Inter Milan cannot afford to fall any further behind in the Serie A title race when they face Sassuolo at home on Sunday.

Inter Milan will look to reassert their domestic credentials when they welcome Sassuolo to San Siro on Sunday evening, just days after celebrating a victorious return to the Champions League.

After a dramatic Derby d’Italia defeat, Inter bounced back in Europe with a composed 2-0 win away at Ajax in midweek. Cristian Chivu’s men marked the start of their latest UEFA Champions League campaign by executing set-pieces to perfection, as Marcus Thuram twice rose to meet Hakan Calhanoglu’s corners. The victory was not just a statement of intent abroad but also a much-needed morale boost.

Chivu’s Serie A tenure, however, has been less straightforward. Inter thrashed Torino 5-0 on the opening day, but inconsistency quickly crept in. A shock home defeat to Udinese dented their momentum before their topsy-turvy Derby clash with Juventus. That game produced seven goals, echoing last season’s eight-goal thriller, but Inter’s defensive frailty told late on as they squandered a lead to lose ground on Napoli and Juve in the title race.

The Nerazzurri must now steady their domestic form to avoid drifting further behind the early pacesetters. Against Sassuolo, a side that has so often played the role of spoiler at San Siro, Inter Milan will need both resilience and composure to keep their Scudetto ambitions alive.

Sassuolo have long been regarded as one of Inter Milan’s trickier opponents, with history firmly on their side. The Neroverdi have won 10 of the 22 Serie A meetings between the clubs and have lost just two of their last nine trips to San Siro. Memories of their 2-1 triumph inspired by Domenico Berardi two years ago still linger, serving as a reminder of their ability to upset the giants.

Now back in Serie A after last season’s promotion as Serie B champions, Fabio Grosso’s men are beginning to find their rhythm at the top level again. After predictable defeats to reigning champions Napoli and fellow newcomers Cremonese, they stunned Lazio with a spirited display last weekend. Substitute Alieu Fadera made an instant impact, scoring within six minutes of his introduction to secure a memorable 1-0 win in Reggio Emilia.

As Grosso returns to his old stomping ground at San Siro, his squad will be eager to prove they belong at this level, particularly after showing resilience and tactical discipline against one of Italy’s European regulars. Their challenge now is to produce similar levels of intensity and organisation against a side packed with attacking firepower. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Inter Milan

Inter will be boosted by the return of their captain Lautaro Martinez, who sat out the midweek UEFA Champions League tie due to a back issue. The Argentine forward is expected to reclaim his place in the starting lineup at San Siro, meaning teenager Francesco Pio Esposito, who partnered Marcus Thuram against Ajax, will likely drop to the bench.

Inter Milan have no major suspensions to deal with ahead of the game against Sassuolo, but a couple of minor knocks remain a concern for Cristian Chivu as he juggles his options in a busy schedule. There is also growing anticipation around deadline-day arrival Manuel Akanji, who made his Serie A debut in the Derby d’Italia last weekend.

The Swiss defender is being eased into the squad but could become a regular starter in the Nerazzurri’s back three, adding both composure and physical presence. He is set to continue ahead of compatriot Yann Sommer, who remains the first-choice goalkeeper.

Tactically, Inter Milan are expected to set up in a familiar 3-5-2 formation against Sassuolo. Yann Sommer will take his position between the posts, shielded by a three-man defensive line of Manuel Akanji on the right, Francesco Acerbi in the centre, and Alessandro Bastoni on the left.

On the flanks, Denzel Dumfries should patrol the right wing-back role while Carlos Augusto operates on the left, both tasked with stretching Sassuolo’s shape and supporting attacks. In midfield, Nicolo Barella and Petar Sucic will provide energy and box-to-box drive, with Hakan Calhanoglu anchoring the central role to dictate tempo and supply set-piece quality.

Up front, Marcus Thuram will once again lead the line for Inter Milan against Sassuolo with Lautaro Martinez alongside him, forming a dynamic strike partnership capable of unsettling the visitors’ defence.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Sucic, Augusto; Thuram, Martinez

US Sassuolo Calcio

Sassuolo head to San Siro with a couple of fitness concerns. Right-back Sebastian Walukiewicz remains doubtful after being forced off midway through the victory over Lazio, and his availability will be assessed closer to kick-off.  Danish forward Laurs Skjellerup is expected to return to the matchday squad, providing Fabio Grosso with another attacking option.

The only confirmed absentee is Yeferson Paz, who continues his recovery and will not feature in this fixture. On a more positive note, Alieu Fadera is pushing hard for a starting berth after his heroics last weekend, when he came off the bench to score the decisive goal against Lazio.

The Gambian international will compete with Armand Lauriente for a place in the wide areas, while Andrea Pinamonti, a former Inter Milan striker, is almost certain to lead the line for Sassuolo. Domenico Berardi, who boasts an impressive record of seven Serie A goals at San Siro, will add further attacking threat on the opposite flank.

Fabio Grosso is likely to deploy his team in a 4-3-3 formation. Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric should start between the posts, with a defensive back four consisting of Woyo Coulibaly at right-back, Jay Idzes and Tarik Muharemovic as the central defensive pairing, and Josh Doig slotting in at left-back.

In midfield, Ismael Kone, Nemanja Matic, and Aster Vranckx are expected to form a hard-working trio designed to protect the defence while linking with the attack. Up front, Domenico Berardi will feature from the right, Andrea Pinamonti will operate as the central striker, and Armand Lauriente should start on the left, although Alieu Fadera is also in contention after his game-changing display last time out.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Muric; Coulibaly, Idzes, Muharemovic, Doig; Kone, Matic, Vranckx; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente

Key Stats

• Inter Milan and Sassuolo share a perfectly balanced Serie A history, with 10 wins each and two draws from their 22 league meetings. Sassuolo have won their last two games against Inter and could extend that streak to three for the first time since August 2018.

• Only two of the 22 Serie A encounters between these sides have ended level. Among all teams Sassuolo have faced at least 20 times in Serie A, Inter are the opponent against whom the Neroverdi have recorded the fewest draws.

• After losing their first two away league games against Inter Milan, Sassuolo have gone unbeaten in seven of their last nine visits (W5 D2). Inter are also the team against whom Sassuolo have recorded the most away wins in Serie A (five).

• If Inter Milan fail to win, they would sit on four or fewer points after their first four Serie A fixtures for only the fourth time in the three-points-for-a-win era (since 1994/95). The last such poor start came in 2018/19 under Luciano Spalletti.

• Inter Milan are currently on a run of consecutive Serie A defeats to Udinese and Juventus. They have not lost three straight league matches since April 2023. In fact, only once in their history have Inter opened a Serie A campaign with three losses in their first four matches, back in 1983/84 under Luigi Radice.

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Lautaro Martinez

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All eyes will be on Inter captain Lautaro Martinez as he makes his return from a minor back problem. The Argentine forward has long been the heartbeat of Inter Milan’s attack, combining relentless work rate with clinical finishing and leadership qualities that have grown with the armband.

Martinez’s movement in and around the box remains one of his greatest assets, constantly dragging defenders out of position and creating space for strike partner Marcus Thuram. Against a Sassuolo side that has often thrived at San Siro, his sharp instincts and knack for scoring crucial goals will be vital to breaking down a stubborn opponent.

Already a proven match-winner in Serie A and Europe, Martinez enters this clash with added responsibility after Inter’s consecutive domestic defeats. If Inter are to return to winning ways and stay within touching distance of the league leaders, their captain will almost certainly need to deliver another decisive performance.

Prediction

Inter Milan 2-1 US Sassuolo Calcio

Inter Milan come into this fixture under pressure after back-to-back league defeats, but their midweek UEFA Champions League win over Ajax should restore some confidence. With Lautaro Martínez back to lead the line alongside Marcus Thuram, Cristian Chivu’s side will expect to create plenty of chances, particularly from wide areas and set-pieces where Hakan Calhanoglu’s delivery remains a constant threat.

Sassuolo, though, have every reason to believe they can cause an upset. They have historically been one of Inter’s trickiest opponents, especially at San Siro, and Domenico Berardi’s goalscoring record here will be a major weapon. Fabio Grosso’s team showed against Lazio that they can soak up pressure and strike decisively, and their record of five away wins at Inter in Serie A proves they know how to navigate this fixture.

That said, Inter’s quality and depth should give them the edge if they avoid the defensive lapses that haunted them against Juventus. Expect a tense encounter, with Sassuolo threatening but Inter ultimately doing enough to get back on track in Serie A.