MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 29: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring their team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and ACF Fiorentina at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Inter could surprise Juventus by throwing Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolò Barella straight back into the starting XI after their recovery from injury.
It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET) on Saturday.
The Derby d’Italia arrives with the Nerazzurri on sparkling form, having picked up 34 out of an available 36 points on their current Serie A run, stumbling only in a 2-2 draw with reigning Champions of Italy Napoli.
They also have almost an empty treatment room, as only Denzel Dumfries remains out of action following ankle surgery.
Inter bring back star midfielders
Calhanoglu returned to training on Tuesday for the first time since spraining his left soleus muscle against Napoli on January 11.
Barella had a right thigh issue just before the Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund on January 28.
Considering the long lay-offs and importance of the match, it had been assumed that both would start on the bench against Juventus.
If anyone was going to step in, then it would be Barella in place of Petar Sucic.
However, Sky Sport Italia are increasingly suggesting that Cristian Chivu could throw both midfielders into the starting XI, keeping hold of Piotr Zielinski.
It would send Sucic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to the sidelines to begin with.
In defence, he seems confident of sticking with Yann Bisseck, Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni.
Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, M Thuram