Serie A 2022-23: Inter Milan vs Empoli: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head

San Siro will host the Florence club against the Nerazzurri.

Inter Milan host Empoli at San Siro on Monday having secured their second consecutive Supercoppa Italiana on Wednesday. The Nerazzurri are unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions and there is a definite sense of positivity in Simone Inzaghi’s camp at the moment. Continuing their impressive start to 2023, Inter's 3-0 crushing of their Rossoneri rivals in Riyadh not only saw them lift the Supercoppa Italiana for a second straight season but also marked the first time they have beaten Milan in a final - having lost in two previous attempts.

Empoli, on the other hand, beat Dejan Stankovic's Sampdoria 1-0 in the league. A second-half goal from Nigeria international Tyronne Ebuehi secured the win for Paolo Zanetti's Empoli. One significant reason for Empoli to fear Inter is the resurgence of Lautaro Martinez, who has scored in all of his last four games, arguably Inter’s best player in each. As a result, the Argentinian is our tip to score anytime at San Siro.

Kick-off: Monday, 24 January, 1:15 AM(IST), 7:45(GMT)

Inter Milan Form(all competitions): W-W-D-W-W-W

Empoli Form(all compititons): W-L-W-D-D-W

Player to Watch

Inter Milan

Lautaro Martinez

One reason why Martínez is amongst the best finishers in Europe is because of his abnormally high levels of concentration. Martínez has a unique technique which enables him to drive the shot low past the goalkeeper, and his ambidexterity and concentration make him an outlier amongst his peers. 

Aside from his finishing ability, Martínez has excellent vision and a sense of creativity that is rare in many centre forwards. When linking up with his teammates, the Argentine keeps the ball moving by playing one-touch passes to alter the direction of the ball ever so slightly.  Martínez boasts a unique combination of creativity, technical ability, intelligence, and work rate.

Empoli

Sebastiano Luperto 

He will play a very crucial role against Inter Milan and his presence in the defence line of Emoli will give a lot of Confidence. Luperto has been a regular starter for his team, against a team like Inter who will create a lot of threats for Empoli and Luperto have to be at his best. He will be needed to show his leadership skill in the backline of the Empoli defence.

Match Facts

• This game on Monday will be the 29th time Inter and Empoli have faced each other in Serie A.

• The record shows 22 wins for the Nerazzurri against the Tuscans' three, with three draws completing the picture. No other team has collected more league wins against the side from Tuscany than Inter.

• Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been involved in three goals in his last two appearances against Empoli in Serie A.

Injury and Team News

Romelu Lukaku recently returned to full training and is set to feature on the bench, but both Samir Handanovic and midfield regular Marcelo Brozovic are still short of fitness. In Lukaku's absence from the hosts' attack, Edin Dzeko should partner Lautaro Martinez up front. The latter has nine league goals this term and could become only the third foreign player in Inter history to reach double figures in at least four different Serie A seasons.

Benefitting from over a week off, Paolo Zanetti is likely to field a largely similar XI to that which beat Sampdoria last weekend. Empoli will be without Razvan Marin due to suspension, while Ardian Ismajli (thigh), Mattia Destro (calf) and Alberto Grassi (thigh) are sidelined by injury.

Head-to-head stats

Matches: 28

Inter Milan: 22

Draws: 3

Empoli: 3

Predicted Lineup

Inter Milan Predicted Lineup(3-5-2):

Onana; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko

Empoli Predicted Lineup(4-3-1-2):

Vicario; Ebuehi, De Winter, Luperto, Parisi; Fazzini, Bandinelli, Akpa Akpro; Baldanzi; Caputo, Satriano

Prediction

Inter Milan is currently 3rd in the league, Following their third-minute winner against Verona last week, Inter have scored eight times during the first 15 minutes of play in Serie A this season - more than any other team. Given the effects of their trip to the Middle East and subsequent celebrations, they may take more time to get going on Monday.

Empoli, on the other hand, is 12th in the league and has won two of their last five league games. Empoli is three points behind 7th-placed Udinese and will hope to rise up the table during the second half of the season. But still, Inter will come out on top.

Prediction: Inter 3-0 Empoli

Telecast

UK -BT Sport

US- Paramount+

India- sports 18

Nigeria- Sporty TV