Inter’s crowded October programme may bring Ivan Provedel into the first-team picture sooner than expected, with Cristian Chivu weighing a change in goal after a difficult run for Josep Martinez. The former Lazio goalkeeper is waiting for his competitive debut in Nerazzurri colours, and the next three fixtures offer the most likely opening.
Key takeaways
- Josep Martinez’s latest mistake came in the Champions League match against Club Brugge.
- The Spanish goalkeeper had also endured an error in Madrid and three further uncertain moments against Udinese.
- Inter have recovered from Martinez’s league setbacks, but the consequences have been heavier in Europe.
- Provedel could be selected for Saturday’s trip to Bologna, though a decision has not yet been confirmed.
- Shakhtar at San Siro and Fiorentina on 25 October are the other immediate chances for Provedel to start.
Chivu’s patience reaches a testing point
Chivu has consistently backed Martinez since the former Genoa goalkeeper became Inter’s first choice. His handling of the position has reflected a clear intention: a spell on the bench should not look like public punishment, particularly after an error, and continued faith might help the player find his way back quickly.
That approach has held through previous difficult afternoons. Martinez was retained despite the Madrid lapse and the problems seen against Udinese, where Inter were able to respond in Serie A. The Champions League situation has sharpened the question, however. The Club Brugge error added to a growing list of doubts, with European points carrying a more immediate cost.
For that reason, the competition between Inter’s goalkeepers is now more than a background issue. A period out of the side could allow Martinez to clear his head and return without carrying each earlier mistake into the next match. Equally, Provedel’s arrival gives Chivu an experienced alternative rather than a simple short-term replacement.
A decision across three demanding fixtures
It remains uncertain whether Provedel will begin at the Dall’Ara against Bologna on Saturday. Chivu has repeatedly protected Martinez after mistakes, so an immediate switch cannot be treated as inevitable.
Yet the calendar leaves little room for a prolonged wait. Inter then host Shakhtar in the Champions League next Wednesday before meeting Fiorentina in Serie A on 25 October. Across that sequence, Provedel is expected to make his first official Inter appearance.
The timing also coincides with the end of daylight saving time, when clocks move back by one hour overnight between Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October. For Inter, though, the more significant change may come in the penalty area: a new goalkeeper could be given the chance to settle a position that has become increasingly exposed.
