Serie A Preview: Inter Fans' Mafia Links Overshadow Weekend Fixtures

Inter Milan face a critical week as they prepare for their Champions League clash and the Milan derby, with Sunday's Serie A match against Monza taking a back seat. The team is navigating a period of heightened scrutiny following the recent murder of a mobster, which has exposed troubling connections between organized crime and the club's passionate supporters.

Inter Milan will be hoping to extend their early Serie A lead with a win against Monza. Coach Simone Inzaghi is expected to rotate his squad, possibly resting key players ahead of Wednesday's high-stakes Champions League rematch against Manchester City, the same opponent they faced in the 2023 final.

The match against Manchester City, a highlight of the eight-match league phase, follows closely behind the Milan derby, which is set to further test Inter's resilience. Inzaghi's team clinched last season's Scudetto with five matches to spare by defeating AC Milan and will look to maintain momentum through these crucial fixtures.

Currently, Inter leads Serie A on goal difference ahead of Juventus, who face Empoli on Saturday. Milan, also on seven points and trailing Inter by five, will host Venezia at the San Siro. AC Milan's new coach, Paulo Fonseca, is under pressure after a rocky start, with Tuesday's match against Liverpool adding to the strain.

Tammy Abraham is poised to make his first start for Milan alongside Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, as Alvaro Morata recovers from a thigh injury. Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez are expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested against Lazio.

Off the pitch, Inter Milan faces serious concerns following the killing of Antonio Bellocco, a reputed member of the 'Ndrangheta mafia, by Andrea Beretta, a leader of the club's hardcore "ultras". The murder has led to heightened police surveillance of Beretta's family due to fears of violent retaliation and has raised alarms about mafia infiltration into supporter groups.

Bellocco's death is particularly shocking due to his high status within the mafia, bringing to light the dark connections between organized crime and football supporters. This incident follows the murder of another prominent ultra leader, Vittorio Boiocchi, in October 2022, whose criminal activities included significant earnings from his role.

Player to Watch: Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman, the standout performer in last season's Europa League, has yet to feature for Atalanta this season following a transfer request to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite being benched during Atalanta's loss to Inter Milan, Lookman is expected to play in Sunday's match against Fiorentina, as the Gewiss Stadium nears the completion of its rebuild.

With a Champions League match against Arsenal on the horizon, coach Gian Piero Gasperini will rely on Lookman's talents to bolster his squad for these crucial upcoming fixtures.