Serie A resumes this weekend after a brief layoff due to an international break which saw the Azzurri pick up two wins from two against Azerbaijan and Norway.
Antonio Conte’s men secured first spot in Group H and a top seed at the UEFA Euro 2016 in France after seven wins and three draws, also managing the longest reigning undefeated run in world football in qualifying matches, now standing at 50 matches.
On the back of that, what could be a better way to kick Serie A back into full swing than the Derby d’Italia? Here is why this could be the most exciting in recent memory.
The return of Claudio Marchisio and possibly Juventus
How Juventus have missed the midfield genius of Il Principino this season. Without Marchisio for all but one game, the reigning champions have struggled to pick up points in 2015-16 with the problem mostly being attributed to a lack of real quality in midfield.
Sami Khedira has returned for the last two clashes against Sevilla and Bologna, with two magnificent performances and the return of Marchisio will see an even bigger step up in star power. Juventus went into this season without two key midfielders across their historic time at the top over the past four seasons, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal.
Coping without them while dealing with the injuries to Marchisio and Khedira has proven too big a task so far with Brazilian playmaker Hernanes often being deployed out of position and the likes of Stefano Sturaro and Mario Lemina starting, both still finding their feet in this Juventus squad. Marchisio was Juve’s best player behind Carlos Tevez last season and will bring plenty of inventiveness and industry to a team struggling to win its midfield battles.
Inter’s competitiveness in comparison to previous seasons
Up until their recent 4-1 crushing home loss to Fiorentina, Inter were undefeated and top of the table in Serie A, showing plenty of improvement on recent campaigns. Roberto Mancini’s men showed an ability to grind out results with the likes of Felipe Melo and Gary Medel leading the charge into what looks to be an exciting campaign for Interisti.
They look to have added quality in defence with Colombian Jeison Murillo, Barcelona loanee Martin Montoya and have also brought Davide Santon back from Newcastle United. Melo has boosted the midfield, while in attack, Stefan Jovetic has been hugely influential so far this season.
With Juventus desperate to notch their second consecutive win in order to kickstart a revival and Inter showing plenty of grunt in 2015-16, both sides will lock horns at the San Siro in a clash that could have plenty of meaning on the outcome at the end of the season.
The closest to full strength we have seen Juventus in 2015-16
Juventus have been devastated by injuries this season with Alvaro Morata, Mario Mandzukic, Khedira, Marchisio, Stephen Lichtsteiner and Martin Caceres all missing extended periods of time. While a few of those mentioned are still out with injury, Marchisio’s return this weekend marks a huge boost for the reigning champions.
For the first time this season, they will have a full strength midfield to choose from, assuming Paul Pogba is over his injury troubles.
In attack, Morata is another who is predicated to start despite picking up an injury playing for Spain. They will likely operate in a 3-5-2 formation with the the usual suspects in defence, Pogba, Khedira and Marchisio as the midfield three, Juan Cuadrado and Patrice Evra on the wings and Morata and Paulo Dybala in attack.
Just how much improvement have Inter made?
The last time Inter defeated Juventus at home was in 2009-10. Mancini admitted after last season’s 2-1 loss to Juventus at the San Siro that his side feels a certain pressure to perform at home in the Derby d’Italia and struggle to cope.
After five years without beating Juventus at home, the time is right for Inter. The reigning champions are currently sitting, stunningly, in the bottom half of the table this season with two wins from seven while Inter are second with five wins from seven.
“Beating Juventus will be important. We haven’t beaten them at home for five years now, so I’d say it’s time to do it again,” Mancini told Goal.
“It’s the Derby d’Italia – I’m sure it will be a great evening between two great teams. Now we have to play like Inter.
It’s a historic match, which automatically gives motivation. We have to be well prepared, because it brings particular pressures with it.”
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