar Stankovic, Petar Sucic, Piotr Zielinski, Ange-Yoan Bonny and Lautaro Martinez. Stones and Jones are unavailable.
Parma are also expected to begin in a 3-5-2. Edoardo Corvi is predicted to start in goal, with Lautaro Troilo, Diego Carlos and Enrico Delprato forming the back line. Sascha Britschgi, Giovanni Fabbian, Adrián Bernabé, Keita and Emanuele Valeri are likely to fill the midfield positions, behind El Bilal Touré and Elphege in the forward line.
Gilardino’s bench options include Daffara, Ghidotti, Carboni, Drobnic, Sierro, Cremaschi, Ordonez, Konate, Lontani, Diallo, Romero and Frigan. Parma will be without Ndiaye, Nicolussi Caviglia and Almqvist.
Neither side has suspended players or footballers one booking away from a ban for this fixture. The match will be available live on DAZN.
