BOLOGNA – We've put together a selection of pre-match facts and figures courtesy of Football Data, as we await tonight's Serie A encounter at Bologna's Stadio Dall'Ara.
Bologna haven't beaten Inter at home in 11 years
Bologna's last victory over Inter on home turf dates back to 10 February 2002, 2-1 thanks to Pecchia (56) and Zauli (74) with Seedorf (89) on target for the Nerazzurri. In the nine games played at the Dall'Ara since then, the Rossoblu have collected a single point (one draw and eight defeats), making it their longest ever run without a home win against Inter.
First 30 minutes: Bologna vulnerable, Inter on fire
Bologna v Inter sees the meeting of the worst defence in the first half an hour of matches, after 12 rounds of Serie A in 2013/14, and the second-best attack in that same period: Bologna have let in 10 while Inter have hit nine (only Napoli, with 12, have done better).
Inter: best attack with no penalties
Inter still haven't been awarded a penalty 12 matches into the 2013/14 Serie A. Only three other sides (Atalanta, Chievo Verona and Parma) are also yet to be given a spot kick. Inter's last penalty was on 8 May in Inter 1-3 Lazio (Alvarez missed). 14 league matches without a penalty, a surprising statistic considering that Mazzarri's men are the Serie A's topscorers this term with 29 goals.
Inter's 245-minute shutout
Since Denis scored in the 25th minute of Atalanta 1-1 Inter on 29 October, the Nerazzurri have gone 245 minutes without conceding: the remaining 65 minutes at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia and the following games against Udinese (3-0 away) and Livorno (2-0 at home).
Inter unbeaten on the road in 2013/14
Inter's last away defeat came at the hands of Napoli on 5 May (3-1). Since then they have gone seven games without losing (three wins and four draws) away from San Siro. The last time Inter could boast such a long unbeaten record on their travels was between August and November 2012, when they put together a 10-match streak.
Inter have goals throughout the team and from the bench
Walter Mazzarri's side – along with Roma – have had more players on the score sheet than any other Serie A team this season. The 11 Nerazzurri to have found the target are Alvarez, Cambiasso, Guarin, Icardi, Jonathan, Milito, Nagatomo, Palacio, Ranocchia, Rolando and Taider. Inter are also tied with Roma as the team with the most goals from substitutes after 12 rounds of championship fixtures: four goals have come from the Nerazzurri bench, with Icardi and Milito having plundered two apiece after coming on.
No draws when Pioli is at home against Mazzarri
There have been 10 previous head-to-heads between Stefano Pioli and Walter Mazzarri with five wins for the former, four for the latter, and one draw. The spoils have never been shared on the four occasions these two tacticians have met with Pioli playing at home: two wins apiece.
No draws for Pioli against Inter...
Stefano Pioli has faced Inter seven times in his coaching career and has yet to draw, obtaining three wins and four defeats. In the three matches played with Pioli at home, both teams have always scored: four for the sides led by the current Bologna boss and six for the Nerazzurri.
...and no draws for Mazzarri when away at former club
There have been 15 competitive matches between Walter Mazzarri and Bologna, where he worked as vice coach in 1999/00 and in the youth academy in 2000/01, with results perfectly balanced: six victories each and two draws. Mazzarri's teams have never drawn at Bologna: there have been two wins for the current Nerazzurri coach and four for Bologna in six meetings.
