FLORENCE – Fiorentina and Inter will do battle today at the Stadio Buozzi to decide which of them will advance to the quarter-finals of the Primavera Tim Cup. Here are the starting line-ups for the clash, which gets underway at 14:30:

FIORENTINA: 1 Bardini; 3 Mancini, 2 Bagadur, 4 Gigli, 6 Zanon; 5 Petriccione, 8 Diakhate; 7 Minelli, 10 Bangu, 11 Peralta; 9 De Poli.
Substitutes: 12 Bertolacci, 13 Papini, 14 Masciangelo, 15 Boccardi, 16 Sanna, 17 Bitunjac, 18 Dabro, 19 Ansini, 20 Chiesa, 21 Berardi, 22 Pagnini, 23 Di Curzio.
Coach: Federico Guidi.

INTER: 1 Radu; 2 Gyamfi, 5 Yao, 6 Donkor, 3 Dimarco; 8 Palazzi, 4 Dabo, 10 Gnoukouri; 7 Camara, 9 Bonazzoli, 11 Puscas.
Substitutes: 12 Costa, 13 Crosato, 14 Pinton, 15 Miangue, 16 Sciacca, 17 Steffè, 18 Rocca, 19 Baldini, 20 Ventre, 21 Di Gregorio, 22 Appiah, 23 Romney.
Coach: Stefano Vecchi. Referee: Andreini (Forlì).
Assistants: Capaldo and Diomaiuta.

APPIANO GENTILE – Roberto Mancini gave his squad a rest day yesterday, but it was back to work for the Nerazzurri this morning as they step up preparations for Sunday night’s match against Udinese.

On their arrival at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti, the players were divided into two groups. Things kicked off with a gym session, before heading outside to focus on tactical work. The Nerazzurri will be back on the training pitch this afternoon.

MILAN – It was an evening to catch up with old friends and pass on regards. Above all, it was an evening to renew the attendees’ collective commitment to the PUPI Foundation with togetherness and solidarity.

“Like Christmas, we get to say hello to all of our friends who are always with us through the Foundation and always make themselves available for us. The aim is to continue developing and helping children to grow up and learn values that can help them for their whole lives,” began Zanetti.

There was also time for a comment on the current Nerazzurri team: “I saw an Inter side that will certainly grow. We played a great team in Roma, who’ve been strong for a good while now. We should build on the positives we showed on Sunday. I believe that Mancini and the lads will do a great job.

“As a club, it’s our job to be prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure the season is a success. There are three matches left until the break, at which point we’ll sit down with Mancini. We’ll evaluate what’s needed in order to ensure that we keep growing,” explained the Nerazzurri vice-president.

The Argentine then gave his take on Sunday’s clash with Udinese: “Stramaccioni and Stankovic? It’ll be great to see them. They’re doing well at Udinese. I hope they are successful there, just not on Sunday!” said Zanetti with a wry smile. “We’ll be ready,” he added.

Finally, there was a word for Icardi and Kovacic: “They’re the future of Inter. They’re very young but we have a lot of belief in them. The most important thing is that those who wear the shirt feel proud and transmit the Nerazzurri values.”

MILAN – Italy U15s coach Antonio Rocca has included five Inter players in his squad for the upcoming Torneo di Natale, which will be held at Coverciano’s Centro Tecnico Federale between 5 and 8 December.

Nicola Tintori, Davide Grassini, Thomas Schirò and Davide Merola are the youngsters selected to represent the Nerazzurri at national level. 

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