Preview: Hellas Verona vs. Inter Milan - prediction, team news, lineups

After an impressive victory on the opening day, Serie A champions Inter Milan will be looking to claim their first away win of the new campaign when they travel to Hellas Verona on Friday night.

The hosts, meanwhile, are hoping to bounce back from defeat in their first league game against Sassuolo.

Match preview

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Simone Inzaghi got off to a winning start as Inter Milan head coach, as his new side cruised to an emphatic 4-0 victory at home against Genoa last weekend.

The Scudetto holders did not take long to open their account, as an in-swinging corner from debutant Hakan Calhanoglu was headed in by Milan Skriniar in the sixth minute, before the Turkish playmaker scored one of his own just eight minutes later.

Second-half strikes from substitute Arturo Vidal and new recruit Edin Dzeko capped off a perfect start for the hosts in front of 27,000 jubilant supporters at the San Siro, with the Nerazzurri scoring at least four goals on the opening day for the third successive season.

That result means Inter have won 19 of their 25 matches in Serie A so far this calendar year, with only Premier League champions Manchester City (21) winning more games during this period across Europe's top five leagues.

Inzaghi's men now prepare for their first away game of the new season, and the Nerazzuri will be keen to continue their impressive run of form on the road. Inter lost just twice and had the joint-best defensive record away from home in Serie A last term, conceding on average only 0.89 goals per game.

Inter also have a remarkable record against Verona, winning 16 and drawing four of their last 20 league meetings against them.

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Unlike Inzaghi, Eusebio Di Francesco's first game in charge ended in defeat as his Hellas Verona side lost 3-2 at home against Sassuolo last weekend.

After Giacomo Raspadori broke the deadlock for the visitors in the 32nd minute, Verona captain Miguel Veloso was shown a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time as he was deemed to have stamped on Filip Duricic.

Despite Mattia Zaccagni scoring a second-half brace, Veloso's dismissal proved costly for the hosts as strikes from Duricic and Hamed Traore helped Sassuolo secure all three points on the road.

This defeat for Verona has extended an unwanted record of nine successive league matches at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi without a victory, their longest winless run at home in the competition since January 2016.

Verona's next fixture will most likely prove to be even more of a challenge against Serie A holders Inter. The Gialloblu have failed to win any of their last 20 league matches against them, which is their longest run without a victory against a single top-flight opponent.

Since 2000, the Gialloblu have never lost both of their first two games in a Serie A campaign, however this run could come to an end on Friday.

Team News

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Much like his predecessor Antonio Conte, Inzaghi is closely associated with a 3-5-2 setup and is expected to continue with this formation on Friday and throughout this campaign.

Midfielder Marcelo Brozovic is in line to make his 200th Serie A appearance, starting alongside Nicolo Barella and Stefano Sensi, though Vidal will also be pushing for a place in the first XI after scoring last weekend.

Wing-back Denzel Dumfries – signed as a replacement for Achraf Hakimi – could be handed his first start, though Matteo Darmian is expected to remain in the starting lineup, with Ivan Perisic set to play on the opposite flank.

Lautaro Martinez missed the opening fixture due to a lack of fitness – after recently returning from the Copa America – but the Argentine will likely be in contention to feature at some point on Friday.

Dzeko is expected to lead the line up front on his own with Calahoglou to start just behind the Bosnian in an advanced midfield role.

As for Verona, Di Francesco is expected to stick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, which was used during much of pre-season and on the opening weekend.

With Manuel Locatelli having joined Juventus and Veloso suspended, Martin Hongla and Ivan Ilic are set to be handed starts in central midfield, in front of the three centre-backs Pawel Dawidowicz, Koray Gunter and Federico Ceccherini.

An attacking trident including midfielders Zaccagni and Antonin Barak as well as striker Nikola Kalinic is expected to start once again, with the latter looking to put behind an injury-hit 2020-21 campaign.

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Dawidowicz, Gunter, Ceccherini; Casale, Hongla, Ilic, Lazovic; Barak, Zaccagni; Kalinic

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Sensi, Perisic; Calhanoglu; Dzeko

We say: Hellas Verona 0-3 Inter Milan

Everything points towards Inter Milan securing a routine victory on Friday, and Inzaghi's men are not set to disappoint.

The Nerazzurri possess greater quality in every position and they should have no problems in claiming all three points.