MILAN – FC Internazionale is delighted to announce a new partnership with Toshiba Medical Systems, one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-quality medical imaging equipment. Under the terms of the agreement, Toshiba Medical Systems will supply the FC Internazionale medical staff with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. Toshiba Medical Systems will receive a range of benefits including branding at the first team and youth academy training centres, visibility through the club’s digital channels, as well as networking opportunities in the sports medicine industry. “We are proud to welcome Toshiba Medical Systems on board as Official Medical Systems Partner,” said Michael Bolingbroke, CEO of Inter. “Toshiba has a reputation of excellence in its field and we look forward to building a strong relationship together.” Pasquale Rossi, president of Toshiba Medical Systems Italy, added:
“Toshiba Medical Systems is proud to strengthen its commitment to sports medicine and player wellbeing. Our partnership with Inter offers Toshiba Medical Systems a unique opportunity to provide leading-edge medical equipment to top athletes playing at the very highest level of competition. I am sure that our relationship with Inter shall be a long and successful one.” ]]>

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Inter’s 474-minute European shutout
The Nerazzurri haven’t conceded a goal in European competition since Adebayor’s effort in the 96th minute of Inter 4-1 Tottenham on 14 March 2013. The remaining 24 minutes of that match (which went to extra time) plus the first five outings of this year’s competition (the two-legged playoff plus three group games) add up to a shutout lasting 474 minutes.

Mazzarri’s men 83 minutes away from longest European run without conceding
Another clean sheet tonight would set a new club record for minutes without conceding in Europe. The Nerazzurri have clocked up 474 minutes so far while the current record stands at 557 minutes, logged in the 1990/91 UEFA Cup between Stevanovic’s goal in the 62nd minute of Partizan 1-1 Inter (12 December 1990) and Rizzitelli’s strike in minute 80 of Roma 1-0 Inter (22 May 1991). Between those goals were the 28 remaining minutes in Belgrade, plus matches against Atalanta (0-0 in Bergamo, 2-0 in San Siro), Sporting Lisbon (0-0 in Portugal, 2-0 in Milan), the first leg against Roma at the Meazza (2-0) and the first 79 minutes at the Olimpico.

Les Verts firing blanks for 377 minutes
Saint-Etienne haven’t hit the net in Europe in 377 minutes. That barren run stretches back to Monnet-Paquet’s 13th-minute strike in a 1-0 home win over Karabukspor (after extra time). They have been goalless in the remaining 107 minutes of that game plus three 0-0 draws in Group F.

Vincic of Slovenia to officiate
Slovenia official Slavko Vincic, 34, an international referee since 2010, has been appointed for this match. He will be making his ninth appearance in European competition. It is his first time in charge of a game involving French or Italian sides.

0-0 a fortnight ago
This is the second competitive fixture between Saint-Etienne and Inter: their only previous meeting was in Matchday 3 this year, a goalless stalemate.

Saint-Etienne v Italy all square
This is Saint-Etienne’s fourth match-up with Italian clubs in traditional European cup competitions, the previous three yielding a home win, an away defeat and last month’s draw in Milan. Saint-Etienne also faced sides from Italy on two occasions in the Cup of Friendship (two wins over SPAL in 1961) and once in the Latin Cup (a 4-3 away defeat to AC Milan).

Inter on top against French outfits
Inter have faced French teams 27 times in official European competition with a record of W12, D8, L7. To that we can add three encounters in the Cup of Friendship and the Mundialito Club (two draws and one defeat). Inter will be playing on French soil in traditional European competition for the 14th time tonight: they have previously won five, drawn four and lost four.

SAINT-ETIENNE – It’s a big week for Inter on the European front with two meetings scheduled in as many days: the first on the field in Saint-Etienne, and the second away from the pitch in Nyon.

Managing director Marco Fassone discussed the significance of both of these during an interview with Inter Channel.

He began: “We’ve had our fair share of bad luck so far this season, particularly as far as injuries are concerned. Nonetheless we want to see the glass as half full heading into this fourth group game: we’re top and haven’t conceded any goals yet.

“This round of matches could well turn out to be decisive in many groups and it’s a key moment in ours too. We’ll be up against an in-form team with a great tradition buoyed by a stadium packed full of passionate fans from this football-loving city. Hopefully come tomorrow evening the outlook will be more serene.”

Saint-Etienne’s ground is currently under reconstruction, just as San Siro will be soon.

“Yes, between now and the end of 2015/16 and the Champions League final our stadium will undergo a makeover with improvements in comfort and safety at all levels. It means that by May 2016 fans will be able to enjoy the Inter experience in a significantly enhanced San Siro.”

Inter are one of a number of clubs that UEFA has summoned to Nyon.

“It’s right to set things straight,” Fassone continued. “Seven clubs have been called to UEFA. We’re not the seven worst but we’re among those who weren’t involved in European competition last year so didn’t get the call before.

“Financial Fair Play obliges clubs competing in European tournaments to keep their books in order and reduce losses to a minimum. We’re one of the clubs that haven’t been able to fit perfectly within those parameters over the last three years and that’s why we’ve been called by the UEFA commission for a preliminary meeting. We’ll be able to explain both what happened in the last three-year period and what we’re planning for the future to ensure that we fall completely within the FFP rules.

“On Friday we’ll be speaking to the investigatory chamber, not the adjudicatory chamber. They will collect the dossier and begin a process lasting several months – an exchange of information between the clubs involved and UEFA which will presumably lead to conclusions being made in spring.”

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