Mkhitaryan to Start for Inter Against Cagliari

In Round 33 of the Italian championship, Inter will host Cagliari at home. The match will take place on April 17 at San Siro Stadium in Milan and will kick off at 20:45 local time. The main news for the Nerazzurri fans is that Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan returns to the starting lineup after two games in which he only appeared as a substitute.

Relying on Experience and Squad Depth

Inter head coach Cristian Chivu has once again opted for rotation, taking into account the busy schedule and squad absences. Josep Martínez will start in goal, while the defensive line will consist of Manuel Akanji, Stefan de Vrij, and Carlos Augusto. In midfield, Mkhitaryan will join captain Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, adding balance and creativity to the team.

In attack, due to the absence of Lautaro Martínez, the partnership of Marcus Thuram and Francesco Pio Esposito has been chosen.

A Brotherly Derby in Milan

An additional intrigue of the match is the Esposito brothers’ showdown. If Francesco Pio starts for Inter, Sebastiano Esposito will line up for the visitors from the first minute. Such family duels in Serie A are rare and are sure to attract extra attention.

Tournament Situation

Inter confidently lead the standings and, after their win over Como, extended the gap to their closest pursuer to nine points. Chivu’s side are one step away from the championship title and aim to navigate the final stretch of the season without setbacks.

Cagliari, on the other hand, are fighting to retain their place in the top flight. Fabio Pisacane’s team has taken points from favorites on several occasions, but traditionally find away matches more challenging.