Overview
After ending their losing streak with an impressive comeback last week - when overcoming Pisa thanks to Lautaro Martinez's second-half double - Inter Milan continued to have another victory in midweek.
Despite only fielding a squad of many substitutes, the Nerazzurri easily defeated Venezia in Coppa Italia with a score of 5-1.
Lacking playing time in recent times, summer signing Andy Diouf took advantage of the opportunity to have a complete performance, contributing greatly to the victory. Inter will face Roma or Torino in the quarter-finals of the national cup.
That confrontation took place early next year, but for now, Cristian Chi Vu's team must enter a period of dense competition. Including important matches in the Champions League and the Italian Super Cup in the next two weeks.
However, their top priority right now is still the Scudetto race. Inter are currently in the top four teams with only one point difference - the other three include Roma, rival AC Milan and defending champions Napoli.
Historically, Inter have reason to be confident. Since their first home defeat to Como in Serie A in 1950, they have won all 13 of their home games against the opponent since then. However, this week's away team is an emerging force in Italian football and is certainly not an easy opponent.
Having only returned to the top flight last year, Como are having their best start in Serie A history. They have won 24 points after the first 13 rounds.
unbeaten since the end of August, Lariani just defeated Sassuolo 2-0 last weekend, thereby narrowing the gap with the Champions League group to 3 points.
Up to now, they have gone 12 consecutive matches without a loss - a series of impressive performances that affirmed Como's position as a serious candidate for a place in the European Cup.
Like Inter, Como maintain an average ball possession rate of over 60% in Serie A. Therefore, the upcoming confrontation between the two teams promises to be very balanced and rich in tactics.
If they want to prove their ambition to be in the top 4, a win will help Biancoblu equal the points with Inter - the team that defeated them 2-0 both at home and away last season.
Personnel situation
After Cristian Chi Vu made a strong rotation in the cup arena, Inter Milan will bring the strongest squad back this weekend.
Key players such as Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, Yann Sommer and many other stars will return, meaning impressive reserve faces against Venezia such as Andy Diouf, Davide Frattesi or Stefan de Vrij will have to give up.
The race for a pair with Lautaro Martinez is still very open, with Marcus Thuram, Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny all scoring in midweek.
On the wing, Inter continue to be without Denzel Dumfries and Matteo Darmian.
On the other side of the front line, Como traveled to Milan without Sergi Roberto and Edoardo Goldaniga.
However, Cesc Fabregas received good news when Assane Diao is likely to recover from a thigh injury in time. Ivan Smolcic is also available after serving his one-match suspension.
In the support role for Alvaro Morata or Tasos Douvikas in attack, young talent Nico Paz is preparing to have his 50th match for Lariani.
Expected lineup:
Inter Milan: Sommer, Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni, Augusto, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Thuram, Martinez.
Como: Butez, Smolcic, Ramon, Carlos, Moreno, Perrone, Caqueret, Addai, Paz, Rodriguez, Douvikas.
The match between Inter Milan and Como takes place at 0:00 am on December 7 (Vietnam time).
