Inter go to bottom-of-the-table Venezia on Wednesday level on points with Lazio, who play the day before. Cristian Chivu is expected to rotate heavily, with Thuram short of training and the derby three days later.

Inter travel to Venezia on Wednesday, October 28, at 18:30 CET, in Serie A’s first midweek round. Chivu’s side will know their rival’s result before kickoff. Anything less than a win at the Penzo could cost Inter first place.

Bottom-placed Venezia still like to keep the ball

Venezia were promoted as Serie B champions, but they are now bottom of the league. Their only win under Davide Nicola came against Napoli. Nicola replaced Giovanni Stroppa on October 14. Venezia arrive after a 1-0 defeat away to Genoa at Marassi.

Their results hide an ambitious style. Venezia averaged 57.1% of possession in the opening rounds, one of the highest figures in Serie A. Inter should expect an opponent that tries to keep the ball rather than sit deep.

Calciomercato.com reports that Venezia are without Sverko, Adorante and Franjic. Correia is not expected to be available either. Nicola is expected to keep a 3-5-2, with Yeboah and Adams up front and Basic starting in midfield.

A rotated Inter must protect first place before the derby

Inter come in on the back of a late comeback. Against Fiorentina at San Siro, Jimenez put the visitors ahead in the 64th minute. Thuram equalized in the 91st, and Zielinski won it with a stoppage-time penalty. That 2-1 win followed the first Champions League victory of the season, against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The squad is stretched. With the Milan derby three days later and the trip to Feyenoord after that, Chivu is expected to make several changes.

Tuttosport’s predicted lineup has Provedel in goal behind Bisseck, Bastoni and Carlos Augusto. Spence, Sucic, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco would make up the midfield five. Pio Esposito and Bonny would lead the attack. Thuram, Barella, Calhanoglu and Akanji start on the bench in that projection. That would leave several regulars fresh for Saturday.

The gamble is clear. A weakened side has to win away while the rival for first place has already played. Venezia’s record suggests a favorable fixture. Their possession numbers suggest a game Inter may not control easily.

In Italy, Venezia-Inter is one of three ninth-round games shown live on Sky and streamed on NOW. The round runs until Thursday, October 29.

After the derby, Inter face Feyenoord in Rotterdam on Tuesday, November 3, at 21:00 CET, in Matchday 4 of the Champions League league phase. It will be their first away game in this season’s competition.

📷 Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons