APPIANO GENTILE - Inter's fourth training session of the week took on a different form, with a friendly against Swiss side Lugano at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti. Frank de Boer's men got a good workout in, while Marco Andreolli returned to first-team action with a 30-minute run-out - his first since sustaining an injury on 21 November 2015 in a match between Real Sociedad and Sevilla.
The Nerazzurri coach picked a back four of Yao, Ranocchia, D'Ambrosio and Santon in front of Carrizo. Gnoukouri, Felipe Melo and Kondogbia made up the midfield three, while Gabigol and Biabiany played either side of Palacio. It was the Brazilian Gabigol who bagged the winner on 19 minutes, converting a penalty won by Palacio.
Inter dominated proceedings after the break and went close on a number of occasions. First the young Brazilian struck a curler after he was well found by the inspired Palacio. Then Mauro Icardi, who come on for the last 15 minutes in place of Biabiany, saw a fine piece of individual play thwarted by an excellent save from the opposition keeper.
In the second half, besides Andreolli and Icardi (who replaced Santon and Biabiany respectively), Medel (64 for Melo), Zonta (76 for Gnoukouri), Lombardoni (85 for Ranocchia) and N'Diaye (85 for Barbosa) all featured.
