Ex Lazio & Monaco Star Pushing To Start In Inter Milan Vs Monza Serie A Showdown – Nerazzurri Owned Defender Could Also Get The Nod | OneFootball

Forward Keita Balde and defender Tomas Palacios are both pushing to start this evening’s Serie A clash between Inter Milan and Monza.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Monza make the short trip to the San Siro to take on Inter Milan this evening.

The Brianzoli will be desperate for points. They are currently rooted to the bottom of the Serie A table. Their form has simply failed to ignited throughout the season.

Facing reigning champions Inter will hardly be a fixture that Monza welcome at this stage.

However, at the same time, the Brianzoli have proven a tricky fixture for their Lombard rivals since coming up to Serie A in 2022. They got a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in September.

Keita Balde & Tomas Palacios Pushing To Start Inter Vs Monza Clash

According to the Gazzetta, Inter could see a couple familiar faces in the Monza starting lineup.

In attack, the newspaper predict, former Lazio, Monaco, Inter, and Sampdoria forward Keita Balde is pushing to start.

MONZA, ITALY – MARCH 02: Nikola Vlasic of Torino is challenged by Tomas Palacios of Monza during the Serie A match between Monza and Torino at U-Power Stadium on March 02, 2025 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

The 29-year-old joined Monza during the January transfer window. The Brianzoli made him a key part of their efforts to bolster the squad for a tough relegation battle.

Balde is a familiar face for Inter, having spent the 2018-19 season on loan with the club.

Meanwhile, Balde worked with Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi at Lazio. He enjoyed some of his very best form playing at the Stadio Olimpico, as with Joaquin Correa who will start for Inter.

And then, another January signing is also pushing to start for Monza.

The Brianzoli signed Inter defender Tomas Palacios on loan during the January window. The Argentine joined to gain more regular playing time in Serie A after being a bit part player at Inter over the first half of the campaign.

And according to the Gazzetta, Palacios could get the chance to impress against his parent club today.