After failing to take advantage of another slip from their Scudetto rivals, Inter Milan will aim to seize top spot on Saturday evening, when they welcome Genoa to San Siro.

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Going down 1-0 to old foes Juventus on Sunday night saw Inter stay two points behind Napoli with 13 rounds remaining, as the Italian title race reaches a crucial juncture.

Despite dominating the first half in Turin, with Denzel Dumfries and captain Lautaro Martinez both missing chances, the Nerazzurri were ultimately left empty-handed after Francisco Conceicao finished past Yann Sommer in the 74th minute.

As a result, Inter have lost two of their last three league games - as many defeats as throughout the previous 54 - and questions are being asked about whether the reigning champions are in need of a Manchester City-style refresh this summer.

Between now and then, Simone Inzaghi's squad still have plenty to play for, with a Champions League last-16 tie scheduled midway through next month, after tackling Inzaghi's old club Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

First, Inter resume league duty, aiming to win three successive Serie A home games for the first time this season - and for the first time since last March, when they won nine in a row en route to the title.

Against teams in the bottom half this term, the second-city side have racked up 11 wins and two draws from 13 matches, while their recent record against Genoa is even better.

Inter have won the teams' last 10 league meetings at San Siro by an aggregate scoreline of 27-2, and the last time they lost this equivalent fixture was way back in 1994.

Without a league win over the Nerazzurri anywhere in 11 attempts, Genoa have at least drawn three of the clubs' last four encounters - including a 2-2 result at Marassi on this season's opening matchday, when Junior Messias netted a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.

Rejuvenated under ex-Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira, the Grifone have gradually pulled away from the drop zone after making a slow start, and Monday's clash with relegation-threatened Venezia brought maximum points.

Top scorer Andrea Pinamonti finally broke the deadlock with less than 10 minutes remaining, before Maxwel Cornet's first goal in Rossoblu colours sealed the deal; securing three consecutive Serie A home victories without conceding for the first time since 2010.

That success also took Vieira's men up to 11th place, leapfrogging Torino, and their next target will be overtaking Udinese to claim a top-half finish.

Since the French coach's arrival, Genoa have kept the most clean sheets of any team in Italy's top tier - seven in 13 matches - but they must submit themselves to the ultimate test on Saturday.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram

Genoa possible starting lineup:

Leali; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Masini; Cornet, Messias, Miretti; Pinamonti