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Team News
Claudio Ranieri, the coach of Inter, will be unable to count with the services of Argentine defender Walter Samuel for the second successive week, due to a muscle injury. But the good news is that powerful Brazilian defender Maicon will be back in action after serving a one-game suspension in the surprise defeat to Novara last weekend.
Ranieri will once again opt for the Diego Milito-Giampaolo Pazzini attacking partnership, while out-of-form playmaker Wesley Sneijder will sit behind them.
Visitors Bologna will be without Nico Pulzetti, with a thigh injury, and Greece international Panagiotis Kone still remains in doubt after sustaining a recent muscle strain.
Form
Inter haven't won a single game in their last five attempts in all competitions, including four defeats in that frustrating spell. They come into the clash in disastrous form after falling to a 1-0 loss to bottom-placed Novara at the San Siro last weekend.
Bologna, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last five Serie A games, however, during this time they have only won one game and have drawn another four. But despite having lost the same amount of matches as Inter this season, they remain twelve places and 14 points below their rivals, in 17th position.
Head-to-head
The Nerazzurri have won five of their last six games against Bologna, including a 3-1 victory at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara earlier in the season. On that occasion, Giampaolo Pazzini, Diego Milito and Lucio got on the score-sheet for Inter, while Alessandro Diamanti converted Bologna's lone strike.
Prediction
Inter may have been in woeful form in recent weeks, but are finally expected to get things right against Bologna at the San Siro stadium. Inter don't have any choice but to obtain maximum points, because a further set-back will surely put an end to their slightest title aspirations, and could even put a severe dent in their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
The Verdict:
