Inter-Lecce on the pitch at 6pm
The cup efforts, but also some physical problems and the flu.
Inter is counting the attendance for the tricky trip to Lecce, with the aim of extending their lead at the top of the table but also with a situation that is not perfect from an infirmary point of view.
In fact, Sommer will be missing for the race in Puglia, stopped by a fever in the last few days, who will be added to the list of injured players which already includes Acerbi and Thuram as well as the long-term patient Cuadrado.
And Calhanoglu isn't in the best condition either, so his presence from the 1st minute at Via del Mare remains in doubt.
On pole to replace them are Audero and Asllani, but they won't be the only new lineup for Inzaghi.
In total there could be six changes in the starting lineup compared to the team seen from the 1st minute against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League: in defense Bisseck and Carlos Augusto will give Pavard and Bastoni a chance to catch their breath, while on the right wing Dumfries will return to the starting lineup for Darmian.
Depending on Calhanoglu's conditions, then, a change in midfield could also depend: if the Turk doesn't make it, Inzaghi could choose to field Barella and Mkhitaryan with Asllani anyway, while if the former AC Milan player started from the 1st minute Barella could be rested with Frattesi ready to start next to Calhanoglu himself and the confirmed Mkhitaryan (who has a good tradition against Lecce, with two goals and two assists in five games against the Apulian team).
In attack, however, Sanchez is favored over Arnautovic for a shirt in the first eleven alongside Lautaro Martinez, although Inzaghi still tried the option with the Chilean and the Austrian together.
Also because the former Bologna player, net of the errors against Atletico, has been involved in three goals in his last three appearances for Inter, considering all competitions and will probably leave the coach with doubts until the very end.
The objective remains to run at the top of the table, continuing a start to 2024 that has smiled on the Nerazzurri: Inter have won all of their first nine matches in a single calendar year for the first time in their history among all competitions since 1929/30.
Not only that, because there is also a high-level external performance, given that Inzaghi's team has remained unbeaten in the last 17 matches played away from San Siro in all competitions.
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