Genoa 0 - 5 Internazionale

Genoa v Internazionale: Preview

Updated: October 16, 2009, 12:57 PM UK

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is expecting an open encounter against Genoa tomorrow but looks likely to be without striker Samuel Eto'o for the trip to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

The Cameroon frontman admitted yesterday he was still being troubled by a right foot injury sustained on international duty and is a major doubt for tomorrow evening's Serie A match.

Mourinho said: "He must train and show that he is in the right condition to play. It does not seem appropriate to take him to Genoa just for the trip.''

Former Genoa striker Diego Milito is also expected to miss the showdown against his old club with a thigh injury, meaning David Suazo will probably get the nod to partner Mario Balotelli up front.

"He (Suazo) could be a major player in tomorrow's game,'' said Mourinho.

"David is a very fast striker who can cause danger if he has space. In this sense, the match against Genoa might be suited to him because our opponents are not afraid to play.''

The Nerazzurri lead the way in Serie A, level on 16 points with Sampdoria after seven matches.

But the Inter boss reckons fifth-placed Genoa will provide the defending champions with a stern test as both look to pick up after the international break on a positive note.

"Against Genoa will be a lot of dialogue, not monologue,'' said the Portuguese, who will give late fitness checks to Thiago Motta and Marco Materazzi ahead of the clash.

"It will be two teams that will be play openly.''

He added: "We are not yet able to tell who will travel. I can only say that we have had many difficulties since the start of the season. When we have fielded players who joined the team last summer, we've always won and played very well. When one of them has been away we have had more difficulty.

"No matter who plays tomorrow night, it will always be a challenging team for opponents. Genoa are a good team, difficult to face. But if someone asked the same question to the Genoa coach or players, they would say that Inter have the same characteristics.''

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini has a number of absentees to contend with ahead of Inter's visit.

Midfielder Houssine Kharja became the latest casualty for the hosts when he hurt his right knee during training this week.

He joins suspended midfielder Giandomenico Mesto on the sidelines this weekend, while the Rossoblu are also still without injured defenders Giuseppe Biava, Domenico Criscito and Sokratis Papastathopoulos and midfielders Bosko Jankovic and Ivan Juric.

Genoa president Enrico Preziosi admits Inter are stronger than his team when compared player to player but, like Mourinho, expects a battle tomorrow.

He told Radio Kiss Kiss: "Gasperini has always put out competitive teams. And we are playing at home, so we can put them in great difficulty.

"However, one on one, Inter are the stronger team.''