Defending champions Inter Milan kick-off their Coppa Italia campaign against Genoa at the San Siro stadium on Thursday.
Fresh from their crucial victory over arch-rivals AC Milan on the weekend, Inter Milan kick-off their defense of the Coppa Italia at the round of 16 stage against Genoa at the San Siro stadium on Thursday.
Inter come into the clash in sensational form, as their victory over Milan extended their winning streak to six matches, where they scored 14 goals and conceded only one. The Nerazzurri seem unstoppable at present and will hope to continue with their impressive run of results against a Genoa side which they eliminated at an identical stage of the tournament last year.
But Genoa are expected to give Inter a run for their money, after obtaining a dramatic 3-2 victory over high-flying Udinese on the weekend. If Genoa manage to demonstrate the same attacking prowess as they did against Udinese an upset could possibly be on the cards.
Claudio Ranieri, the coach of Inter, is likely to include only four players from the team that ousted Milan against Genoa, with them being Javier Zanetti, Lucio, Thiago Motta and Diego Milito.
Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder will once again have to wait for his opportunity from the substitute's bench, while Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan has been completely discarded for the match after the recurrence of the same injury that has plagued his recent Inter career.
Talented Argentine striker Mauro Zarate could possibly be playing his final match with the Inter shirt, and will be hoping to prove his worth when he partners Milito in what should be a menacing strike-force.
Meanwhile, Pasquale Marino, the coach of Genoa, has had to deal with a selection nightmare, particularly in defense where as many as four of his regular starters are sidelined with injuries.
The good news for the Rossoblu is that captain courageous Marco Rossi will be back in action after completing a ban against Palermo on the weekend. This should inspire a Genoa side who will be without former Boca Juniors winger Rodrigo Palacio, who will be rested for precaution.
Since a goalless draw between the sides in 2010, Inter have won four consecutive matches against Genoa, with the last coming just a little more than a month ago, when a strike from Yuto Nagatomo handed Inter the three points.
Inter come into the clash in sensational form, as their victory over Milan extended their winning streak to six matches, where they scored 14 goals and conceded only one. The Nerazzurri seem unstoppable at present and will hope to continue with their impressive run of results against a Genoa side which they eliminated at an identical stage of the tournament last year.
But Genoa are expected to give Inter a run for their money, after obtaining a dramatic 3-2 victory over high-flying Udinese on the weekend. If Genoa manage to demonstrate the same attacking prowess as they did against Udinese an upset could possibly be on the cards.
Claudio Ranieri, the coach of Inter, is likely to include only four players from the team that ousted Milan against Genoa, with them being Javier Zanetti, Lucio, Thiago Motta and Diego Milito.
Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder will once again have to wait for his opportunity from the substitute's bench, while Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan has been completely discarded for the match after the recurrence of the same injury that has plagued his recent Inter career.
Talented Argentine striker Mauro Zarate could possibly be playing his final match with the Inter shirt, and will be hoping to prove his worth when he partners Milito in what should be a menacing strike-force.
Meanwhile, Pasquale Marino, the coach of Genoa, has had to deal with a selection nightmare, particularly in defense where as many as four of his regular starters are sidelined with injuries.
The good news for the Rossoblu is that captain courageous Marco Rossi will be back in action after completing a ban against Palermo on the weekend. This should inspire a Genoa side who will be without former Boca Juniors winger Rodrigo Palacio, who will be rested for precaution.
Since a goalless draw between the sides in 2010, Inter have won four consecutive matches against Genoa, with the last coming just a little more than a month ago, when a strike from Yuto Nagatomo handed Inter the three points.
