Following their derby defeat in the Supercoppa Italiana, reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan will aim to get straight back on track when they visit Venezia on Sunday.
Though Inter threw away a two-goal lead to lose the supercup final against their arch-rivals, they have won all of their last five league games while scoring 19 goals.
Match preview
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For the second time this season, Inter succumbed to defeat against AC Milan, as they lost 3-2 in Monday's Supercoppa decider despite leading until the 80th minute.
Four days after beating Scudetto rivals Atalanta BC in the semis, clinical finishes by front pair Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi put the Nerazzurri on course for a fourth straight supercup triumph, but they failed to last the pace and had to watch their old foes lift the trophy instead.
Tammy Abraham's late winner in Saudi Arabia consigned Inter to just a second domestic defeat of the season, so they will return to league action intent on extending an unbeaten streak of 12 Serie A matches.
After conquering Cagliari in their final fixture of 2024, Simone Inzaghi's side are one of only two teams - along with Juventus - yet to lose an away game in Italy's top flight this term; indeed, they have won all of their last five without conceding.
Therefore, Inter could now post six straight away wins while keeping a clean sheet for the very first time in Serie A, and precedent seems to suggest they can do so.
For the past five seasons, the Nerazzurri have won their first league match of the calendar year, and they are favourites to set a new club best by making it six on the spin this weekend.
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After Inter came out on top in November's reverse fixture, with Martinez scoring the only goal at San Siro, Venezia have lost all of the clubs' last three meetings.
Few would expect a side struggling in the bottom three to trouble Italy's champions, but the Lagunari will welcome their second-city counterparts to Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo amid their most productive spell of the season.
Top scorer Joel Pohjanpalo netted the early opener against Empoli last time out, but they ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Inter loanee Sebastiano Esposito struck back to equalise.
Nonetheless, Venezia have now lost just one of their last five games by tightening up in defence; keeping them within touching distance of 17th spot and their goal of top-tier survival.
Occupying 19th place after 19 games - marking the season's halfway stage - Eusebio Di Francesco's men have collected 11 of their 14 points on home turf, so they may hold out hope of producing a big shock on Sunday.
Team News
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Adding to Inter's recent injury issues at the back, German defender Yann Bisseck suffered a thigh strain in the Supercoppa final and has joined Francesco Acerbi on the treatment table.
In better news for Simone Inzaghi, the return of Benjamin Pavard could be timely, with the France international potentially stepping into Bisseck's boots this weekend. Furthermore, 12-goal top scorer Marcus Thuram will be back to lead the visitors' front line.
Thuram's fellow forward Joaquin Correa is still unavailable, though, and midfield pivot Hakan Calhanoglu is a major doubt.
Venezia, meanwhile, will be concerned about the fitness of Inter primavera product Gaetano Oristanio, whose tally of 37 completed dribbles is joint-top of the Serie A rankings, alongside Milan star Rafael Leao.
Due to injury, Oristanio may miss out on meeting his former side, but on-loan goalkeeper Filip Stankovic - who has made a big impression since claiming the Arancioneroverdi's number one spot - will certainly feature against his parent club.
If Oristanio joins Michael Svoboda, Alfred Duncan, Issa Doumbia and Domen Crnigoj on the sidelines, John Yeboah would partner Joel Pohjanpalo up front.
Venezia possible starting lineup:
Stankovic; Idzes, Sverko, Altare; Zampano, Busio, Nicolussi Caviglia, Ellertsson, Carboni; Yeboah, Pohjanpalo
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
We say: Venezia 0-3 Inter Milan
As Inter will be fired up to prove a point, Venezia could be presented with a formidable task at Stadio Penzo.
The Nerazzurri almost always bounce back from defeat with a win, so expect Simone Inzaghi's side to prevail.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
