Serie A waits to see how faltering Inter react

All eyes in Italy this weekend will be back on the San Siro to see how champions Inter react after a nightmare week.

Inter host Chievo at the same stadium that was the scene of their two humiliating defeats inside four days that saw them beaten 3-0 by Milan in Serie A and then thrashed 5-2 by Schalke in the Champions League.

Those four days were all it took for Inter’s season to unravel right under their noses.

They now sit five points behind Milan in the league with seven games left to play while their Champions League hopes are realistically over.

There is still the Italian Cup to play for but that would be a scant consolation for a team that did the treble last season.

Inter will at least welcome back Brazilian centre-back Lucio after he missed both crushing defeats through suspension, but his return will only serve to plug the gap left by Cristian Chivu’s ban, both domestically and in Europe as he was sent off in both disastrous encounters.

One player, however, cannot explain the loss of eight goals in two matches, or even more importantly the feeble way such a prestigious team could succumb in two games of such a magnitude.

The soul-searching will have gone on all week for Inter and their coach Leonardo, whose reputation has taken a huge hit. There is still much to play for, however, even if it is unrealistic to expect to progress in the Champions League.

Five points with seven games to go may seem like a mountain to climb but Milan have the harder run-in with trips to Fiorentina, this weekend, Roma and Udinese to come.

A double is certainly not out of the question for Inter, who play Roma in the Coppa Italia semi-final.

Captain Javier Zanetti, who has been there, done that and seen it all before, called on the troops to keep their cool.

“We have to remain calm so we can try to understand what the problems are and then kick-off from there, as we have done many times before,” he said following the Schalke debacle.

Milan came into the derby in trouble having drawn at home to rock bottom Bari and then lost at Palermo in their previous two games.

But now they have an extended lead at the top – Napoli are second, three points back – and top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return from suspension against Fiorentina.

However, former Milan striker Alberto Gilardino believes his team can cause a surprise at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

“So far in Florence we’ve shown that we can match anyone and that’s also how it will be on Sunday, we’ll give our all to make life difficult for Milan,” he said.

The other title contenders, Napoli, face a tough trip to Bologna and without their suspended top scorer Edinson Cavani. Udinese host Roma as they look to hold on to the crucial fourth spot while chasers Lazio entertain Parma.

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing today
Inter vs Chievo (1-2) - 18.00
Udinese vs Roma (0-2) - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Bari vs Catania (0-1)
Bologna vs Napoli (1-4)
Cagliari vs Brescia (2-1)
Fiorentina vs Milan (0-1) - 20.45
Juventus vs Genoa (2-0) - 12.30
Lazio vs Parma (1-1)
Palermo vs Cesena (2-1)
Sampdoria vs Lecce (3-2)

Standings: Milan 65; Napoli 62; Inter 60; Udinese 56; Lazio 54; Roma 50; Juventus 48; Palermo 43; Fiorentina, Cagliari 42; Bologna (-3) 40; Genoa 39; Chievo 36; Catania 35; Sampdoria, Parma 32; Lecce 31; Cesena 30; Brescia 29; Bari 20.

Serie B

Played yesterday
Empoli vs Novara - 0-0

Today – 15.00
AlbinoLeffe vs Torino (0-1)
Ascoli vs Sassuolo (0-1)
Crotone vs Frosinone (3-2)
Padova vs Portogruaro (1-1)
Piacenza vs Pescara (2-2)
Reggina vs Cittadella (2-1)
Siena vs Vicenza (2-2)
Triestina vs Livorno (3-1)
Varese vs Grosseto (0-0)

Monday
Modena vs Atalanta (0-1)

Leading standings: Atalanta 67; Siena 66; Novara 59; Varese 55; Reggina 49; Vicenza 48; Torino 47; Livorno, Pescara, Modena 45.