Inter Milan will be looking to maintain their improved run of form with a victory against Chievo at San Siro this weekend.
The Nerazzurri are on a five-game unbeaten run that has boosted their hopes of earning a European spot, but their opponents have also been enjoying a fine spell that has secured their top-flight status.
Inter Milan
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A dreadful run of four league games without a win in March saw Inter Milan's hopes of qualifying for Europe take a blow and at one point it seemed that a finish in the bottom half of the Serie A table was not of the question.
However, they put together a five-game unbeaten run last month that has moved them up to eighth, and if results go their way this weekend, then they could move into the top five.
The Nerazzurri achieved one of their standout results of the season at the weekend when they earned a 2-1 victory over Roma, and they followed that up on Wednesday evening by beating Udinese by the same scoreline.
They have been able to find some much-needed consistency and it seems that Roberto Mancini has finally settled on his preferred starting lineup. Hernanes and Nemanja Vidic are just two of the players who have benefited from a strong run in the team and both of them have been able to produce their best form of the season in the past month.
Despite their upturn in fortunes, there are still some crucial areas that the club have struggled in and their home form has not been good enough. Their victory against Roma was their first win at San Siro in five games, and with three matches in front of their supporters to come before the end of the season, it is essential that they claim as many points at home as possible.
Recent form: LDWDWW
Chievo
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At the start of the year, Chievo were in serious danger of being dragged into a relegation battle, but a drastic improvement in form has seen them climb all the way up to 12th in the table and has ensured their survival.
They are now just three points behind AC Milan and can focus their attentions on securing an unlikely finish inside the top half of the table.
It is all the more impressive given that they had lost seven of their opening nine league games of the season, and since Rolando Maran's appointment as manager in October, they have become a far more solid unit.
The Gialloblu have lost only one of their previous nine league games, while in that time they have claimed impressive wins against Genoa and Sampdoria and have held Roma and Milan to goalless draws.
Chievo impressed once again at the weekend when they came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Lazio, and they were back to winning ways in midweek as Riccardo Meggiorini's early goal gave them a 1-0 victory over nine-man Cagliari.
That result extended their current unbeaten run to four games and it was the 13th time that they have kept a clean sheet in the league all season. It is their strength at the back where they have become renowned and only the top three teams in Serie A have conceded fewer goals than they have.
Recent form: WLWDDW
Team News
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Inter Milan will be able to welcome back Andrea Ranocchia and Juan Jesus, after the two defenders both served suspensions in midweek.
Lucas Podolski came off the bench to score the winner against Udinese, but he is not expected to start this weekend.
Meanwhile, Meggiorini and Sergio Pellissier will both be fighting for a spot up front to partner Alberto Paloschi in the Chievo attack.
Former Inter player Ezequiel Schelotto, who spent just a season at the Nerazzurri, is also expected to line up against his former club.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic, Jesus, Vidic, Ranocchia, D'Ambrosio, Kovacic, Medel, Guarin, Hernanes, Palacio, Icardi
Chievo possible starting lineup:
Bizzarri, Frey, Cesar, Dainelli, Schelotto, Hetemaj, Izco, Radovanovic, Birsa, Meggiorini, Paloschi
Head To Head
In this season's reverse fixture, Mateo Kovacic and Ranocchia both scored to help Inter record a 2-0 win in Verona.
Chievo have tended to struggle against Inter over the years and they have won just two of the previous 21 meetings between the teams.
We say: Inter Milan 1-0 Chievo
Inter have put together a decent run over the past month and they will not want to throw away all of their good work, with a place in the Europa League up for grabs. It may not be easy for them against Chievo, but we think that Mancini's side will be able to edge past their opponents and pick up the three points.
Alex Meyers
