Inter Milan vs. Hellas Verona | Serie A | Pre Match
Inter Milan vs. Hellas Verona
On Saturday evening, the iconic San Siro will be the stage for a clash steeped in contrasting narratives as Inter Milan, reeling from a turbulent spell in their Serie A title defense, welcome a Hellas Verona side battling to secure their top-flight status with only four rounds remaining in the 2024-25 campaign. Inter, the reigning champions, are coming off a breathtaking 3-3 draw against Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, a match that showcased their attacking verve but also exposed defensive frailties that have plagued their domestic form. With three consecutive league defeats and a Coppa Italia exit to rivals AC Milan, Simone Inzaghi’s men trail league leaders Napoli by three points, their Scudetto hopes hanging by a thread. Verona, meanwhile, occupy 16th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone, but their toothless attack and recent losses have left them vulnerable as they face two relegation rivals in their final matches. Inter’s historical dominance over Verona—41 Serie A wins and a perfect record against them at San Siro—makes them overwhelming favorites, but their mounting injuries, suspensions, and defensive woes offer a glimmer of hope for the Gialloblu. As Inter juggle their European ambitions with a desperate need to revive their title chase, and Verona fight for survival, this encounter promises to be a compelling chapter in Serie A’s unfolding drama, a test of resilience and resolve for two teams at critical junctures.
Inter Milan’s season, once a tale of dominance, has taken a troubling turn, their early-season swagger giving way to a series of setbacks that have left them scrambling to salvage their Scudetto defense. The Nerazzurri’s 3-3 draw against Barcelona at Montjuic was a microcosm of their campaign: moments of brilliance, exemplified by Marcus Thuram’s audacious flick just 30 seconds in and Denzel Dumfries’ brace, were undermined by defensive lapses that allowed Barcelona to claw back twice, setting up a high-stakes second leg at San Siro. Domestically, Inter’s form has been alarming, with back-to-back goalless defeats to Roma and another opponent, coupled with a Coppa Italia loss to AC Milan, exposing a fragility uncharacteristic of Inzaghi’s typically resolute sides. Historically, Inzaghi’s teams have faltered in April and May, with a 36% loss rate in the latter month, and this trend appears to be repeating in 2025, as Inter have conceded goals at an alarming rate, a stark contrast to their earlier status as Serie A’s meanest defense. The absence of Inzaghi and key midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu, both suspended following an investigation into dealings with the club’s ultras, compounds their challenges, while injuries to captain Lautaro Martínez (thigh) and Benjamin Pavard further deplete a squad stretched thin by their European exertions. Marcus Thuram’s return from a three-game layoff proved pivotal in Barcelona, but his fitness remains a concern, with Inter’s win rate plummeting from 92.3% with him in the starting XI to 62.5% without. Against Verona, a team they have historically dismantled—scoring 117 goals in 41 Serie A wins, including a 5-0 thrashing earlier this season—Inter will look to rediscover their ruthlessness, but their vulnerabilities offer Verona a rare opportunity to defy history.
Hellas Verona, by contrast, are locked in a desperate struggle to preserve their Serie A status, their season defined by defensive resilience but crippled by an anemic attack that has left them perilously close to the drop zone. With just six goals in 16 matches in 2025, the worst offensive record in the league, and 10 goalless outings in that span, the Gialloblu have struggled to convert their improved defensive organization into points. Their 2-0 home defeat to Cagliari last Monday, following another loss, has left them in 16th place, seven points above the relegation zone but with little margin for error as they face Lecce and Empoli in their final games. Paolo Zanetti, who has instilled a degree of stability since taking charge, has leaned on a three-man defense to shore up the backline, but suspensions to Daniele Ghilardi and Diego Coppola, coupled with Pawel Dawidowicz’s ongoing injury, pose a selection dilemma for the San Siro clash. The return of key creator Tomáš Suslov, now fully recovered from a virus, and top scorer Casper Tengstedt, who has been hampered by fitness issues, offers hope, as does Amin Sarr, whose four league goals have all come away from home. Verona’s historical futility at San Siro—66 top-flight visits without a win against either Milan club—looms large, as does their recent record of conceding at least twice in each of their last four home games against Inter. Yet, Inter’s current fragility and depleted squad provide a faint glimmer of opportunity for Zanetti’s men to pull off a seismic upset and bolster their survival hopes.
The team news for both sides underscores the challenges they face, with injuries and suspensions forcing tactical adjustments. Inter’s absentee list is daunting: Inzaghi’s touchline ban leaves assistant Massimiliano Farris to lead the team, while Çalhanoğlu’s suspension deprives them of their midfield metronome. Martínez’s thigh injury, sustained in Barcelona, casts doubt on his availability, and Pavard’s absence weakens an already shaky defense. Thuram, despite his recent return, may be forced to start alongside one of Mehdi Taremi, Marko Arnautović, or Joaquín Correa, with Inzaghi’s deputy likely to rely on Dumfries’ dynamism and Nicolò Barella’s tenacity to drive the team forward. Verona, meanwhile, are without key defenders Ghilardi and Coppola, and Dawidowicz’s injury further stretches their backline, potentially forcing Zanetti to deploy less experienced options against Inter’s potent attack. Suslov’s return is a significant boost, his creativity crucial for a team that has struggled to create chances, while Sarr’s away scoring record makes him the focal point of Verona’s attack. Krstović’s potential inclusion could add physicality, but Verona’s lack of firepower—evident in their six goals all year—remains a glaring weakness against an Inter side that, despite recent struggles, has the quality to exploit defensive lapses.
The broader context of this match amplifies its significance, with both teams at pivotal moments in their seasons. For Inter, the clash with Verona is a chance to halt their domestic slide and keep pace with Napoli, who play earlier on Saturday and could extend their lead to six points. The Nerazzurri’s Champions League commitments, while a source of pride, have strained their resources, and the second leg against Barcelona looms as a defining test of their European credentials. Inzaghi’s historical struggles in May add pressure to reverse the trend, and a victory over Verona, a team they have dominated, is non-negotiable if they are to remain in the Scudetto race. For Verona, the match is a do-or-die moment in their fight for survival, their seven-point cushion over the drop zone offering hope but no guarantees. Zanetti’s ability to rally his squad, despite their offensive struggles and defensive absences, will be crucial, particularly with winnable games against Lecce and Empoli on the horizon. The historical weight of Verona’s San Siro futility and Inter’s 5-0 win in the reverse fixture looms large, but football’s unpredictability and Inter’s vulnerabilities provide a faint hope of an upset.
As San Siro prepares to host this clash of giants and underdogs, the atmosphere will be electric, Inter’s passionate tifosi demanding a response to their recent woes and Verona’s traveling faithful clinging to hope of a miracle. For the hosts, the match is a chance to reignite their Scudetto chase, to prove their mettle amidst adversity and keep Napoli within reach. For the visitors, it is an opportunity to defy history, to steal points that could prove decisive in their survival bid. The disparity in quality, form, and ambition between the two sides is stark, but Inter’s injuries and defensive frailties offer Verona a narrow window to exploit. The Nerazzurri’s attacking firepower, led by Thuram and Dumfries, should overpower a Verona side that has struggled to score, yet the Gialloblu’s defensive resolve and Suslov’s creativity could make for a spirited contest. In a season defined by Inter’s faltering title defense and Verona’s fight for survival, this encounter encapsulates the drama and stakes of Serie A, a poignant reminder of the sport’s capacity for redemption and resilience in the face of adversity.
