Serie A line-ups: Inter vs. Empoli | OneFootball

Inter need a victory to keep up with leaders Napoli, but Mehdi Taremi again partners Lautaro Martinez as they host Sebastiano Esposito’s Empoli.

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Nerazzurri have had a shaky start to 2025, fumbling a 2-0 lead to lose the Supercoppa Italiana Final 3-2 to rivals Milan, then were held to a 2-2 draw by Bologna midweek in the rescheduled Serie A fixture.

They still have a game in hand to be played against Fiorentina, so a victory here would put them within three points of leaders Napoli.

Marcus Thuram and Francesco Acerbi are still not at 100 per cent, with Hakan Calhanoglu, Joaquin Correa and Yann Bisseck all injured.

Taremi therefore partners Lautaro Martinez, with Kristjan Asllani and Piotr Zielinski taking the midfield reins.

Coach Simone Inzaghi, who is in the stands due to a touchline ban for accumulation of yellow cards, also has to keep an eye on resting players for the Champions League trip to Sparta Prague on Wednesday.

epa11764793 Empoli’s Sebastiano Esposito celebrates after scoring the 0-2 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Empoli FC in Verona, Italy, 08 December 2024. EPA-EFE/Emanuele Pennnacchio

Empoli made themselves rather tough to beat this season, but have been slipping lately with one point from the last five rounds.

There is a lengthy absentee list for coach Roberto D’Aversa, including Tino Anjorin, Pietro Pellegri, Ola Solbakken, Saba Sazonov, Tyronne Ebuehi and Nicolas Haas.

Ardian Ismajli has shaken off a knock to lead the defence, but it is a special game for Sebastiano Esposito, as the 22-year-old is on loan from Inter with an option to buy at the end of the season.

He has been prolific this term with seven Serie A goals in 16 appearances, plus two in the Coppa Italia.

However, he is surprisingly dropped in favour of Liberato Cacace and Jacopo Fazzini as support for Lorenzo Colombo.

Inter: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Carlos Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Zielinski, Dimarco; Taremi, Lautaro Martinez

Empoli: Vasquez; De Sciglio, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Maleh, Grassi, Pezzella; Fazzini, Cacace; Colombo

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