Inter vs. Bologna: stats and trivia

MILAN – Inter are set to take to the pitch for their second consecutive home game after their 6-0 demolition of Brescia: Sinisa Mihajlovic’s Bologna will be the next visitors to San Siro at 17:15 CEST on Sunday.

In collaboration with Opta, here are all the facts and figures that you need to know ahead of the matchday 30 clash in Serie A.

The upcoming showdown will be the 146th meeting between the two sides in Serie A. Inter’s league record against the Rossoblù reads as follows: 70 wins, 35 draws and 40 defeats. Earlier on in the season, the Nerazzurri came from behind to win at the Dall’Ara thanks to a double from Romelu Lukaku. A 2-1 Inter win has been the most frequent scoreline between these two sides in the Italian top flight (19 times). The Nerazzurri have had a tendency to score in the second half against Bologna, just like what happened in the reverse fixture this campaign: eight of Inter’s last nine goals against Bologna in Serie A were scored in the second period.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS AT SAN SIRO Inter and Bologna have met on 72 occasions at San Siro in the league, and there have been 40 home wins, 21 draws and eleven away victories. However, Inter have struggled somewhat in recent times against the Rossoblù at home: in the past seven meetings, they have won and drawn twice and lost on three occasions, including the last encounter between the sides (0-1 in February 2019 thanks to Santander’s winner).

STATE OF PLAYInter are unbeaten in their last eleven home matches in Serie A (six wins, five draws): the Nerazzurri haven’t remained undefeated for twelve successive home fixtures in a single season since May 2011. Antonio Conte’s side have accumulated 64 points so far. Since the start of the three points per win era, Inter have only done better on three occasions: in 2006/07 and 2007/08 under Mancini and in 2008/09 with Mourinho at the helm.

Bologna have picked up 38 points so far: this is their best tally after 29 fixtures since they accumulated 42 points in the 2010/11 season.

No team has kept fewer clean sheets than Bologna so far this Serie A season (two, level with Lecce): the Emilian side have conceded in each of their past 24 matches, currently the longest run in Serie A and a record negative streak for the Rossoblù in the Italian top flight.

GENERAL STATISTICSFollowing Eriksen’s goal against Brescia, Inter have now had 17 different goalscorers this season, more than any other side in Serie A and four more than they had during the whole of last year’s campaign. In all competitions, that figure is 18. And that’s not all: the Nerazzurri’s last eleven goals (scored over the past three matchdays) have been bagged by eleven different players.

Inter continue to be the side who have scored the most headed goals this campaign: following Gagliardini and D’Ambrosio’s headers against Brescia, the Nerazzurri have found the net 15 times in this manner. Meanwhile, Inter have conceded the fewest goals from headers during the current Serie A season (just two, the most recent being scored by Milan in February).

PLAYER FOCUSAntonio Candreva has been involved in ten goals this campaign (three goals and seven assists, all of which have come in home matches), one more than his tally across the past two seasons (2018/19 and 2017/18).

Only four Inter players have scored in at least three different competitions this season: Romelu Lukaku, Antonio Candreva, Nicolò Barella and Christian Eriksen.

Christian Eriksen has been involved in six goals in his last eight Inter matches in all competitions, scoring three and providing three assists.

Romelu Lukaku could become the fourth Inter player to score at least 20 goals in his first 30 matches during his first ever season in Serie A following on from Giuseppe Meazza in 1930, Stefano Nyers in 1949 and Ronaldo in 1998.

Samir Handanovic is one game away from drawing level with Franco Baresi (470) in 23rd place when it comes to the all-time Serie A appearance ranking.

In his four appearances as a starter this Serie A season, Alexis Sánchez has contributed to six goals (two goals, four assists).

Nicola Sansone has scored four goals against Inter in Serie A, the last one coming in February 2015 while he was on Sassuolo’s books.

FOUR FORMER INTER PLAYERS: PALACIO, MEDEL, POLI AND MBAYE

Rodrigo Palacio played 140 times for Inter in Serie A from 2012 to 2017, scoring 39 goals.

Ibrahima Mbaye spent part of his youth career at Inter and went on to make four appearances for the Nerazzurri during the 2014/15 campaign.

Andrea Poli was also once on Inter’s books: the midfielder featured 18 times for the Club in Serie A during the 2011/12 campaign.

Gary Medel played 91 times and scored once in the league when he was an Inter player.

COACHESAntonio Conte has encountered Bologna on seven occasions as a coach in Serie A: the current Inter boss has won five times, drawn twice and is yet to taste defeat. Conte has won all three of his matches against Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Sinisa Mihajlovic previously played for the Nerazzurri: he made 25 appearances and scored five goals for the Club in Serie A. Mihajlovic has come up against Inter 15 times as a coach in Serie A, winning four, drawing three and losing eight of those matches.

SUSPENSIONS

Inter: Skriniar (1)

Bologna: -

WALKING THE TIGHTROPE

Inter: de Vrij, D’Ambrosio, Gagliardini, Godín, Vecino

Bologna: Denswil