Preseason friendlies: Inter vs. Betis Sevilla, probable lineups
Inter will face off against Betis Sevilla in a friendly match scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the San Nicola in Bari, one week before the start of the league season. Cristian Chivu expects further progress seven days after the convincing victory over Juventus.
Stones could make his debut from the start, with Akanji and Bastoni flanking him. In midfield are Barella, Calhanoglu, and Zielinski, while Diouf and Dimarco will play on the wings. Up front, pending the return of Lautaro Martinez—who is doing everything he can to get back into top form quickly—Bonny and Pio Esposito will start. Marcus Thuram is further behind in his fitness and is expected to be left out of the match.
Pellegrini’s Betis will field a front three of Antony, Riquelme, and Deossa. In midfield, Isco will play alongside Facundo and Fornals, while the fullbacks will be Bellerin and Garcia. The Andalusian side comes into this match in good form: in their summer friendlies, they’ve recorded three wins in their last four outings, including a victory over Arsenal.
Inter vs. Betis: Probable Lineups
INTER (3-5-2): Martinez; Akanji, Stones, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Bonny, Esposito. Coach: Chivu
REAL BETIS (4-3-3): Valles; Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Garcia; Facundo, Fornals, Isco; Antony, Riquelme, Deossa. Coach: Pellegrini
On the transfer front, with Stones and Spence now on board, Inter is working to round out the roster with one final signing. The sale of Davide Frattesi to Lazio has freed up space in Inter’s midfield, but the funds needed to finalize the Curtis Jones deal still depend on another departure: that of Luis Henrique, for whom Roma has stepped forward with an offer of around 30 million euros, including bonuses. With the proceeds from the Brazilian’s sale, the club based on Viale della Liberazione aims to finalize a deal with Liverpool for the English midfielder, whom the Reds value at around 35–40 million, though their stance could soften as the transfer window nears its close.
