Marko Arnautovic Benched for Inter Milan vs Bologna Due to Back Injury Management

Arnautovic's Ongoing Fitness Struggles Shake Up Inter's Lineup

The pre-game headlines promised a reunion: Marko Arnautovic facing his former club Bologna in a crucial Serie A match. Yet come kickoff, Arnautovic found himself on the bench. According to whispers from Rome and sharp-eyed observers at Inter Milan’s training ground, Arnautovic hasn’t rattled off the expected minutes lately—not because of tactics, but thanks to an irritating back issue that just won’t go away.

The Austrian striker, who joined Inter this season hoping for a starring role, has been shadowed by fitness problems. While staff say he's available as a substitute, sitting him from the opening whistle makes it clear: coach Simone Inzaghi doesn't want to risk aggravating his condition. It's not an easy call—especially since many fans expected Arnautovic to haunt his old teammates a bit on the pitch tonight.

Joaquin Correa steps into the starting lineup, partnering with Lautaro Martinez up front. It’s a shuffle that brings both fresh energy and obvious pressure. With Inter already missing Marcus Thuram, Denzel Dumfries, and Piotr Zielinski through injury, Inzaghi’s options are shrinking by the day.

Pressure Mounts Amid Packed Schedule

The timing couldn’t be trickier. Just days ago, Inter battled through a draining Champions League match against Bayern Munich. Lautaro Martinez played significant minutes during that clash, and yet here he is again leading the line. You might think Inzaghi would rest his top scorer, but with the squad stretched thing, Lautaro’s workload isn’t getting any lighter this week.

All these moving pieces highlight the delicate balancing act big clubs face at this time of year. Injuries and nagging knocks can disrupt even the most settled teams. For Inter, who have a packed fixture list with Coppa Italia games coming up, there’s no room for complacency—every squad decision matters, and managing minutes is suddenly just as important as picking the right tactics.

Although Arnautovic sits this one out (at least at the start), he’ll be watching closely from the sidelines—ready to contribute if Inzaghi feels the risk is worth the reward. The hope, of course, is that careful management now will pay off down the line, when every player may be needed for the silverware push. In the meantime, all eyes are on those filling the gaps, knowing that, with so many regulars sidelined, the pressure to perform has never been higher.