Inter, no Lazio for Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Pio Esposito

Inter Milan will have to do without Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Pio Esposito in the first confrontation against Lazio, scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Turkish director continues to work on the sidelines because of a left leg soleus strain, and his recovery ahead of Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final, again against the Biancocelesti at the Olimpico, looks complicated. The absolute protagonist in the return semifinal against Como, with a brace and the decisive assist for the comeback signed by Petar Sučić, Calhanoglu is still hoping to be there for the last act, although he remains strongly at risk.

No particular alarm instead for Pio Esposito: the striker suffered a severe contusion to his rib in the match against Parma Calcio and will observe a round of rest for precautionary purposes. For the Coppa Italia final, however, he will be regularly available and will start initially from the bench.

This season Calhanoglu has collected 30 appearances, netting 12 goals and 7 assists, numbers more like a striker than a director. Heavy goals, coming at decisive moments, such as the 2-1 win against Roma and the brace in the Coppa Italia semifinal against Como. Numbers that testify to how much his absence weighs in the formation choices of Chivu, who considers him an indispensable element of his own system of play.

Pio Esposito took part on Thursday in the funeral of Evaristo Beccalossi, the historic Nerazzurri number 10 who passed away on May 6 at the age of 69. The striker was present in Brescia along with vice president Javier Zanetti and sporting director Piero Ausilio to pay tribute to one of the club’s legends. During the ceremony, Don Marco Pasinato remembered Beccalossi with affectionate words, while the officiating priest expressed the hope that the Nerazzurri’s 21st Scudetto, won this very season, could be dedicated to him.