Analysis:

Inter Milan comes into this match with the big clash against Chelsea in midweek in mind. On top of that they have dropped points in three of the last five games and come up against a Sampdoria side that has won four consecutive matches!

When these sides met at Marassi back on September 26, Sampdoria won that maatch thanks to Giampaolo Pazzini. That result put Samp top of the table, but they soon droped down the standings with a poor series of results.

However, since dropping Antonio Cassano they have been unstoppable, managing up four consecutive victories against Udinese, Atalanta, Siena and Fiorentina. Now they find themselves joint fourth place with Napoli in the standings.

Cassano is injured, so could not play even if Gigi Del Neri decided to recall him for the visitors, but Nicola Pozzi is a major doubt due to a muscular problem. Sampdoria could opt for a new 4-4-1-1 system with Fernando Tissone supporting lone centre-forward Pazzini if he fails to make the cut. That gives them to pack the midfield which already includes Angelo Palombo and Under-21 international Andrea Poli supported by the attacking Franco Semioli and Stefano Guberti.

Inter seems to have hit a slight dip in form in recent weeks as their rescheduled match with Parma ended in a 1-1 draw and they were fortunate to escape with a goalless stalemate from Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo. The home team hit the woodwork twice and forced several fine saves out of Julio Cesar to rescue Inter.

Jose Mourinho's lead at the top has now been cut to just seven points and there's the huge game with Mourinho's former club Chelsea to come in midweek as well. But Mourinho will be targetting a sixth consecutive Serie A home victory, as the last side to hold them at San Siro was Roma on November 8.

Inter are still without Cristian Chivu and Marco Materazzi, while Mario Balotelli and Davide Santon will undergo fitness test to see if they can feature. The good news is that Dejan Stankovic has resumed full training after a month on the sidelines and he could even be given a starting spot in midfield. Samuel Eto’o risks losing his starting spot due to the fine form of January signing Goran Pandev, who has formed an impressive partnership with Diego Milito and Wesley Sneijder.

The bad news the visitors don't want to be reminded of is that Sampdoria have not won here since Roberto Mancini sealed a 4-3 thriller on December 15 1996, managing just three draws from the next 10 visits, including the Coppa Italia. The most worrying statistic is that Sampdoria haven’t even scored in the last four attempts!

Take Inter Milan to win this match but just by a slim margin.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Pick :

Inter Milan 1-0 or 2-1

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Inter Milan to win here.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Sampdoria and accept the 1 ball