Two months on from their Champions League final heartbreak, Inter Milan return to competitive action on Saturday evening, when they host Monza at San Siro.
Inter kick off a fresh Serie A season aiming to improve on an inconsistent 2022-23 campaign, in which they also lifted two trophies and came so close to glory on the European stage.
Match preview
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Despite losing no fewer than 12 times in Serie A last season, Inter excelled in knockout competitions; retaining the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana before coming within a whisker of winning the Champions League for the first time since 2010.
Simone Inzaghi's side saw off city rivals Milan in both the Supercoppa and Champions League semi-finals, but a memorable year ultimately ended with bitter defeat to Manchester City in Istanbul.
Since reconvening earlier this summer, Inter have bid goodbye to several stars of their European run, as Andre Onana, Marcelo Brozovic, Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku have all departed for pastures new, along with veteran goalkeeper and club captain Samir Handanovic.
Davide Frattesi, Marcus Thuram, Marko Arnautovic and ex-Monza wing-back Carlos Augusto are among the fresh faces at San Siro, so Inzaghi has some new options to consider for selection this weekend, when his men host Lombardy neighbours in their Serie A opener.
Inter - who beat both Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig during a largely successful pre-season - have won their opening league fixture in each of the last four years and are unbeaten for 10 years in their first home match; however, they have yet to get the better of Monza since the Biancorossi made their bow in the Italian top flight.
In 2022-23, only Monza and Juventus denied the Nerazzurri victory across both league games, as a 2-2 draw at the Brianteo was followed by a famous 1-0 win for the visitors in Milan.
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Monza finally made it into Calcio's elite last year, and after a shaky start to their Serie A debut, the arrival of rookie coach Raffaele Palladino helped an ambitious club finish 11th in the final standings.
After decades spent in Italy's lower leagues, the Biancorossi burst through the glass ceiling and ultimately ended up with only 20 points fewer than third-placed Inter: across Europe's top five leagues, no promoted team picked up more points last term (52, equal to Fulham).
Not for over 20 years has a Serie A debutant done better in their first season, and an impressive away record played a major part in Monza's success.
Only the top two, Napoli and Lazio, have accrued more points away from home in 2023, three of which came from beating Inter in April, when ex-Nerazzurro Luca Caldirola popped up with the winner at San Siro.
Palladino's side have won most of their pre-season friendlies against modest opposition this summer, but began the new season in less impressive fashion.
Last week, a second-half collapse at home to Serie B side Reggiana saw them exit the Coppa Italia, so a club that has also failed to win their opening league match in each of the past three years start as clear outsiders on Saturday.
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Team News
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A number of Inter's new signings are set to feature this week, as Swiss stopper Yann Sommer starts in goal, while Davide Frattesi, Yann Bisseck and Juan Cuadrado could all play a part at some stage.
Among midfielders, Frattesi was ranked second for shots on target in Serie A last term, but the Italy international - who played 39 times for Monza - must battle it out with several other contenders for a spot in Simone Inzaghi's central trio.
Likely to join new captain Lautaro Martinez up front, Marcus Thuram was directly involved in 19 Bundesliga goals last season (13 of his own and six assists) - the French forward's best such haul to date.
Another new boy, wing-back Carlos Augusto, recently joined from Monza as back-up to Federico Dimarco; Robin Gosens has left for Union Berlin. While the Brazilian moved to San Siro this summer, Inter duo Roberto Gagliardini and Danilo D'Ambrosio both travelled in the opposite direction.
D'Ambrosio - the only defender to have been involved in at least one goal in each of the last 11 Serie A seasons - should feature in the visitors' back three, particularly as Armando Izzo misses out through suspension; Gagliardini starts in midfield.
Dany Mota led the line for Monza in both their recent Silvio Berlusconi Trophy clash with Milan and last week's cup defeat, but Mirko Maric and Andrea Petagna are also options for Raffaele Palladino.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Darmian, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Monza possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; D'Ambrosio, Mari, Caldirola; Ciurria, Gagliardini, Pessina, Kyriakopoulos; Colpani, Caprari; Mota
We say: Inter Milan 2-1 Monza
Inter have scored freely throughout pre-season and will be determined not to start their Serie A campaign slowly, having been left lagging behind last year. Although Monza are well-organised and boast a settled squad, avoiding defeat on the opening day may just prove beyond them at San Siro.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
