Walter Mazzarri's reinvigorated Inter side are flying high and well within touching distance of the Champions League places and they visit a beleaguered Bologna who sit just above the relegation places.
Bologna finished last season firmly ensconced in mid-table, having managed to avoid any kind of relegation worry for the entire season and had managed to put together some enterprising performances, particularly in eliminating holders Napoli from the Coppa Italia. The early part of this season hasn't quite gone as smoothly for the Rossoblu and they find themselves two places but just a single point above the relegation zone. Indeed, they only managed to record their first victory at the end of October with a 1-0 home triumph over Livorno and it looked as if it might've sparked a full-scale revival with a 3-0 win against Cagliari in the following fixture however it was short lived as a goalless draw with bottom club Chievo and a loss against Atalanta soon followed. The one bright spot for Bologna is that the comfort of mid-table is well within reach, with the bottom half of the table tightly packed together they are only three points from AC Milan in tenth however the results just don't seem to be coming for Stefano Pioli's men and a long season could be in prospect.
After last season's nightmare, Walter Mazzarri has rejuvenated Inter and they look a completely different side to the miserable one that ended last season under Andrea Stramaccioni. They sit in fourth, seven points from Roma at the top of the table but only three from Napoli in the final Champions League spot and have only lost once this season, a 3-0 home defeat to the high-flying Giallorossi. Since that defeat, they have gone five matches unbeaten, winning three of those against Udinese, Hellas Verona and Livorno and playing out entertaining draws with Torino and Atalanta. Indeed, if there's one thing that can be said about Mazzarri's Inter it's that they're entertaining, having scored more goals than any other side in the league (although this can be partly attributed to a 7-0 thrashing of Sassuolo). Jonathan Cicero and Ricky Álvarez, two men who flattered to deceive under Stramaccioni, have been the real standouts under Mazzarri and the side will undoubtedly be boosted by the return against Livorno of club captain and genuine living legend Javier Zanetti from his achilles tear suffered last season.
Bologna will be without Andrea Mantovani, whilst Marek Cech and Michele Pazienza have question marks over their heads for the encounter. Inter have a few defensive issues with Andrea Ranocchia suspended, Walter Samuel injured and Hugo Campagnaro in doubt and at the other end, Mauro Icardi and Diego Milito will take no part.
Bologna injuries and suspensions
Out: Andrea Mantovani, Henry Gimenez, Nicolo Cherubin (injured). In doubt: Cesare Natali, Michele Pazienza, Marek Cech, Dejan Stojanovic.
Inter injuries and suspensions
Out: Walter Samuel, McDonald Mariga, Mauro Icardi, Diego Milito, Cristian Chivu (injured); Andrea Ranocchia (suspended). In doubt: Zdravko Kuzmanovic, Hugo Campagnaro.
Projected lineups
Bologna: Curci, Garics, Sorensen, Antonsson, Crespo, Kone, Krhin, Laxalt, Morleo, Diamanti, Cristaldo
Inter: Handanovic, Rolando, Campagnaro, Juan Jesus, Jonathan, Cambiasso, Guarin, Taider, Nagatomo, Alvarez, Palacio
Match date/time: Sunday 24th November 2013, 8:45pm local, 2:45pm E.T.
Venue: Stadio Renato Dall'ara, Bologna
TV: Sky Sport 1, Sky Calcio 1 (Italy), RAI Internazionale, beIN Sport Play (USA), BT Sport 1 (UK).