Mere days after Inter’s painstaking, at-times-infuriating 2-0 victory away to Crotone, the Nerazzurri turn right back around for another away trip to Bologna FC in a Tuesday night Serie A fixture.

It’s no secret that Inter earned their last three points in a more difficult, nervous fashion than most of us anticipated. Thanks to late goals from two of our best players so far this season, we weren’t left thinking of what could have been. Fortunately, our perfect record was preserved. But how much longer can that last?

I Rossoblu have only managed to take four points from their opening four matches. What’s encouraging for Bologna, however, is that these opening fixtures have included some quality opponents. After drawing Torino to start the season, Roberto Donadoni’s men won away to Benevento, then lost two successive matches to Napoli and Fiorentina.

The fact that Bologna have already faced a handful of tough sides could give them reasonable confidence coming into this home fixture against the Nerazzurri. Despite only scoring three goals so far this season, certain Bologna players could spell danger for Inter if we’re as shaky at the back on Tuesday night as we were Saturday afternoon at Crotone (with the exception of Samir Handanovic, of course).

Oh, and one of those certain Bologna players happens to be former Inter striker Rodrigo Palacio.

You may remember how Inter’s last trip to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara ended.

Gabriel Barbosa’s first and only official goal for Inter won all three points away to Bologna last campaign. Ages ago, it seems.

This time around, the Nerazzurri are a considerably more capable, focused team; both on and off the pitch. While this trip to Bologna is certainly not a given three points, it’s a fantastic opportunity for Inter to extend their early season lead over other top Serie A teams. The day after we play at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Juventus take on Fiorentina and Lazio face off against Napoli.

Due to the fact that this is Inter’s second game in four days, the starting XI is subject to change. Expect the midfield-three to be shuffled, with Matias Vecino replacing Roberto Gagliardini and Marcelo Brozovic potentially starting over Joao Mario. Dalbert and Danilo D’Ambrosio are reportedly both fit and ready to go, so expect them to be Luciano Spalletti’s first-choice fullbacks.

All in all, I think Inter’s offensive firepower is sure to eventually overwhelm a depleted Bologna defense (three Bologna defenders are missing this match through injury). Thirty-five-year-old Rodrigo Palacio will get some revenge on his former club of five years and find the back of the net, but Inter will walk out of this one with a 2-1 victory under their belts.

See you in Bologna.

Forza Inter!

Match Info

Location: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara; Bologna, Italy

Time: 8:45 p.m. CEST (2:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time)

TV/Streaming Info: In the United States, the game’s available on fuboTV and beinSPORTS Connect, while in the UK it will be available through BT Sport 2. Click here to find out how you can watch the match anywhere else in the world.

Inter Milan Squad

Goalkeepers: Handanovic, Padelli, Berni

Defenders: Ranocchia, Santon, Miranda, Dalbert, D’Ambrosio, Skriniar, Nagatomo, Vanheudsen

Midfielders: Gagliardini, Joao Mario, Vecino, Borja Valero, Brozovic

Forwards: Icardi, Karamoh, Eder, Perisic, Candreva, Pinamonti

Match Thread Rules

There are only three rules: don’t be hateful, don’t disrespect anyone else’s opinion, and enjoy the game!