Inter Milan match preview

By: j | October 24th, 2008

The Rossoblu travel to Stadio Giuseppe Meazza to face high-flying Inter Milan this Sunday in key match up for Genoa. It has been a superb start to the campaign by the Nerazzurri under the leadership of José Mourinho with them sitting atop the Serie A table as well as their group in the Champions League.

Always needing to be the center of attention, Mr. Mourinho is a rare breed in modern managers. He is highly effective as a Football manager yet so remarkably annoying in his public commentary he makes it difficult to support his clubs in my opinion. He commands a brilliant roster that boasts the services of Zlatan Ibrahimović, Adriano, Ricardo Quaresma, Cristian Chivu, Esteban Cambiasso, Luis Figo, Javier Zanetti and Azzurri Marco Materazzi to name only a few. Debatably, “the special one’s” tactical style hasn’t made the most of the abilities as of yet and should that occur we can expect the front-line of Zlatan Ibrahimović, Adriano and Ricardo Quaresma to light up Serie A score-sheets. For tomorrow’s match Inter will however be without the services of Luis Figo, Esteban Cambiasso, Patrick Vieira, Luis Jimenez and Nelson Rivas.

As a Genoa supporter sometimes it is difficult not to lose perspective but the advancement of the club over the last few years is one of the great stories of Serie A this decade. The work of Gian Piero Gasperini has been nothing short of miraculous and after last weekend’s victory the club sits firmly locked in the upper-half of the table and displaying characteristics that it will contend for a European spot. Of the next step in their evolution is playing at a consistent level with confidence against the upper tier of Football as well as on the road. This is by no means an easy task and might be the hardest of all aspects within higher quality Football but it is one that Genoa must take if they are to burst into the top six of Serie A.

Clearly at this stage of the young season, Genoa’s weakness has been when away from the cozy confines of Luigi Ferraris as they have lost each of their three away matches and been able to produce only a single goal. As they go forward in this match, they must play courageously, with a lions heart and seek out victory as opposed to “not losing.” Once again it is a difficult task but one that they must learn of. There will be bumps along the way when such a approach “bites back” but in-the-end they will learn what they are made of and we as loyal supporters can embrace their earnest efforts.

Gian Piero Gasperini heads into the match without the services of Omar Milanetto, Francesco Modesto, Rubén Olivera, Matteo Paro and Alessandro Potenza. I expect them to employ their typical 3-4-3 with Rubinho between the pipes and a back-line of Giuseppe Biava, Salvatore Bocchetti and Matteo Ferrari. Repeating a sentiment I have expressed on numerous occasions, the back-line has done extraordinary work this season and responsible for much of the clubs success with a particular debt of gratitude to Matteo. In the midfield Marco Rossi, Thiago Motta, Ivan Jurić and Domenico Criscito will be employed and I expect Serbia international, Boško Janković to be utilized in either in the mid-field or striker position as the match wears on. The striking tandem of Raffaele Palladino, Giuseppe Sculli and Diego Milito will be on the attack for goals with of-course Diego arguably having the greatest impact on his club in Serie A this year.