Inter Milan will hope to move to the top of Group D when they welcome Red Bull Salzburg to the Giuseppe Meazza.
Last season’s runners-up Inter Milan will be eyeing the top spot in Group D when they welcome Red Bull Salzburg to the Giuseppe Meazza on Tuesday night.
The Italian giants have endured a mixed bag of results of late. Simone Inzaghi’s side were the footballing equivalent of Jekyll and Hyde last season and appear to be showing shades of the same this time around as well.
They were handed a stroke of luck last weekend when arch-rivals succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat to Juventus. This saw the Nerazzurri go top, one point ahead of the Rossoneri in the second spot.
Having defeated Torino 3-0, Inter will be optimistic going into the game against Red Bull Salzburg. The Austrians have a dynamic young side and could cause the Italians some issues if things click into place. However, experience matters a lot when it comes to Europe’s top competition and the home side has it in abundance.
Inzaghi’s side are cup specialists of sorts and have experienced much success on the domestic front. Europe remains the true test and having secured their 50th win in group stage history, Inter will be raring to go all guns blazing.
Gerhard Struber’s side are young and buzzing with talent. They are not in the best form of late. But a win against a top side like Inter is exactly what the doctor ordered to get their campaign back on track. Unless the Italians are on their toes, they could be in for a very big surprise.ย The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on Sunday and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
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(Scusa Denzel ๐ )#ForzaInter #InterSalisburgo pic.twitter.com/X0UXOuAg37โ Inter (@Inter) October 23, 2023
The hosts retook the top spot in Serie A at the weekend and will go into the clash with their tails up. Simone Inzaghi’s men suffered the heartbreak of losing at the final hurdle last season and will hope to go one better this time around.
With a crunch Serie A clash against Jose Mourinho up next weekend, Inter could rotate their players on the night. Two players who will miss out are Juan Cuadrado and Marko Arnautovic, both of whom are nursing muscle injuries.
One constant is Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 system which is likely to be retained once again. The Italian has largely used the same formation since arriving in Milan, usually just rotating the players in and out. But then given the success he has had, few can argue with the stubbornness.
Yann Sommer should start in goal behind the back three of Benjamin Pavard, Federico Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni. Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Augusto should start in the wing-back position and will provide the width on the night.
Hakan Calhanoglu holds the fort in the middle of the park with Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan partner him on either side. They will be tasked with running into space and exploring possession.ย
Lautaro Martinez will be keen to find the back of the net after missing several opportunities against Benfica on matchday two. Ha has formed a solid partnership with French international Marcus Thuram and the duo will once again start up top for Inter.ย
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Augusto; Thuram, Martinez
Red Bull Salzburg
Red Bull Salzburg have dominated the Austrian league for years but go into the game on the back of a 1-0 home loss to LASK that saw them fall four points behind SK Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga.
They now have an opportunity to get the campaign back on track with a morale-boosting win at the Giuseppe Meazza. Beating a side of Inter’s calibre will certainly act as a rallying point for Gerhard Struber’s side.ย However, the visitors will be without several injured players, namely Fernando, Sekou Koita, Lukas Wallner, Justin Omoregie, Bryan Okoh and Daouda Guindo.ย
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โ FC Red Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) October 23, 2023
A 4-4-2 diamond appears to be the way forward on the night with the midfield staying narrow and allowing the wing-backs to push forward. Alexander Schlager should start in goal behind the back four of Amar Dedic, Oumar Solet, Samson Baidoo and Aleksa Terzic.
Lucas Gourna-Douath should don the pivot’s role in the central midfield with Nicolas Capaldo and Maurits Kjaergaard acting as ball carriers. The trio will be keen to provide a solid base from which Oscar Gloukh can act as the playmaker at the forward tip of the diamond.
Roko Simic and Karim Konate should retain their spot upfront and will be keen to make a difference against a solid Italian defensive line.ย
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Schlager; Dedic, Solet, Baidoo, Terzic; Capaldo, Gourna-Douath, Kjaergaard, Gloukh; Simic, Konate
Key Stats
- Both teams have played each other just twice, both came in 1994 in the UEFA Cup final. Inter Milan won both legs 1-0 to secure the title.
- Inter Milan have won eight of their nine games against Austrian teams. Inter Milan have never lost to an Austrian side at home.
- Red Bull Salzburg have played Italian sides six times in the competition but have never won a single game.
- Avoiding a loss on the night will see Inter Milan extend their current home unbeaten run to seven games, their longest such tally since 2010.
- A win on the night will see RB Salzburg win consecutive away games in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
The World Cup winner is Inter Milan’s go-to man upfront and he has largely responded. While he leads the scoring charts in Serie A, that killer’s instinct has been missing at the continental stage this season. Martinez is a proven goalscorer and has the opportunity to add to his tally against Salzburg.
Difficult to mark and a handful off the ball on his day, the Argentine is a tricky customer. He is not just likely to pull something out of the hat but will also create space for Thuram to make a difference.
Prediction
Inter Milan 2-1 Red Bull Salzburg
Red Bull Salzburg are a feisty side who are unlikely to take a defence-first approach. This should give them some joy when it comes to going forward. However, Inter do not just have more experience and strength in depth but remain a formidable opponent at home. This should see them through, even if it is with the smallest of margins.
