Inter Milan V Juventus: 10 Things to Expect from Serie A's Big Clash in Week 9

Serie A is hotting up after belatedly starting due to the players strike, and it is proving to be more competitive than ever.

Now the glamorous fixtures are coming thick and fast, and this weekend provides a real treat with the Derby D'Italia.

Juventus travel to the Giuseppe Meazza to take on Inter Milan, and an exciting game awaits us due to some flaws both sides have displayed so far this season.

Inter Milan were in crisis after three games with only one point, which led to the sacking of Gian Piero Gasperini.

Claudio Ranieri has since improved things to an extent, winning two and losing two in the league, and winning two Champions League games.

Inter scored their first goal of the season at the Giuseppe Meazza, with Thiago Motta's winner against Chievo, so things are looking up.

Antonio Conte has guided Juventus to an unbeaten start, but had been stuck in a slump with four draws in five games until their 2-1 victory against a poor Fiorentina side on Tuesday night.

It was well deserved, but when Stevan Jovetic curled a delightful equaliser, it looked like it could be five draws in six games, until Alessandro Matri smashed in the winner to temporarily send Juventus back to the top of the league.

A mouth watering clash awaits us Saturday, so what can we expect?

Juventus: Alessandro Matri Will Score

Juventus have started well this season, but until recently, their strike force were firing blanks.

€15 million signing Mirko Vucinic has been frustrated with his form, scoring just once so far, and Antonio Conte switched to a 4-3-3 due to Alessandro Matri struggling to hit the back of the net too.

Things changed last weekend against Genoa, though, when Alessandro Matri, having been dropped the week before, reacted in the right way.

Matri has turned predator with two goals against Genoa and another Tuesday night, all of which were inside the penalty area.

Conte grew frustrated without a player capable of being the focal point to the attack, and Matri now seems to be capable of filling this void whether Juve line up with a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3.

Juventus are creating plenty of chances with creative players such as Andrea Pirlo capable of stretching the opposition with pinpoint accuracy to the wide players Vucinic and Simone Pepe, with Claudio Marchisio even keen to operate closer to the strikers.

Inter Milan will surely leave space that Juventus can exploit on a counter attack, and Matri should be capable of adding to his recent goal spurt.

Lichsteiner Can Be as Big of a Threat from Right Back as Maicon

Stephen Lichsteiner has made a superb start to the season with his new club, Juventus.

The 27-year-old joined Juve from Lazio for €10 million this year and seems to be worth that price tag.

Conte has set up in an adventurous manner this season and likes to use the width, and the Swiss international is a key part to this.

Lichsteiner has a terrific engine, like Maicon, and is relatively composed when in and around the opposition's penalty area before working hard to get back to defend when needed.

With Maicon back fit again for Inter, we can expect these full backs to affect this game in a really positive manner.

Inter Milan are operating with a narrow, diamond shape, 4-4-2 formation, which will allow Lichsteiner to enjoy plenty of the ball down the right flank, as Andrea Pirlo will inevitably pick him out on numerous occasions.

Conte has been happy for Lichsteiner to press on given that he has a natural centre back operating at left back in Giorgio Chiellini, who can shift across, with Leonardo Bonucci operating closer to right back when Lichsteiner ventures forward.

Juventus's main problem this season has been their left back position, and for now, Antonio Conte has looked to solve this problem by playing Chiellini there.

This should have meant a real solid left back defensively given his excellent form as a centre back, but it has not proven the case of late, with the former Fiorentina defender at fault for several goals, so Claudio Ranieri will be happy for Maicon to probe the Azzurri international early on, even if it means leaving space in behind.

Juventus: Antonio Conte Will Select a Three-Man Center Midfield

I expect Antonio Conte to select a three-man center midfield, with Arturo Vidal coming in next to Claudio Marchisio, just in front of Andrea Pirlo.

The Chilean is a valuable player for Juve in these big matches with his tireless work rate, and Juventus will not be prepared to sacrifice too much possession to Inter, and Vidal will help with this regard.

Vidal will also be able to give Marchisio the freedom to roam closer to the opposition's penalty area, where he can prove so deadly with his intricate passes and lively off the ball movement.

With Claudio Ranieri set on as many numbers in the midfield, it only makes sense for Juve to match up knowing they can maintain their width in a 4-3-3 with Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic pulling wide.

The latter has been operating in a new role from the left with the freedom to cut inside on his favoured right foot due to a lack of productivity from Milos Krasic and Pepe thriving from his favoured right wing role.

Juventus: Simone Pepe Will Run His Socks off

We can expect Simone Pepe to run tirelessly for 90 minutes against Inter.

He is an unselfish character who puts the team first, and evidence was there on Tuesday night when the right winger ran so much that he eventually came off with cramp.

Yuto Nagatomo will likely start as Inter's left back, and he can expect a torrid time.

The Japanese international struggled to cope with Christian Maggio when Napoli visited a few weeks ago, and this will give Pepe the confidence to replicate his recent form.

Plenty of Passion from Antonio Conte on the Sidelines

Antonio Conte has been a breath of fresh air since arriving at Juventus this summer.

By no means a tactical genius, Conte has principles that he sticks to, and they will entertain Juventini all season.

It is refreshing to see such perseverance with width, and Conte will be pleased it is earning results.

Just as entertaining are Conte's celebrations when his side scores, jumping and fist pumping.

He can also be seen pulling his wavy locks when Juventus are under pressure or miss a golden chance, so we will definitely see an animated Conte this weekend at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Inter Milan: Sneijder to Reannounce Himself as One of the Best in the World

Wesley Sneijder can only be vital to the success of this Inter side.

The Dutch international was injured for almost a month recently due to an abductor injury.

In that period, Inter lost two of their four games, conceding eight goals.

He's back now, though, and the team have won both games, conceding none.

Although Sneijder is not so much as a defensive player, his ability to pass intelligently and maintain possession means that Inter can dictate the tempo of games much more.

It is a big stage on Saturday in one of the show case matches in the Serie A calendar, and I fully expect Sneijder to relish the opportunity to announce that he is still among the best in the world.

His move to Manchester United broke down over excessive wages being asked, and it seems that Sneijder had struggled to come to terms with another season in Milan.

But he's back now and raring to go under Ranieri, who seems to have galvanised the squad and kept his tactics relatively simple.

A goal in the game at Atalanta on Wednesday night will only help his confidence, and his improved form will likely mean a fast rise up the league table for the Nerazzurri.

Inter Milan V Juventus Will Surely Give Us Plenty of Goals

Both sides have had their defensive problems this season and also possess top draw attacking talent, which suggests there will be goals in this game.

The styles of the two teams seem to be a good match in terms of serving up an enthralling game.

The width of Juventus should really stretch Inter when they lose the ball and mean extensive work by the Inter midfield to contain Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic.

By the same token, Juventus will concede the majority of the possession to Inter. One would think with Wesley Sneijder able to drop deeper in order to get on the ball a lot more, it would make a numerical mismatch.

Juventus: Marco Storari Will Be Adequate Cover for Gianluigi Buffon

Gianluigi Buffon picked up a shoulder injury towards the end of last week and was diagnosed with 10 days out injured.

Marco Storari has stepped in for the Genoa and Fiorentina games.

Storari has done fairly well, with his only possible mistake coming for the Andrea Caracciolo goal against Genoa, although his defence could be more to blame.

A trusted No. 2 and probably too good to be a back up with many calls during his time with Milan that he should be installed as the No. 1.

A solid shot stopper and very vocal with his back line, I expect Storari to be dependable even in this big game.

Inter Milan: A Confident Mauro Zarate

Mauro Zarate is much happier now under Claudio Ranieri than when he was under Gian Piero Gasperini.

Under the management of the latter, he was asked to play a wide role, which did not suit his game at all, but since Ranieri has come in, we have seen a happier Zarate who has been given the chance to play down the middle.

He has blossomed since scoring a vital winning goal in the Champions League group stage match against CSKA Moscow.

He has started the last three games, which Inter have taken seven points from (including an away Champions League match at Lille).

Potentially explosive when he is confident, Inter can expect some magic from Zarate, and it would seem that he is the perfect foil for a penalty area predator such as GiamPaolo Pazzini.

With Andrea Pirlo the deepest of the Juve central midfield, Inter would be able to exploit this by dropping Zarate deeper to combine with Wesley Sneijder and force Conte to play Arturo Vidal much deeper, which might allow Inter to dictate the tempo of the match with Juventus camped deep in their half.

Inter Milan: Christian Chivu to Continue a Promising Partnership with Lucio

Christian Chivu has been playing center back, his favoured position, with the injuries to Andrea Ranocchia and Walter Samuel.

The inclusion of Chivu gives Inter a partner for this dominant Lucio, who is a hybrid of what Ranocchia and Samuel offer the Nerazzurri, a blend of experience and strength with some ability on the ball to begin attacks once play is broken up.

A natural left footer, Chivu is able to sweep round Yuto Nagatomo when Inter are caught in possession high up the pitch.

The defence has conceded one goal in three games since his switch to the middle. German Denis scored for Atalanta Wednesday evening.

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