Inter Milan are enjoying a fine season on the domestic front and will hope to put together another memorable run on the continental stage when they take on Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
This will be the first meeting between both these giants since the 2010 UEFA Super Cup. The Spanish club came out on top that night, and it promises to be another hard-fought contest between two excellent managers.
Atletico Madrid will have a good recollection of their most recent trip to Italy, surrendering a two goal advantage to Juventus as Cristiano Ronaldo put them to the sword.
Inter made it to the final of the competition last season, falling to Manchester City in Instanbul. They look formidable once again and will hope to go one better this time around.
The convincing win over Salernitana at the weekend, combined with Juventus and AC Milan dropping points, means Inter Milan have a foothold at the summit of the Serie A standings.
A look at the current form from both teams is below:
- Inter Milan is having an exceptional form at present and is sitting at the top of the Italian Serie A standings with a stunning record of 20 wins.
- Atletico Madrid has a decent form, but was winless in three of the past four matches.
- Atletico will enter this match following a 5-0 Laliga win over Las Palmas while Inter follows a 4-0 Serie A victory against Salernitana.
Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid: Team News
Simone Inzaghi certainly had an eye on this clash as he rested first choice wing-backs Matteo Darmian and Federico Dimarco at the weekend.
The duo is expected to return in what should be a full-strength Inter playing XI. Davide Frattesi is not yet completely fit but should make the bench while the only other injured star, Juan Cuadrado, was taken off the UEFA Champions League squad ahead of the knockout rounds.
If there is one thing people can be certain of about Inter is that they will retain the 3-5-2 formation come rain or sunshine under Inzaghi.
Diego Simeone and Co. have not enjoyed the best of seasons domestically and are some distance off the title race for La Liga. However, they have shown better results in cup competitions and are well and alive in the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.
The visitors will be without Gabriel Paulista, Thomas Lemar, and Cesar Azpilicueta. Alvaro Morata was withdrawn against Sevilla with a knee injury, and he is unlikely to be fit in time for star in Italy.
Memphis Depay is striking a rich vein of form at the right time, while Marcos Llorente and Angel Correa found the net at the weekend. Atletico Madrid have reasons to be hopeful that they can come away with a positive result.
The 3-5-2 formation appears to be the way forward for Atletico Madrid on the night.
Predicted XIs
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Savic, Witsel, Hermoso; Llorente, Barrios, De Paul, Koke, Lino; Griezmann, Depay
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