We have reached the final weekend of the Italian Serie A and there is all to play for in the race for Champions League football. On Sunday, Inter Milan host Empoli in the San Siro knowing a win would be enough to see them finish in the top four.
However, with AC Milan and Roma waiting below them, a defeat could prove very costly and Inter Milan could drop out of the top four places. Empoli also have a big fight on their hands as they attempt to avoid relegation to Serie B. A point could be enough but they need to win to ensure they avoid the drop.
It is going to be a big occasion at San Siro and Inter come into the match having won only one of their previous five Serie A games. The win was at home against Chievo Verona two weeks ago but last weekend they slumped to a 4-1 loss at Napoli.
In addition to the defeat at Napoli, Inter Milan have been held to a draw by Roma and Juventus at home plus Udinese away.
However, despite not winning many matches recently, Inter Milan have lost one of their last eight league games. Home form is Serie A shows they have lost just one of their last seven on home soil but have won just one of the last five.
Inter Milan have been very good defensively, keeping ten clean sheets in their last fifteen and conceding no more than 1 goal in an individual game.
Empoli FC have been on a good run towards the end of the season as they battle to remain in Serie A. They have won each of their last three matches with the victories coming at home against Fiorentina and Torino and away to Sampdoria.
However, their overall away form has been terrible and the win at Sampdoria was their first in eighteen attempts. They have lost fourteen of those eighteen matches and have failed to score a goal in four of the last eight.
The only thing they have going for them is that three of their last four defeats have only been by a single goal, the 2-1 and 1-0 defeats at Roma and Juventus being good examples.
Looking ahead to the team news and Inter Milan will be without injured full-back Sime Vrsaljko who has been out for some time. Stefan de Vrij is suffering from a thigh injury and is battling to be fit for the game.
Empoli are definitely without the injured Antonino La Gumina and have doubts over the fitness of Lorenzo Polvani and Luca Antonelli.
This is going to be a very intriguing game. We may not see many goals as both teams have not been scoring freely and prefer to try and keep things tight. However, Inter Milan have the superior quality and should do enough to win the game.