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Inter logo
Serie A
May 26, 2019 at 7.30pm UK
 
Empoli logo

2-1

Balde (51'), Nainggolan (81')
Balde (90')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Junior Traore (76')
Perucchini (90')

Luciano Spalletti confident Inter Milan can secure top-four spot

Spalletti confident Inter can secure top-four spot
© Reuters
Inter are one point above their rivals AC.

Luciano Spalletti believes Inter Milan are used to the "important emotional element" that comes with a pivotal fixture as they look to seal Champions League qualification.

With Empoli hovering one point above the relegation zone in Serie A, Inter's head coach is aware that his side must be firing on all cylinders when they meet at the San Siro on Sunday evening.

A win will guarantee a top-four position in the league and a place in next season's elite European club competition, but the Nerazzurri have been in indifferent form of late.

Since defeating bitter rivals AC Milan in mid-March, Inter have collected only 13 points from an available 27 – the same number as their next opponents – with only three victories in that period.

Spalletti stressed the need for Inter to believe in themselves, telling a press conference broadcast on his club's website: "There's certainly an important emotional element to it, but we're used to that.

"I think that the team have learned the right lessons to come into this match prepared to deal with the emotional factor that such a game can generate.

"We need to believe in ourselves and show the mental strength to get a result.

"Empoli are doing well at the moment. However, it's clear that sometimes high stakes can cancel out what's gone on before.

"You need to do well in terms of performing the best you possibly can. I hope the team manage to display all the ingredients they have shown in many games.

"The only thing we're focused on is bringing Champions League football back to Inter."

Spalletti confirmed Stefan De Vrij is available to take his place at the heart of Inter's backline following a thigh injury that has forced him to miss the last two games, while forward Matteo Politano is also fit.

Empoli also need a win to make certain of their top-flight status.

Head coach Aurelio Andreazzoli said rather diplomatically of Spalletti in quotes on Empoli's website: "We hope we are both happy at the end.

"A great challenge awaits us. We are satisfied with what we have done so far. We could perhaps have done something more, but the team is now growing.

"The race is extremely important, we're going to play against an excellent team.

"It will all be very difficult but it is a challenge that we must face with the right attitude, without anxiety but with the pleasure of going to play a race to remember."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CInter Milan34285181186389
2AC Milan34217664392570
3Juventus341811547262165
4Bologna351713549272264
5Roma34178961412059
6Atalanta BCAtalanta331761061372457
7Lazio34174134335855
8Fiorentina331481150371350
9Napoli341311105243950
10Torino351114103131047
11Monza341111123644-844
12Genoa341012123840-242
13Lecce34812143149-1836
14CagliariCagliari34711163659-2332
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona34710173145-1431
16FrosinoneFrosinone34710174363-2031
17Empoli3487192650-2431
18Udinese34417133251-1929
19SassuoloSassuolo3468204070-3026
RSalernitana3429232673-4715


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