Aiming to extend their 12-point lead at the summit of Serie A, Inter Milan will welcome Genoa to San Siro on Monday evening.
Having brushed aside Atalanta BC to post their 11th win on the spin, Inter are on course to claim the Scudetto; meanwhile, their mid-table visitors are seeking a top-half finish.
Match preview
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Preserving their perfect record in 2024, Inter's third straight 4-0 Serie A success was surely their most impressive, as they made light work of in-form Atalanta last Wednesday, with captain Lautaro Martinez striking just before half time to extend his advantage in the Capocannoniere race.
Simone Inzaghi's side have scored more goals than any other team throughout Europe's top five leagues this season, as an impressive tally of 67 sees them clear of both closest contenders Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
Having one toe in the Champions League quarter-finals - although a tough second leg against last-16 opponents Atletico Madrid awaits - and with the Supercoppa Italiana secured already, Inter are aiming to claim three trophies by June, and the Italian title is now theirs to lose.
Should they win on Monday, the Nerazzurri will have 72 points from 27 Serie A matches - as many as they managed through the whole 2022-23 campaign - and both of their main rivals, Juventus and AC Milan, have been left trailing in their wake.
In fact, the last time Inter dropped points was back in late December, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Genoa at Marassi.
Nonetheless, the Milan giants have won all of their last nine home games against the Ligurians - and recent form suggests they can extend such a streak.
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Winless in nine top-flight meetings with Monday's hosts, losing seven times and scoring just one goal during that run, Genoa's last league success against Inter dates back to February 2018.
However, the Grifone will arrive in Italy's second city having avoided defeat in 10 of 11 Serie A matches played since mid-December, a period in which only Inter remain unbeaten.
Continuing their impressive comeback campaign, last year's Serie B runners-up recently followed a 1-1 draw with Napoli at Stadio Maradona with last week's 2-0 home win over relegation-threatened Udinese, to move within three points of a top-half position.
Mateo Retegui scored the opening goal against the latter, confirming his partnership with Albert Gudmundsson as one of the most productive in the league: a natural finisher, Retegui is the only Italian player to have scored at least twice with his right foot, left foot and head so far this season.
Former Milan striker Alberto Gilardino will no doubt be enjoying his front pair's input, which has essentially sealed survival already, but games against Inter and Juventus during the next fortnight will truly put his team to the test.
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Having rotated his squad more frequently of late, Simone Inzaghi may do so again on Monday evening, when two first-team regulars should be back at his disposal.
Marcus Thuram and Francesco Acerbi have resumed training and could play some part for Inter, although Alessandro Bastoni must serve a suspension; Hakan Calhanoglu, Juan Cuadrado and Stefano Sensi are sidelined by injury.
Among several fringe players that could start, Alexis Sanchez is in line to replace Marko Arnautovic up front: the Chilean may partner main marksman Lautaro Martinez, who is behind only Bayern Munich's Harry Kane for goals scored in Europe's top five leagues this term.
Meanwhile, Genoa should have an almost full squad for the trip to Milan, as Johan Vasquez appears to have recovered after limping out of last week's win over Udinese and should feature in the Grifone's back three at San Siro.
Only Ridgeciano Haps and Alan Matturro - the latter of whom has been ruled out for the rest of the season - will be unavailable to Alberto Gilardino. The visitors' head coach could therefore name an unchanged XI.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Sanchez, Martinez
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez; Sabelli, Frendrup, Badelj, Messias, Martin; Gudmundsson; Retegui
We say: Inter Milan 3-1 Genoa
In his 300th Serie A match as a manager, Simone Inzaghi should secure his 179th win: relentless Inter have momentum on their side, while Genoa are a lesser force away from home.
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Jonathan O'Shea
