Inter look for a third consecutive victory against a struggling Cagliari” data-scaytid=”1″>Cagliari side that survived a coaching coup.
It kicks off at San Siro at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Inter look for a third consecutive victory against a struggling Cagliari side that survived a coaching coup.
It kicks off at San Siro at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Walter Mazzarri seems to have found the way out of the Nerazzurri’s crisis, earning back-to-back wins over Sassuolo” data-scaytid=”6″>Sassuolo and Fiorentina” data-scaytid=”7″>Fiorentina.
He said the 2-1 in Florence represented “a turning point” for his team and the template on which future performances should be based.
However, Hernanes is unavailable due to fatigue, forcing them to go back to the pre-January transfer window plan.
Ricky Alvarez returns from his lay-off and replaces Hernanes in midfield, though Hugo Campagnaro is sidelined in defence, so Walter Samuel again starts.
Cagliari had a chaotic last few days, as the 2-1 home defeat to Livorno set alarm bells ringing, their fifth loss in the last six rounds.
President Massimo Cellino had been on the verge of sacking Coach Diego Lopez and handing the reins to assistant manager Ivo Pulga.
However, in a surprise turnaround he instead backed Lopez and fired Pulga from his position.
It’s reported the situation could well change again very quickly, so the former defender knows he is under pressure to get a result.
It won’t be simple, as the Sardinians haven’t won at San Siro since 1995, though they did draw here 2-2 last season with a Marco Sau brace.
Captain Daniele Conti begins his two-match ban after a red card for dissent, while Francesco Pisano is injured.
Andrea Cossu is given a new midfield role with January signing Adryan the trequartista behind Victor Ibarbo and Mauricio Pinilla.
Inter: Handanovic; Rolando, Samuel, Juan Jesus; Jonathan, Guarin, Kuzmanovic, Alvarez, Nagatomo; Palacio, Milito
Cagliari: Avramov; Dessena, Rossettini, Astori, Avelar; Vecino, Cossu, Ekdal; Adryan; Ibarbo, Pinilla