This evening Como hosts Inter in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal. For the Larians, it is a historic opportunity, while the Nerazzurri are seeking partial redemption after being eliminated from the Champions League. Fabregas has studied Bodo Glimt carefully, even though he proposes a different style of football compared to the Scandinavians, who troubled Inter in the European competition. The match also has a special flavor for the Spanish coach, who last summer turned down the Nerazzurri bench, which was then given to Chivu, the same coach who three months ago inflicted a clear 0-4 defeat on Como at San Siro.
The Inter coach is dealing with a packed schedule and a squad that is more tired than their opponents. For this reason, some rotations are expected, although not as extensive as in the previous round against Torino, when he fielded only reserves. However, Chivu also has to keep an eye on the upcoming league derby, a match the Nerazzurri are trying to win after six consecutive failed attempts between draws and defeats.
There is another factor to consider: the return leg against Como will be played in fifty days, when Inter could already have mathematically secured the Scudetto and therefore be able to field all their best players at San Siro. Martinez is expected to play in goal, having already been set aside for after Sommer. Among the starters who could be rested are Akanji, Barella, and Dimarco, although the experience against Bodo showed how risky it is to voluntarily give up the left-back’s positive momentum. With Bonny out and the derby approaching, Chivu could experiment with an unprecedented attack featuring Frattesi (or Diouf) just behind the striker.
