Pressure on Inter for Porto visit

Inter entertain Porto behind closed doors in Champions League Group H today with the pressure growing on home coach Roberto Mancini and his players.

Inter top the group on six points after wins against Artmedia Bratislava and Rangers.

But their 2-0 reverse in Porto was followed by a home defeat by Roma and a 2-2 draw at Sampdoria on Saturday and they are now fourth in Serie A, eight points adrift of leaders Juventus.

At the start of the campaign Inter were tipped by many to win their first scudetto since 1989 and, while there is still a long way to go, Inter can ill-afford a setback in Europe to add to their domestic disappointments.

In recent seasons Inter have had a habit of falling to pieces after disappointing results but the way they twice came from behind at Sampdoria suggests they have kept the right attitude.

"Coming back twice like that is something positive. If this team didn't have some inner-strength they wouldn't have been able to do that and could have ended up in defeat," said Inter president Giacinto Facchetti.

Assistant coach Fernando Orsi agreed the team's spirit helped them get a point and insisted Inter's season remained full of possibilities.

"We are still alive and know we can still be contenders in Italy and Europe, and we certainly will be. The squad is very united and motivated," he said after taking charge due to Mancini's two-match ban in Serie A.

Mancini could be tempted to rest Brazilian striker Adriano, who is looking tired and struggling with a niggling shoulder injury. Argentine Julio Ricardo Cruz is the most likely replacement.

Argentine Juan Sebastian Veron and defender Marco Materazzi, suspended for the Sampdoria match, are likely to return to the starting line-up but midfielder Cristiano Zanetti is struggling with flu and captain Javier Zanetti and Serb Dejan Stankovic are still sidelined with injuries.

Porto's win over Inter was their first of the campaign after two defeats and they need to get something out of today's match to keep in the frame for qualification.

The match will be played without supporters as Inter are serving the third of a four-match ban imposed after crowd trouble during their Champions League quarter-final with Milan last season.