Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Serie A clash between Inter Milan and Udinese, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
After disposing of last season’s Scudetto winners, Inter Milan will continue their quest for this term’s Serie A title on Saturday, when they host Udinese.
Having crushed Napoli down south, Inter return to their San Siro stronghold topping the table by two points from old foes Juventus; meanwhile, the visitors are Italy’s draw specialists....Click Here To Continue Reading>>

Match preview
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Already most pundits’ favourites for the Scudetto, Inter rubber-stamped their status as the team to beat last weekend, as they dismantled reigning champions Napoli in their own backyard, with a little help from Hakan Calhanoglu’s stunning opener just before half time.

After the Turkey international struck sweetly to become the first Inter midfielder with more than five goals at this stage of a Serie A season since Lothar Matthaus in 1990, Simone Inzaghi’s side seized the momentum, and further finishes from Nicolo Barella and Marcus Thuram secured a superb 3-0 success at Stadio Maradona.
As a result, they moved back to the top of the Serie A standings, leaving Napoli 11 points behind – arch-rivals Milan trail by six.
Now boasting a goal difference of +26 (33 scored and just seven conceded) – equalling the club’s best record after 14 games, set some 90 years ago – the Nerazzurri have proved themselves a well-oiled machine that could take some stopping in Italy and beyond.
Indeed, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez (13 goals) has scored more times in Serie A this season than Saturday’s opponents Udinese (12), and his side have still lost just once in all competitions, having also confirmed their place in the Champions League’s last 16.
With a win this weekend, the second-city club would reach 38 points after their first 15 matches for just the fourth time this century, and recent history suggests that victory is theirs for the taking: Inter have lost only one of their last 11 league meetings with Udinese, winning each of the last five at San Siro.
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Udinese’s lone win during that sequence did come as recently as last season, when they triumphed 3-1 on home turf, but the Fruilani are up against the odds on this occasion – not only due to their hosts’ might, but also because of their own failings.

Last week, Gabriele Cioffi’s side let victory slip through their fingers, as they led 2-0 and then 3-2 against lowly Hellas Verona but still contrived to miss out on maximum points once again.
Substitute striker Lorenzo Lucca left the bench after seven minutes and bagged a brace for the Bianconeri, but conceding deep into stoppage time left them with just one Serie A win all season.
A meagre total of 12 points from their first 14 games means Udinese have recorded their lowest tally at this stage of a season since 1994, and a relegation battle could be in prospect if they cannot hold on to such leads more frequently.
Since Cioffi replaced Andrea Sottil in the dugout, his team have at least edged their way out of the drop zone, but they still await a first league victory in Udine this season, having also drawn no fewer than nine times home and away.

Inter Milan Serie A form:

Inter Milan form (all competitions):

Udinese Serie A form:

Udinese form (all competitions):

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Team News
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Inter’s fitness woes deepened last time out, as injuries to Dutch duo Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries left Simone Inzaghi somewhat short-handed at the back.
Carlos Augusto was required to deputise in the back three at Stadio Maradona, as Benjamin Pavard (knee) is still out of action. The latter’s defensive colleague Alessandro Bastoni (calf) should return to the squad, though, after missing each of Inter’s three games since last month’s international break.
Starting up front, summer signing Marcus Thuram has been directly involved in 11 Serie A strikes already this season (five goals and six assists) – the most of any new Nerazzurri player since Champions League hero Diego Milito recorded 13 in his first 15 appearances back in 2009.
A brace against Verona last Sunday took Lorenzo Lucca on to four league goals this term, so the ex-Ajax striker is set to start for Udinese in Milan; fellow forwards Florian Thauvin and Isaac Success should overcome minor injuries to feature on the bench.
Slovenian centre-back Jaka Bijol has been ruled out until January after having surgery on a foot fracture, while long-term absentees Gerard Deulofeu, Enzo Ebosse and Brenner remain unavailable too.
Meanwhile, in midfield, captain Roberto Pereyra plays a more advanced role, and Serbia international Lazar Samardzic comes up against the club he was within a whisker of joining earlier this year.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:Sommer; Darmian, Acerbi, Augusto; Cuadrado, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Udinese possible starting lineup:Silvestri; Ferreira, Kabasele, Perez; Ebosele, Samardzic, Walace, Payero, Zemura; Pereyra; Lucca

We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Udinese
With defensive injuries mounting up, Inter boss Simone Inzaghi will be keen to take care of business against Serie A strugglers Udinese without taking too much of a toll on his squad. The Nerazzurri can take a stranglehold of the game by scoring at least once in the first half, then cruise towards win number 12 of their league campaign.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data

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Sports Mole previews Saturday’s League One clash between Leyton Orient and Derby County, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Derby County will attempt to claim a fifth consecutive league victory when they travel to Brisbane Road for Saturday’s League One clash with Leyton Orient.
The hosts, meanwhile, will be looking to return to winning ways after experiencing a six-game winless run in all competitions....Click Here To Continue Reading>>

Match preview
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Since beating Carlisle United in November’s FA Cup tie, Leyton Orient have gone on to draw two and lose four of their next four matches.

After drawing with Wigan Athletic and Bristol Rovers in their last two league games, the O’s fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat in last weekend’s second-round FA Cup tie against fifth-tier Chesterfield.
While the O’s have now gone over a month without a competitive victory, their wait for a league win stretches back to October 14.
With wins proving to be hard to come by in recent times, Richie Wellens’s side head into the weekend in 16th place with 22 points to their name and six points separating them from the bottom four.
Having lost all four home league games where they conceded first, Leyton Orient may need to net the opening goal if they are to trouble Derby on Saturday.
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Derby carry significant momentum into the weekend after recording four consecutive league wins, including a narrow 1-0 victory in last Saturday’s away clash with Port Vale.
Tyreece John-Jules scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute to ensure his side finished the last round of the fixture in sixth place and two points clear of the chasing pack.

The Rams enjoyed more success in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy fixture against Fleetwood Town, with James Collins netting a brace before John-Jules found the net for a second straight game to wrap up a comfortable 3-0 home win and secure Derby’s place in the last 16.
They will now turn their attention back to Saturday’s contest, where they will be looking to continue their solid defensive record, having kept four clean sheets in their last six league matches.
As a result of their resolute backline, the Rams have conceded just 16 league goals this season, leaving them with the joint-best defensive record alongside leaders Portsmouth.

Leyton Orient League One form:

Leyton Orient form (all competitions):

Derby County League One form:

Derby County form (all competitions):

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Team News
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Leyton Orient forward Aaron Drinan is set to miss six to eight weeks of action after picking up an injury against Bristol Rovers at the end of November.
After dropping down to the bench last weekend, defender Dan Happe may be recalled to the lineup for Saturday’s home fixture.
Forward Joe Pigott could also come back into the side after settling for substitute appearances in Leyton Orient’s last two matches.
As for Derby, they are unable to call upon the injured trio of Conor Washington, Liam Thompson and Jake Rooney.
Korey Smith is also a fitness concern after missing the last two matches, while Ryan Nyambe and Martyn Waghorn are doubts due to groin and calf issues respectively.
After netting a brace in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy victory, Collins will now look to add to his seven-goal league tally when he leads the line against Exeter.
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:Brynn; Cooper, Happe, Turns; James, Brown, El Mizouni, Archibald; Sotiriou, Pigott, Forde
Derby County possible starting lineup:Wildsmith, Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Forsyth; Fornah, Bird, Hourihane; Ward, Mendez-Laing; Collins

We say: Leyton Orient 1-3 Derby County
With the two sides experiencing contrasting spells of form, we think a confident Derby side will get the better of Leyton Orient to claim their fifth consecutive league victory.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data

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