91 days later, the time has finally arrived for Inter Milan to get back into action. On Sunday evening, 20:45 CET, Luciano Spalletti’s men are due to play their first match of the 2018-19 Serie A season and inaugurate what we hope will be an enthralling campaign, as they travel to face Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia. On the one hand, the Neroverdi would appear to be a favourable opening day opponent for Inter, in that they’re not a direct rival and will be playing just their second competitive game under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi (thus ensuring they’ll still be very much a work in progress as they look to assimilate his ideas). On the other hand, you could also argue that the fixture computer has done us no favours whatsoever. For the simple reason that, traditionally, fixtures against Sassuolo have always been a real pain in the you-know-where for Inter. Our struggles in these match-ups are such that we’ve actually recorded more defeats against them (6) than victories (4) since the first meeting in 2013 - the last of which came on the penultimate weekend of the previous campaign, when Sassuolo came to San Siro and seriously jeopardised our chances of Champions League qualification with a 2-1 win. And if that most recent defeat back in May wasn’t painful enough in itself, we then had to suffer the ignominy of being mocked by club owner Giorgio Squinzi a few days later, when he told reporters that “every time we beat Inter I hang a picture in my office with the result and date written on it, but we’re up to six wins now and I’ve run out of space...” For that reason as much as anything else, it feels like it’s time to put this lot back in their place. “We need to win so that Squinzi doesn’t have to face this problem anymore,” as Spalletti said on the day the fixture schedule was released. As far as Inter’s new arrivals are concerned, the numerous ‘likely starting XI’ articles I’ve seen peppered around the internet this weekend suggest that we’re going to see four summer signings out of seven making their full debuts in Reggio Emilia. Radja Nainggolan has not been included in Spalletti’s match-day squad as he continues to recover from the thigh injury he sustained in the friendly against Sion four weeks ago, while Šime Vrsaljko and Keita Baldé are both expected to start from the bench. The rest, however, will probably start: Matteo Politano, who will immediately be pitted against his former club no sooner has he left it; Stefan De Vrij, who could partner Miranda in central defence with doubts over Milan Skriniar’s fitness; Kwadwo Asamoah, who might play on the left wing with Ivan Perišić yet to get up to speed following his World Cup exertions; and last, but by no means least, Lautaro Martinez, who is primed to replace Nainggolan in the no. 10 position behind Mauro Icardi. In theory, therefore, Spalletti’s first starting XI of the season is expected to look like this: Samir Handanovic in goal; Danilo D’Ambrosio, De Vrij, Miranda and Dalbert in defence; Matias Vecino and Marcelo Brozović in midfield; Politano, Martinez and the ultra-versatile Asamoah in the line of three; and Icardi up front on his own, as it were. 4-2-3-1, barring huge surprises. Can Inter get their season off to another flying start like they did last year, or will they be castigated once again by a side that we’ve all grown to loathe in a purely sporting sense? At last it’s nearly time to find out. Inter’s 2018-19 season is about to get under way. Let’s make it a great one. Match Info Date & Time: August 19, 2018, 8:45 p.m. CEST (2:45 p.m. on the U.S. East Coast) Location: Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia TV/Streaming: In the United States, the game will be shown both on ESPN+ and on Rai Italia America. In the United Kingdom, you can find it on Eleven Sports 2. Click here to find out where how you can follow the match around the world. Inter’s Matchday Squad Goalkeepers: Handanovic, Padelli, Berni Defenders: Vrsaljko, De Vrij, Ranocchia, Asamoah, Miranda, Dalbert, D’Ambrosio, Skriniar Midfielders: Gagliardini, Vecino, Borja Valero, Brozovic Forwards: Karamoh, Icardi, Lautaro Martinez, Keita Balde, Perisic, Candreva Match Thread Rules There are only three rules: don’t be hateful, don’t disrespect anyone else’s opinion and enjoy the game! Want to contribute? Sign up for an SB Nation account and join the conversation on Serpents of Madonnina. Whether it’s match coverage and analysis, breaking news, mercato or you just want to be immersed in all things Inter, we have it right here. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for more updates!<doc-sep>It may have not been the start Inter Milan may have wanted, but that isn’t to say there were some standout performances. With that, we look at the potential Man of the Match. Of course, you can give us your thoughts in the comments below. The Candidates: Lautaro Martinez, Matteo Politano, Stefan de Vrij, Ivan Perisic, Kwadwo Asamoah Wow that wasn’t the start we were hoping for, that being said let’s analyse the performances of our candidates for man of the match. Lautaro Martinez Much was expected from Lautaro coming into this match. He has been arguably our best player in pre-season and many an Interista would have hoped that this would transition into the ‘real’ football when the season started. Lautaro did not have a bad match by any means but if he thought Serie A would be a walk in the park and he would simply come out and strut his stuff this match will have been a rude awakening for him. Matteo Politano Matteo ran his socks off for the team. Tried desperately to create something with his crosses and beat his marker on several occasions. An immediate upgrade on Candreva but unfortunately lacking that final end product today. His shooting boots have been missing all pre-season and it was no different in this match. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that he finds them soon. Kwadwo Asamoah The Ghanaian utility man put through Icardi on goal early on and was taken down for what many would consider a penalty as deserving as Miranda’s. In the second half he was asked to show his reputable versatility by changing from the wing to left back and he did so with ease. He was probably one of the most fouled and of all of the players on the field today Asamoah kept his good form and picked up where he left off in pre-season. Stefan de Vrij Hardly put a foot wrong defensively compared to the sometimes lacklustre Miranda. Neither defender came out of the defense with as much composure as Milan Skriniar and he was sorely missed in our build-up play today. That being said he almost scored at the end and looked comfortable in the defense for the most part. Ivan Perisic Came on as a substitute in the second half and immediately teed up Mauro Icardi with a score-able ball. Changed the dynamic of our attack and gave it much more presence. Maybe too little time for him to make a bigger difference. Man of the Match Kwadwo Asamoah This match was begging for a moment of magic and nobody delivered. The best of the bunch for me was Kwadwo Asamoah. It is not his job to be the creative force in the team yet he did enough during the game to have changed it. He led by example with a calm and assured display. It is unfortunate that his strong performance did not aid in leading his team to a draw or victory. What do you think? Post your comments below!<doc-sep>All eyes were on Inter Milan in their season opener at US Sassuolo. More particularly, eyes were looking to see just how Inter’s new acquisitions would work together on the pitch. Keep in mind, it is just the first game, but the eyes might have been a bit disappointed as Inter Milan played Mauro Icardi, Lautaro Martinez, Matteo Politano and eventually Ivan Perisic to no avail as a penalty in the first half gave Sassuolo all three points Sunday with a 1-0 win at the Mapei Stadium. It is the third straight season-opening clean sheets for Sassuolo and the seventh win in 11 matches against Inter Milan. The first half seemed like Inter could not connect on anything. Poor passing, misplayed marking and shoddy overall performance seemed to doom the Nerazzurri from the start. After a lackluster start to the game, Inter Milan came out with a little more intensity in the second half. Down 1-0 after a first-half penalty by Dominico Berardi, Nerazzurri boss Luciano Spalletti brought in Ivan Perisic — who did not start — for Dalbert as Spalletti went to a back three defensively and moving Kwadwo Asamoah further up front. Perisic — who was resting following his World Cup performance — started to make an impact up front, testing Andrea Consigli in the 47th minute. Marcelo Brozovic — who started in midfield along with Matias Vecino — drilled a shot off his right foot following a great display of skill by Asamoah in the 57th minute., but Brozovic’s attempt sailed into the fifth-row of the stands. Three minutes later, Matteo Politano drilled a delivery way outside the area against his former team, but his shot went well wide of Consigli. Kevin-Prince Boateng nearly doubled Sassuolo’s lead in the 65th minute with a nice look in front of the net, but Samir Handanovic poked the shot away. On the counter, Perisic connected with Mauro Icardi in front of Consigli, but like Boateng, Icardi’s delivery couldn’t find the back of the net. In the 80th minute, a free kick by Perisic found its way into the area, but Stefan De Vrij was whistled for a foul after trying to take down his mark. De Virj nearly equalized in the 90th minute, but his header off a long pass was pushed aside by Consigli. Within the first three minutes of the match, it was Sassuolo who attempted to press offensively as Mehdi Bourabia found an open lane down the left side and tested Samir Handanovic, but the Inter keeper was able to poke the shot aside and out of danger. Inter did recover with a strong counterattack but former Sporting standout Lautaro Martinez was tripped at midfield by Alfred Duncan. The subsequent free kick, found Mauro Icardi in the area, but his header was just off the mark in the seventh minute. The Nerazzurri defense — playing without Milan Skriniar — continued to be tested, but the combination of Stefan De Virj, Miranda, Dalbert and Danilo D’Ambrosio was able to turn back early attempts at goal. The biggest concern over the first 10 minutes of the half was the fact that Inter’s offense — lauded with Martinez and Icardi starting — failed to mount any serious threat to Sassuolo. Another concern came by way of the Inter midfield. Spalletti elected to start Marcelo Brozovic and Matias Vecino in the center, but in the first 20 minutes of the match, the midfield was rife with dispossessions, poor passing and ineffective ball movement. In the 25th minute, Inter’s mistakes finally caught up with them as Miranda drew a yellow card after fouling Federico Di Francesco in the area, resulting in a penalty. Berardi buried the penalty kick to give Sassoulo a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute. Sassuolo enseñando que no es necesario tener grandes estrellas para ser efectivo. El Inter dando pena. Es más peligroso el Sassuolo. Gol de Berardi de penal para el 1-0. pic.twitter.com/1xhFr6myVt — Çalhanoğluismo (@adeptofdivinity) August 19, 2018 Near the end of the first half, Asamoah looked to draw a penalty in the Sassuolo area, but there was no call and Inter went into halftime down 1-0. Inter will now prepare for its home opener at the San Siro at 2:30 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Aug. 26 as they will host Torino, who lost 1-0 to AS Roma on the opening day. What do you think? Post your comments below!<doc-sep>Sassuolo sent big-spending Inter Milan spinning to a shock 1-0 opening-day defeat in Serie A on Sunday. Domenico Berardi's 28th-minute penalty was enough to see off the visitors, who gave debuts to new signings Kwadwo Asamoah and Lautaro Martinez. Edin Dzeko scored a late winner as Roma started their Serie A title challenge with a 1-0 victory at Torino. A slow match came alive in the second half when both sides had their chances, but it was Dzeko who broke the deadlock in the 89th minute when he drilled home a brilliant volley from Dutch forward Justin Kluivert's cross. Parma's return to Serie A after a five-year absence ended in a 2-2 home draw with Udinese, who fought back from 2-0 down. Roberto Inglese and Antonino Barilla put Parma in charge by the hour mark but Rodrigo De Paul's 65th-minute penalty was followed by a Seko Fofana equaliser four minutes later. Adam Nagy saw red as Bologna fell to a 1-0 home defeat by SPAL. Jasmin Kurtic put the visitors into the lead with 19 minutes left before Hungarian midfielder Nagy was dismissed after receiving his second yellow two minutes from the final whistle. Elsewhere, Rade Krunic and Francesco Caputo were on target as Empoli won 2-0 at home to Cagliari. The two fixtures involving Sampdoria and Genoa were postponed following the Morandi Bridge collapse in the city. Sampdoria will now play Fiorentina on September 19 and AC Milan will host Genoa on October 31.<doc-sep>
Mitch Freeley You can watch Sassuolo Vs Inter via beIN SPORTS CONNECT. Match Report Inter's expensively assembled squad were dealt a heavy dose of reality in a 1-0 defeat at Sassuolo in their Serie A season opener on Sunday. Plenty is expected of Luciano Spalletti's side following an influx of fresh faces but they appeared disjointed against a team that finished seven places below them last season. Punishment came in the shape of Domenico Berardi's 27th-minute penalty and it was all a counter-attacking Sassuolo needed to notch a seventh victory in 11 league meetings between the pair. The Nerazzurri's highly anticipated attacking partnership of Mauro Icardi and Lautaro Martinez failed to threaten, with the injured Radja Nainggolan sure to be rushed back as soon as possible to shore up an unsteady midfield. Spalletti's decision to name four new signings in his starting XI came at the cost of early organisation with only Samir Handanovic's outstretched left boot preventing Mehdi Bourabia from netting a third-minute opener. The hosts did not have to wait long for a deserved lead, though, as Berardi converted from the spot in the 27th minute, Miranda having clumsily bundled over Federico Di Francesco. Ivan Perisic stepped off the bench at the break but it was Matteo Politano who looked the most likely to conjure an equaliser against his former side, the winger flashing a fierce drive across the face on the hour. Clearer chances soon came at both ends with Kevin Prince-Boateng brushing the outside of the near post with a clever first-time effort, before Icardi side-footed a low Perisic cross over the bar. Stefan de Vrij threatened to snatch a point in stoppage time, but his header from Politano's delivery was impressively parried by Andrea Consigli as Sassuolo clung on. Goals Goal! Domenico Berardi smashes the penalty down the centre! 1-0 Sassuolo Live Updates Preview Sassulo will be hoping to make a solid start to the Serie A season but will have a tough test against big spending Inter Milan, who have strengthened significantly in the summer. You can watch Sassuolo Vs Inter via beIN SPORTS CONNECT. After comfortably finishing in mid-table last season, Sassulo will be hoping for more of the same. Now coached by former Benavento boss Roberto De Zerbi, the Modena-based side will be looking to play with a more attacking outlook for the new season. A scalp against Inter Milan would go some way in kicking off their season. Key Man Kevin-Prince Boateng joined the side in the summer from the Bundesliga. The Ghanian international is no stranger to Serie A having played for AC Milan in two separate stints. Now aged 31, Boateng can still pick up the game by the scruff of the neck and will be relishing his return to Italy with a game against Inter Milan. How to watch Online- beIN SPORTS CONNECT TV Channel- HD11 Kick-off- 21:30 Stadium- Stadio Città del Tricolore, Reggio As for Inter, it’s been a busy summer on the transfer front with a host of players joining the side. With Champions League football dramatically confirmed on the final day of last season, Luciano Spalletti has been backed by the clubs Chinese owners. The pressure is now on to deliver a credible title challenge to Juventus, and aim to stop the Turin side win an eighth consecutive Scudetto. Inter have strengthened in crucial areas, with defence, midfield and attack all addressed in the close season. Key Man Radja Nainggolan was one of the most consistent players in Italy last season for Roma, his big money move to Inter raised plenty of eyebrows. However, the fiery midfielder will be looking forward to reuniting with Spalletti who coached the Belgian for two seasons in Rome. After missing out on the 2018 World Cup, Nainggolan has had a full preseason at Inter and will be raring to go against Sassulo. As ever, you can watch Sassuolo Vs Inter via beIN SPORTS CONNECT.