Prediction: Inter Milan vs Torino

Verdict: Total goals over 2.5

Best odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: 888sport

Inter Milan and Torino, both sitting on 11 points in the Serie A table, are set to meet at San Siro on Saturday evening.

Inter, the reigning Serie A champions, have regained momentum with back-to-back victories, while Torino, one of the season’s surprise packages, recently lost their grip on the top spot. Adding to their frustration, Torino were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia not long ago, further motivating them to bounce back against their formidable opponents.

Inter Milan

After overcoming a difficult spell, Inter Milan are gradually finding their rhythm again, highlighted by recent victories against Udinese and Red Star Belgrade. Simone Inzaghi’s men bounced back from a tough Derby della Madonnina defeat to AC Milan by securing a thrilling 3-2 win over Udinese, with captain Lautaro Martinez finally ending his goal drought. Martinez then came off the bench to contribute in a 4-0 victory over Red Star, helping extend Inter’s unbeaten Champions League home run to 10 matches.

Domestically, Inter trail league leaders Napoli, and defensive frailties have emerged in Serie A, where they have already conceded multiple goals in three matches this season—more than in the entire first half of their title-winning 2023-24 campaign. Inzaghi will be eager to shore up their defence and recapture the ruthlessness that led to last season’s triumph.

With Antonio Conte’s Napoli setting the early pace in Serie A, Inzaghi will be keen to reassert Inter’s dominance, especially after seeing their 17-game unbeaten run at home end against AC Milan. A victory over Torino would be a step toward building a new streak and staying in the hunt for the Scudetto.

Team News

Inter Milan will continue to be without influential midfielder Nicolo Barella this weekend due to a thigh injury sustained in last month’s Derby della Madonnina. He is expected to return only after the international break. In his absence, Simone Inzaghi will likely turn to Piotr Zielinski or Davide Frattesi to fill Barella’s role in midfield, ensuring that Inter’s engine room remains strong.

Up front, Inzaghi is expected to rotate his attacking options once more. While Mehdi Taremi and Marko Arnautovic started in the Champions League against Red Star Belgrade, first-choice forwards Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez should return to the lineup for the clash with Torino. Despite Martinez ending his Serie A goal drought recently, he has yet to score at home in the league since February, enduring a seven-game dry spell at San Siro — his second-worst streak in Serie A.

Torino

Paolo Vanoli, who played a key role as an assistant in Inter’s 2021 Scudetto triumph, now leads Torino after guiding Venezia back to Serie A last season. His impact at Torino has been noticeable, with his team winning three of their opening six Serie A matches. Should they secure a victory against Inter, Torino would mark four wins from their first seven games for the first time since 2015.

Last month, Torino’s 3-2 win away at Hellas Verona temporarily took them to the top of the table, reflecting their strong early-season form. However, they experienced a setback soon after, being eliminated from the Coppa Italia by Empoli before suffering a home defeat to Lazio in the league. Despite a spirited comeback attempt — with Che Adams reducing the deficit before Saul Coco scored in stoppage time — Lazio held on to win 3-2.

Despite these mixed results, Torino remain undefeated on the road this season, a fact that could give them some optimism heading into their clash with Inter. However, their recent history at San Siro has been bleak, losing their last five encounters there against the Nerazzurri.

Team News

Vanja Milinković-Savić is set to return for Torino after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him in the 3-2 loss to Lazio. The Serbian goalkeeper has been a standout performer this season, with xG (expected goals) data revealing that he has prevented more goals than any other keeper across Europe’s top five leagues. His return will bolster Torino’s defense as they aim to stifle Inter’s formidable attack.

With Milinković-Savić back, Vanoli will have an almost full squad at his disposal, barring the absence of defender Perr Schuurs, who is out with an ACL injury. This leaves the Torino boss with plenty of options as he looks to craft a competitive lineup.

Up front, Antonio Sanabria and Che Adams will once again compete for a spot alongside captain Duvan Zapata, while Croatian forward Nikola Vlasic is expected to start on the bench.

Conclusion

Torino failed to score in their last four matches against Inter, but their fine form this season suggests they might finally find the back of the Nerazzurri’s net. However, they’ve also dropped their guard at the back recently, and Inter’s formidable attackers should be able to exploit that drop more than once.

Verdict: Total goals over 2.5

Best odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: 888sport