Inter aiming to transfer Champions form to league

Inter tackle Chievo at the San Siro this weekend hoping to transfer their European form into the domestic arena.

Inter have won their last two Champions League ties despite facing tricky away games but at home they have been in crisis.

They sit above the drop zone on goal difference and only one side, rock-bottom Cesena, have garnered fewer points this season.

But their morale-boosting 1-0 victory away to Lille in midweek has re-energised the club.

They have lost four and won only one in their six league games so far and are already on their second coach this season.

But despite such an awful start, they are only eight points off leaders Juventus and, perhaps more importantly, just four behind bitter city rivals Milan.

“It’s still too early to wave goodbye to the scudetto, many teams in the past have started badly and then picked themselves up,” said midfielder Thiago Motta.

“Now we will get back to winning ways against Chievo and then that will give us continuity.

“The other teams, those who are ahead of us at the moment, could also go through negative moments.”

Inter’s primary problem in the league has been defensively as they have the worst goals against record in Serie A, conceding more than two goals a game.

Inter have yet to win at home this season and coach Claudio Ranieri believes they need to start enjoying themselves more.

“We need passion, that’s the most important thing. Those who play football are professionals but they love their work,” he said.

“It’s a game even though it’s become a job, which in Italy is very stressful, but we have to make the players enjoy playing football again and that’s why I use the ball a lot in training.”

In other games, leaders Juventus will try to maintain their grip on top spot when they host Genoa tonight.

However, they suffered a scare regarding goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in midweek and will be sweating on his fitness having already lost forward Emanuele Giacherini for three weeks.

The other team defending an unbeaten record is Udinese and they face what on paper looks the easier task of hosting promoted Novara.

They only trail Juve on goals scored so have a great chance to move to the top of the standings if they win well.

Champions Milan play in tomorrow’s early game away to lowly Lecce with Massimilano Allegri’s Rossoneri another team hoping to transfer their positive European form into domestic competition.

Milan currently sit in the bottom half but owner and Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was so impressed with their 2-0 victory over Bate Borisov in midweek that he believes they can conquer all-comers.

“We had many injuries (earlier in the season) but when the squad is complete we can be competitive both at home and in the Champions League and climb up the Serie A table,” he said.

“We’re improving and with these players we can do well, we have one of the best squads in Europe.”

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing Today
Fiorentina vs Catania - 18.00
Juventus vs Genoa - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Bologna vs Lazio - 20.45
Cagliari vs Napoli
Inter vs Chievo
Lecce vs Milan - 12.30
Parma vs Atalanta
Roma vs Palermo
Siena vs Cesena
Udinese vs Novara

Standings: Juve, Udinese 12; Cag-liari, Lazio 11; Napoli, Palermo 10; Chievo, Catania, Parma 9; Fioren-tina, Genoa, Roma, Milan 8; Siena 6; Novara, Atalanta (-6) 5; Inter, Bologna, Lecce 4; Cesena 2.

Serie B

Playing Today
Verona vs Nocerina 1-1

Today – 15.00
AlbinoLeffe vs Crotone
Empoli vs Sassuolo
Grosseto vs Brescia
Juve Stabia vs Bari
Modena vs Livorno
Padova vs Vicenza
Pescara vs Ascoli
Reggina vs Varese
Sampdoria vs Cittadella

Monday
Gubbio vs Torino - 20.45

Standings: Torino 26; Padova, Sas-suolo 20; Pescara 19; Sampdoria, Reggina, Bari 17; Brescia 16; Livorno, Varese 15; Grosseto 14; Cittadella, Verona 13; AlbinoLeffe, Nocerina10; Crotone 9; J. Stabia, Empoli, Vicenza, Modena, Gubbio 7; Ascoli 2.