The San Siro is set for a compelling Serie A showdown as Inter Milan, still reeling from a shock Champions League exit, welcome a revitalized Genoa side on Saturday, February 28, 2026. While the Nerazzurri’s European dreams were dashed midweek by Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, their domestic ambitions remain firmly on track. Inter sits comfortably atop the Serie A table, boasting a ten-point cushion over city rivals AC Milan with just twelve matches left in the season.
The mood in Milan has been bittersweet. Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Bodo/Glimt saw Inter eliminated from the Champions League knockout playoff round, losing 5-2 on aggregate. It’s a stunning reversal for a club that had reached two of the last three finals, and the first time since 2020/21 that they’ll miss out on the last sixteen. Coach Cristian Chivu, who has endured five defeats in ten Champions League games at the helm, now faces the challenge of refocusing his squad for the Scudetto push.
"We have to move forward. The league is in our hands, and our fans deserve a response," Chivu remarked after the Bodo/Glimt loss, according to local press reports. The sentiment is clear: Inter must turn disappointment into determination as they return to their fortress, where they’ve won nine of their last eleven league matches (one draw, one loss).
Inter’s recent Serie A form is nothing short of spectacular. The Nerazzurri have won thirteen of their last fourteen league fixtures, including a seven-game winning streak heading into this weekend. Their away defensive record is especially impressive, with six consecutive clean sheets and a league-leading fourteen shutouts overall. However, home defensive solidity has wavered slightly, with only five clean sheets in thirteen matches at San Siro.
Team news for Inter is a mixed bag. Lautaro Martinez, the club’s talismanic forward, remains sidelined with a calf injury suffered in Norway and won’t return until next month. Alessandro Bastoni is suspended, meaning Carlos Augusto is expected to slot into the back three. Stefan de Vrij is also set to feature in the heart of defense, providing experience in Bastoni’s absence. In attack, Chivu will likely pair Marcus Thuram—who is eager to rediscover his scoring touch—with the energetic Ange-Yoan Bonny, preferred over Francesco Pio Esposito. Hakan Calhanoglu, a key creative force, is fit only for the bench after recent fitness issues, while Denzel Dumfries returns to the squad following more than three months out, though he may start as a substitute.
Federico Dimarco, Inter’s set-piece maestro, will be one to watch. With five goals and fourteen assists already this season, his delivery from the left has been a constant threat for opposition defenses. Midfield dynamo Nicolo Barella returns from suspension, eager to reassert his influence alongside Piotr Zielinski and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the engine room. The predicted Inter lineup reads: Sommer; Akanji, De Vrij, Carlos Augusto; Luis Henrique, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Bonny.
Genoa, meanwhile, arrive in Milan buoyed by a recent upturn in form under coach Daniele De Rossi, a former teammate of Chivu’s at Roma. The Grifone currently sit fourteenth in the table, three points clear of the relegation zone after a commanding 3-0 win over Torino last week. That victory snapped a three-game winless run and marked their second consecutive clean sheet—a sign that Genoa’s defensive issues may be behind them.
De Rossi’s side has shown resilience on the road, losing just two of their last eight away matches (two wins, four draws), including a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Milan at this very stadium in January. However, history is not on their side: Genoa haven’t left San Siro unbeaten against Inter since 2012 and have lost ten of their last thirteen top-flight encounters with the Nerazzurri, including a 2-1 defeat in December’s reverse fixture.
Injuries continue to plague Genoa’s defense. Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who sustained a muscular issue in the win over Torino, is out, while Sebastian Otoa is nursing an ankle problem and remains a doubt. Benjamin Siegrist, the backup goalkeeper, returns to the squad after three months out with a fractured finger, but is unlikely to start. The Genoa lineup is expected to feature: Bijlow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vasquez; Ellertsson, Frendrup, Malinovskyi, Martin; Baldanzi; Vitinha, Colombo.
Up front, Lorenzo Colombo is Genoa’s main attacking threat, having notched six goals in Serie A this campaign. He’ll be supported by the creative talents of Tommaso Baldanzi, Ruslan Malinovskyi, and Vitinha, all of whom have played pivotal roles in Genoa’s resurgence. "We know what we’re up against, but we believe in ourselves," De Rossi stated in his pre-match press conference. "Inter are strong, but football is about moments. We’ll try to seize ours."
Much of Genoa’s hope will rest on keeping things tight early. The statistics are daunting: Inter have scored a league-high thirteen goals after the 80th minute this season and have netted multiple goals in four of their five home league matches in 2025. Conceding first has been a death knell for Genoa on the road, as they’ve managed just one point from losing positions away from home all season.
The tactical battle between Chivu and De Rossi adds another layer of intrigue. Both managers, young and ambitious, have instilled discipline and energy into their squads. For Chivu, the challenge is keeping his players focused after the European disappointment and ensuring the Scudetto charge doesn’t falter. For De Rossi, it’s about harnessing Genoa’s momentum and springing a surprise at one of Italian football’s most intimidating venues.
Fans in the UK can catch all the action live on TNT Sports 1 and DAZN, with kickoff set for 7:45pm BST. The fixture also serves as a dress rehearsal for Inter ahead of their Coppa Italia semi-final against Como next Tuesday—a quick turnaround that will test squad depth and mental fortitude.
With both teams hungry for points—Inter to tighten their grip on the title, Genoa to edge further from danger—expect an intense contest under the San Siro lights. Whether Inter’s home dominance continues or Genoa can pull off a shock remains to be seen. For now, all eyes turn to Milan, where the next chapter in this storied Serie A season is about to unfold.