Inter resume title tussle with Juventus as Serie A rocked by racism again
Fresh from winning the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh on Monday, Inter trail league leaders Juve by a single point after their closest rivals took advantage of Simone Inzaghi's team's league absence last weekend.
Inter are playing catch-up for the first time since late October when they reclaimed top spot from AC Milan, and they could go into Sunday's clash four points off the pace.
Juve, who are alone at the top of Serie A for the first time since August 2020, host struggling Empoli on a run of seven straight wins in all competitions and new inspiration in front of goal.
"There are other strong teams who want to win the league as much as we do. It's going to be a battle right to the end with Juve and Milan," said Inzaghi at FIFA's The Best awards last week.
Massimiliano Allegri's traditionally stodgy Juve side have scored 18 times in their five matches since the turn of the year, with Dusan Vlahovic netting five as he rediscovers his scoring touch.
Saturday's fixture is the last in a run of accommodating games against the division's lesser lights for Juve. They will then come to Milan to take on Inter in a match which could define the title race. Juve don't have European football this season, so have more time to prepare for games.
Meanwhile Inter - who played Lazio and Napoli in Saudi Arabia - have to travel to Roma before their Champions League campaign resumes with the visit of Atletico Madrid. Inter travel to Florence with key midfielders Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu suspended, making an already tricky trip even tougher.
Fiorentina are fourth and aiming to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2009. They should have star forward Nicolas Gonzalez back from injury. Before Inter kick-off in Tuscany,
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