MILAN – After the midweek success in the Coppa Italia, Roberto Mancini's men are back in league action today against Carpi at San Siro.
Kick-off for the Week 21 contest has been set for 15:00 CET.
In collaboration with our friends at Opta, we've prepared this fact file on the encounter.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This is the second-ever game between Inter and Carpi: the first finished 2-1 to the Nerazzurri away against the Emilian outfit earlier this season.
FORM GUIDE
Inter have taken home all three points in just one of their last four league outings – against Empoli – losing to Lazio and Sassuolo and drawing most recently with Atalanta.
Over the first 20 games of the season, Inter have scored more than one goal on just three occasions. The Nerazzurri have just struck four twice, while registering a solitary goal in 15 matches.
Mancini's men have lost their last two home games, which hasn't happened since May 2013. You only need to go a month further back for the last time three back-to-back matches were lost at San Siro: in April 2013.
Carpi have recorded two wins on the bounce for the first time in Serie A. Including the draw with Lazio, Sunday's opposition have picked up points in three consecutive games.
By way of comparison, the last three games have yielded seven points for Carpi against five from the previous ten fixtures.
On the road, Carpi have notched four points in the last three matches, quadrupling their previous record of just one point in six away games.
GENERAL STATISTICS
Inter have the best defence in the league with 13 goals conceded, Carpi have the second-worst with 35.
No team has let in fewer shots from outside the area than Inter – just one.
Inter are one of three teams not to have scored in the first 15 minutes of matches this season. Udinese and Verona are the others.
The Emilian side has leaked 20 goals in first halves this season – the worst of all teams in Serie A.
Carpi have been gifted four own-goals so far in 2015/16. In fact, opposition teams account for 21% of the Emilians' goals scored this season.
Carpi are propping up the rest of the league in terms of goals scored from dead-ball situations with one, which came from a penalty.
So far, Inter have hit the back of the net with just one header this season – an unwanted record the club shares with Torino.
On the other hand, Inter are the only side in Serie A this year yet to concede from a headed goal.
PLAYER FOCUS
If he hits the back of the net, Mauro Icardi will have reached 50 goals in Serie A.
Among forwards with at least 300 minutes under their belt, Icardi has the highest ratio of touches on the ball: one touch every three minutes 20 seconds.
Stevan Jovetic notched his one and only double in a Nerazzurri shirt in the same fixture earlier this season. The Montenegrin has got himself on the scoresheet just once in the last 14 Serie A fixtures.
Ivan Perisic has supplied Inter's last two assists – his only two this campaign.
Adem Ljajic has set up the most shots for his Inter team-mates – 38.
Alex Telles is fourth on the list for chances created by defenders – 20.
Jerry Mbakogu got his first goal in the Italian top flight on his tenth appearance.
Kevin Lasagna is an important element for Fabrizio Castori coming on from the bench – both of his assists have come after making a substitute appearance.
Gaetano Letizia has made the most tackles out of all Serie A defenders this season – 57.
Matteo Mancosu scored on his debut for new club Carpi. The striker has found the net only once this season in ten appearances for previous side Bologna.
Marco Crimi has featured three times for Carpi this year, all from the bench. Previously he had picked up four appearances in Serie A: three with Bari and one with Bologna.
Lorenzo Lollo has got himself on the scoresheet in two consecutive games: he didn't manage to score once in his previous 12 Serie A outings.
Antonio Di Gaudio scored his once and so far only Serie A goal against Inter.
Raphael Martinho's last strike in the top division was against the Nerazzurri outfit as well, back in October 2013. This season the Brazilian has made five appearances without finding the net.
Gabriel Silva's debut Serie A goal was against Inter in May 2013 when he was playing for Udinese.
Should Juan Jesus feature, it will be his 100th appearance in the top flight.
Carpi goalkeeper Vid Belec used to be on Inter's books but never made his Serie A debut for the Nerazzurri.
Samir Handanovic in goal has the best saves-percentage in Serie A – 85%.
THE MEN IN THE DUGOUT
Today will be Roberto Mancini's 200th Serie A game at the Nerazzurri helm.
Mancini and Castori have crossed swords in the league on just one prior occasion: Inter's 2-1 victory away against the Emilians in August.
REFEREE AND DISCIPLINE
Today will be the 140th time Andrea Gervasoni has officiated a Serie A contest and his ninth this season.
Inter have emerged victorious in four out of ten league games with Gervasoni in the middle but only once out of the last seven occasions – all played at home.
SUSPENDED:
Inter: -
Carpi: Cofie (one match), Gagliolo (one match).
ONE BOOKING AWAY FROM SUSPENSION:
Inter: Kondogbia, Medel, Melo, Miranda.
Carpi: Gabriel Silva, Lollo, Marrone.
