Internazionale v St-Étienne background
Monday, October 6, 2014
Article summary
FC Internazionale Milano and AS Saint-Étienne are both protecting unblemished UEFA Europa League Group F defensive records as they prepare to meet in Italy.
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Article body
Goalmouth action may be at a premium in UEFA Europa League Group F, with FC Internazionale Milano and AS Saint-Étienne both yet to concede after two games.
Form guide
• Inter's home record against French clubs is not wholly convincing: W6 D3 L3 (W2 D1 L2 since the turn of the millennium).
• Inter and ACF Fiorentina are the only sides along with Legia Warszawa to have picked up six points without conceding a goal in this season's group stage. In fact, Italy's four-team contingent are unbeaten thus far, posting seven wins and a draw between them. Their combined goal difference is 15 for and just one against.
• St-Étienne are the only side to have recorded goalless draws in both of their opening group stage games.
• Inter are the only team to have found the net so far in Group F.
• Inter are unbeaten in eight European home matches (W5 D3) since a 2-0 loss to HNK Hajduk Split in the 2012/13 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round. St-Étienne are without a win in three European away fixtures (D1 L2).
Trivia and links
• Inter's Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarín played for St-Étienne from 2006 until 2008, when he moved on to FC Porto. St-Étienne were his first club in Europe.
• Inter's French midfielder Yann M'Vila is up against three team-mates from his first club, Stade Rennais FC (2009-13): defender Kévin Théophile-Catherine, forward Mevlüt Erdinç and midfielder Fabien Lemoine.
• Théophile-Catherine and Inter's Gary Medel played together in the English Premier League with Cardiff City FC last season.
The coaches
• In charge at Inter since May 2013, Walter Mazzarri was a journeyman midfielder who worked his way up the divisions as a coach. After a notable spell at UC Sampdoria, he led SSC Napoli to Coppa Italia glory in 2011/12 and a runners-up finish in Serie A the following season before switching to Inter.
• A defender for hometown club Olympique de Marseille, LOSC Lille and Toulouse FC among others, St-Étienne boss Christophe Galtier took up his current position in 2009, helping Les Verts to win the 2012/13 French Cup. He had previously assisted Alain Perrin and Richard Tardy, working in England and Greece as well as France.
