Brescia vs Inter Milan preview - Leonardo urges focus

Posted Friday, March 11, 2011 by PA

Inter Milan coach Leonardo knows his side must put all thought of next week's crunch Champions League clash at Bayern Munich aside when they visits Brescia on Friday.

The match at the Mario Rigamonti stadium will be crucial with second-placed Inter needing to keep up the pressure on league leaders AC Milan.

"We are just focusing on Friday's match," Leonardo said. "My players are really motivated for the game against Brescia and this is a good sign.

"For us it is fundamental to win but it is not going to be easy because Brescia are a difficult team to decipher.

"They don't give too many things away and they can play with a three-man defence and then switch to four.

"Brescia have been consistent at home while they have made life difficult for Udinese, Roma and Napoli on the road."

Inter have won their last four league games and thrashed Genoa 5-2 last time out.

They trail city rivals Milan by five points in the table, but Leonardo is confident they can make up the difference.

"We're going through a good spell and we will fight until the end," he said.

"There are still 10 games remaining including the Milan derby and we will take each game as it comes."

Brescia will be hoping to repeat the display that saw them hold third-place Napoli to a goalless draw in Naples last weekend.

Giuseppe Iachini's men are 19th in the standings, three points from safety and have claimed just two wins so far this year.

Brescia know they need to start picking up points and fast.

"We are ready to give an important display against Inter," said Brescia goalkeeper Michele Arcari. "We'll need a lot to get a positive result, among which luck will play an important part.

"We have to be fired up with the desire to do something important, putting all our heart into it."

Cristian Chivu, Thiago Motta, Walter Samuel, Esteban Cambiasso and Diego Milito are all on the injury list for Inter.

Brescia will be without suspended defender Pietro Accardi.