On the pitch at 12.30 Empoli-Inter 0-0 LIVE
Having sobered up from the Champions League and overcome the Lukaku case with the FIGC president Gabriele Gravina who granted the pardon and removed the disqualification from the Belgian in the Italian Cup, Inter must dive back into the championship to earn qualification for the top European competition also in the next season.
The Nerazzurri in Empoli in the lunchtime match will go in search of the three points that have been missing in Serie A since 5 March, when Simone Inzaghi's men beat Lecce at the San Siro.
Since that day, in the last five games Inter have picked up just one point, a performance more like a fight for salvation than a fight for the Champions League: we need to make a quick turn, because the risk is that the race to get into the top four could get even more complicated. more.
However,
if having reached the semi-final in the Champions League has given a strong boost to revenues (between UEFA prizes and box office) in the current season, failing to stay in the top four places in the standings will lead to a sharp drop in revenue in the next financial year, with the company who could find himself having to intervene to reduce costs and guarantee important receipts in particular from the transfer market.
Contingency that Inter want to avoid at all costs.
The trip to Tuscany can thus be the right opportunity to start over, provided you don't get too distracted by another big match to come, namely the return match of the semi-finals of the Italian Cup against Juventus scheduled for Wednesday at the San Siro.
Match in which Inzaghi will be able to use Romelu Lukaku: the president of the Football Federation Gabriele Gravina in fact pardoned the Belgian "exceptionally and extraordinary", who had been sent off for a second yellow card for reacting to racist chants from part of the Juventus curve at the end of the semifinal first leg of the Coppa Italia and then disqualified for one match.
"The principle of the fight against all forms of racism - is the explanation of the provision of the Football Federation - is a fundamental element of the sports system".
Lukaku will thus be available on Wednesday in the return match, a move that shouldn't change Inzaghi's ideas for the choices regarding the formation against Empoli: the Belgian was the favorite to start with Correa, with Dzeko and Lautaro ready to take over from bench.
The coach will not have Mkhitaryan at his disposal, out for personal reasons, as well as Skriniar who should have already ended his season and his adventure in the Nerazzurri shirt prematurely by now.
Thanks to the absence of the Armenian midfielder, Calhanoglu could meet again in the midfield from 1', ready to put minutes in his legs towards the next important matches for Inter, the derby against Milan in the Champions League and beyond.
Together with him Inzaghi goes towards the confirmation of Brozovic and Barella,
even if Asllani and Gagliardini are candidates for a starting shirt.
Dumfries and Gosens are ready on the flanks, while D'Ambrosio could replace Darmian in defense.
