Prediction: Inter Milan vs Sassuolo

Verdict: Total goals over 3.5

Best odds: 47/50

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Inter Milan, looking to maintain their flawless start to the Serie A season, will welcome Sassuolo to San Siro on Wednesday.

Inter have won all five of their matches so far and obviously lead the Serie A table. On the other hand, Sassuolo have been far less consistent, but they did manage to secure an upset victory over Juventus in their most recent outing.

Inter Milan

Inter have shown all their quality in the Serie A this season, through winning every match played so far. They are now aiming to achieve a rare feat by winning six consecutive games at the start of the campaign, a feat that has only been accomplished by Antonio Conte in 2019 and legendary coach Helenio Herrera in 1966 during their respective tenures at the club.

Inter’s latest victory came against Empoli, where a stunning strike from Federico Dimarco secured the win, bringing Inter’s points tally to a perfect 15 out of 15. Their previous victories include wins against Monza, Cagliari, Fiorentina, and arch-rivals Milan, with the latter two matches ending in four-goal margins in favor of the Nerazzurri. However, they could only manage a draw in their recent Champions League opener against Real Sociedad.

The strike partnership of summer signing Marcus Thuram and new captain Lautaro Martinez has been very successful, but despite the early-season success, manager Simone Inzaghi is aware that there’s a long way to go before any silverware is secured. Nonetheless, Inzaghi, known for his success in cup competitions, will surely have an eye on the Serie A title.

To maintain their position at the top, Inter cannot afford to slip up, especially against mid-table teams like Sassuolo. They have a strong recent record against this particular opponent, having won five of their last six league matches against them. Another victory is crucial for Inzaghi’s side in this match.

Team News

Inzaghi might opt for a few changes for the starting lineup, considering the tight schedule. Midfielder Nicolo Barella and wing-back Denzel Dumfries are expected to return to the starting lineup.

Marko Arnautovic’s thigh injury could sideline him until November, which means that Simone Inzaghi will need to choose between Marcus Thuram, Alexis Sanchez, and Lautaro Martinez to form the front pair in his familiar 3-5-2 formation. That, however, would probably be the case even with Arnautovic in contention.

Former Sassuolo midfielder Stefano Sensi is still sidelined with a thigh problem. However, there is a possibility that Juan Cuadrado could return from a tendon issue and be available for a spot on the bench.

Sassuolo

Sassuolo have a mixed record against Inter at San Siro over a longer period. In 10 Serie A fixtures played between the two clubs at San Siro, there have been four wins for each side. However, in their most recent meeting at San Siro last season, Inter defeated Sassuolo by 4-2.

Sassuolo recently featured in high-scoring matches, with a 4-2 defeat to promoted side Frosinone followed by a spectacular game against Juventus that saw a total of six goals. They took an early lead against Juventus thanks to a handling error from Wojciech Szczesny, and Domenico Berardi, who was a long-time target for Juventus, also scored. The match concluded with a comical own-goal from Federico Gatti.

While Sassuolo has earned all of their points at home this season, their away form has been less impressive, with six losses in their last seven away matches in the league dating back to the previous season.

Alessio Dionisi’s side currently sit in 12th place in the Italian top flight, with six points from five games to their name.

Team News

Sassuolo hope to have their first-choice goalkeeper, Andrea Consigli, back in action after he missed two games. However, Alessio Cragno is on standby to deputize if needed, and Agustin Alvarez might be the only absentee for Sassuolo.

Former Inter striker Andrea Pinamonti has been in good form this season, scoring four goals, just one short of his total from 32 appearances last season. However, he has only scored once in eight league matches against his former club.

Conclusion

Since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign, Sassuolo has conceded more goals on the road than any other Serie A team, totaling 44 goals in 21 matches. Therefore, a trip to San Siro is likely to be a challenging task for Dionisi’s team.

Inter have been a formidable force at San Siro, having won 21 of the last 26 matches played at home, including each of the last six. While Sassuolo comes into the match with confidence after defeating Juventus, it is unlikely that they will be able to disrupt Inter’s dominance in Milan.

But a lively contest is likely to be on the cards, with plenty of chances and plenty of goals, at least one in either net.

Verdict: Total goals over 3.5

Best odds: 47/50

Bookmaker: ZetBet