MILAN – San Siro is the stage as Inter prepare to host Roberto Donadoni's Bologna for a Saturday night Serie A showdown later today.
With a helping hand from our friends over at Opta, we bring you all the numbers you need to know ahead of tonight's 20:45 CET encounter at the Meazza.
HEAD-TO-HEADS
This is the 138th top-flight meeting between these two sides with the Nerazzurri holding the upper hand in previous fixtures: they have 65 wins to Bologna's 39 and 30 draws.
The results are perfectly even in the last six Serie A match-ups, when there have been two victories for either side and two draws.
The two most frequent scorelines when these teams meet are 2-1 and 1-0 to Inter, both occurring 16 times. The reverse fixture ended 0-1 to Roberto Mancini's men, Mauro Icardi grabbing the decisive goal.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN MILAN
Inter have claimed victory more than half the time when Bologna are in town: their home record against the Rossoblu reads W38, D20, L10.
Bologna have failed to find the net in just one of their last eight league visits to the Meazza
FORM BOOK
Inter have been inconsistent of late and not managed to record the same result two games running in their last eight Serie A games (DLWDLWLW). They beat Palermo 3-1 in San Siro last week.
Their home form has been much better, with three straight wins (against Chievo, Samp and Palermo) and a draw in their last four.
The Nerazzurri have been leaking goals in their own back yard, however, with just one clean sheet in their last six games at San Siro. This is in complete contrast to their first eight home matches, seven of which ended with no goals conceded.
Bologna's last three Serie A encounters have all ended goalless and there have been just four goals scored in total in the last six league fixtures involving Donadoni's side.
The Rossoblu have claimed three points from four of their last six away trips (a draw and a defeat completing the half dozen), conceding just once in that time.
GENERAL STATS
Bologna have attempted fewer shots than any other side in Serie A this season: 292.
The Rossoblu share with Torino the record for fewest headed goals in 2015/16: just two from 28 games.
Bologna (one) and Inter (two) are the teams who have conceded fewest goals from outside the box in the top flight this year.
Today's visitors to the Meazza have, however, let in more penalties (five) than anyone else.
Bologna have struggled for goals in the second half of matches this season, finding the net just 14 times after the interval (the third lowest haul in Serie A).
Both sides have scored 10 goals from set pieces so far (11 is the Serie A average). Inter have netted five times from corners; only AC Milan (with seven) have done better.
Inter have also taken the second-most corners in 2015/16 (172), behind Lazio (186).
Bologna are the only team yet to have conceded from a corner this season, or indeed any set play other than penalties.
Bologna have conceded just three headed goals in the current campaign; only AC Milan and Juventus (two each) have done better.
The Rossoblu are the only team yet to concede a goal in the opening 15 minutes of play this season and boast Serie A's joint-best defensive record in the first half, conceding just seven times before the break (the same number as Juventus). However, in the last quarter of an hour only Atalanta and Frosinone (13) have let in more than Bologna's 11 goals.
Inter have not won a single league game in 2015/16 after finding themselves in a losing position. Of the ten times they have trailed their opponents they have managed to recover just three draws.
PLAYERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Eder scored twice and served up two assists against Bologna in Serie A while at Sampdoria.
Mauro Icardi is the scorer of Inter's last three goals against Bologna in Serie A. He bagged a brace at the Meazza in April 2014 then notched the winner at the Dall'Ara last October. The Nerazzurri skipper has four goals in his last six appearances and three in his last three outings at San Siro.
Inter are one of just five teams that Mattia Destro has faced in the top flight and not managed to score against. The former Roma man has notched eight goals this term but only one away from home (at Udinese). The striker has already equalled his personal best for assists in a single campaign (three). If he scores tonight, he will celebrate his 50th Serie A goal.
Between them Destro and Emanuele Giaccherini have played an active part in 17 of Bologna's 29 goals this season (59%).
Midfielder Giaccherini has already got his name on the scoresheet six times this season, meaning he is just one away from equalling his personal best goals total in a single campaign (he managed seven with Cesena in 2010/11).
Saphir Taider could face his former club tonight: he made 25 appearances and scored one goal for the Nerazzurri in 2013/14.
Mattia Destro, Lorenzo Crisetig and Ibrahima Mbaye all came through the Inter youth ranks but only Mbaye made his Serie A debut for the club (he played four times last season before joining Bologna). Crisetig turned out for Inter in a Champions League match in September 2011.
Jonathan Biabiany scored twice and set up three goals against Bologna in his Parma days. Palermo are the only team he has scored more goals against in Serie A (three).
Adem Ljiajc found his scoring boots against Palermo after going 11 games without a goal.
Ivan Perisic also starred in the 3-1 defeat of Palermo last Sunday with a goal and an assist. It is the second time in five matches that the winger has been both scorer and provider.
Bologna are Danilo D'Ambrosio's favourite target: the full-back scored twice against the Rossoblu - both headers - while at Torino.
Daniele Gastaldello scored his first Serie A goal in Inter 1-1 Siena back in May 2006.
Robert Acquafresca has notched three goals against Inter over the course of his career – two at Cagliari and one with Bologna. Udinese are the only side he has scored more against (four) in Serie A.
COACHES
Roberto Mancini came through the Bologna youth set-up and made his Serie A debut with the Rossoblu in 1981/82 (scoring nine goals that year). As a coach, he has faced Bologna nine times in the top flight, winning four, drawing three and losing two. He's unbeaten against them with Inter (W2 D1).
Roberto Donadoni has met Inter 12 times in his coaching career (W4, D2, L6) and has never beaten the Nerazzurri at San Siro (two draws and five defeats). Donadoni is yet to defeat Mancini as a coach, recording a draw and two defeats from their three meetings.
REF AND DISCIPLINE
Gianpaolo Calvarese is set to officiate his 71st Serie A match this evening, his 14th this season.
Calvarese has produced nine red cards in 2015/16 (seven for a second yellow and two straight reds) – more than any other referee. He has overseen this fixture once before in Serie A: in March 2013 it finished Inter 0-1 Bologna.
That is the only time Bologna have won a game overseen by Calvarese. Of the four other occasions, they lost three and drew one.
Inter have met Cavarese six times in the top flight: two defeats were followed by three wins and a draw.
SUSPENDED
Inter: -
Bologna: -
ONE BOOKING AWAY FROM SUSPENSION
Inter: Kondogbia, Palacio, Telles.
Bologna: Destro, Diawara, Taïder.
