Playing for 90
Fansided

Predicted Inter Milan lineup vs Lecce: Barella makes first Serie A start since November

By John Vaccaro

NANJING, CHINA - JULY 24: Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale in action during the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at the Nanjing Olympic Center Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Claudio Villa - Inter/Inter via Getty Images)
NANJING, CHINA - JULY 24: Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale in action during the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at the Nanjing Olympic Center Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Claudio Villa - Inter/Inter via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
NANJING, CHINA – JULY 24: Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale in action during the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at the Nanjing Olympic Center Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Claudio Villa – Inter/Inter via Getty Images)
NANJING, CHINA – JULY 24: Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale in action during the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at the Nanjing Olympic Center Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Claudio Villa – Inter/Inter via Getty Images) /

CM: Nicolo Barella

Nicolo Barella hasn’t started a Serie A match for Inter Milan since a November 23rd match against Torino, but I believe this will be the match that he returns to the starting lineup. He did start on Tuesday against Cagliari and make it through the entire match, so that should give Antonio Conte the confidence to keep Barella in the starting lineup. Inter went through a long stretch where they were thin in the midfield, but now they are back to full strength and it should see them start dominating matches again like they did early in the season. Barella’s return will be a big part of that as he is a much better attacking presence that Roberto Gagliardini and should give Inter’s dangerous attacking duo plenty of chances to score in this match. I expect this to be a triumphant return for Barella.

CM: Marcelo Brozovic

Marcelo Brozovic has been the rock for this Inter Milan midfielder. While Inter’s midfield has been struggling to stay healthy, Brozovic has only sat out of one match this season including the Champions League and Coppa Italia. Brozovic has done a little bit of everything for Inter this season, scoring 2 goals and 5 assists in the league. More importantly, it’s his strong defensive contribution that allows the midfielders playing alongside him to have the freedom to push forward and attack. His incredible well-roundedness has been on full display this season and should ensure that he is in the starting lineup as consistently in the second half of the season as he was in the first.

CM: Stefano Sensi

Since Stefano Sensi has returned from his injury, he hasn’t quite returned to the incredible form he was in early in the season. However, he should still be counted on as a regular starter for Inter (unless a certain midfield signing shakes things up). This could be the match that gets Sensi back to his great form. He was fantastic against Lecce the first time around and even scored in his Inter debut in that match. Hopefully this match can bring his best back out of him because Inter is an especially scary squad when he’s at his best.

Home/Serie A