Inter Milan will aim to bounce back from their recent slump when they welcome Barcelona to San Siro for Tuesday night’s Champions League encounter.
This week, the UEFA Champions League continues with Matchday 3 of the group phase. One of the most anticipated games of the latest round of fixtures will take place in Group C, as Barcelona make the trip to San Siro to face a struggling Inter Milan side.
Inter Milan started the season as Scudetto favourites, particularly after re-signing Romelu Lukaku (on loan from Chelsea), rekindling positive memories of the title-winning 2020/21 season. However, they have failed miserably to live up to the early-season expectations.
Inter once again were unable to reclaim the bragging rights, recording a 3-2 defeat in the Milan derby at the start of September. The Nerazzurri are now entering a deep crisis mode. And Saturday’s 2-1 loss to AS Roma is the latest in a string of disappointing results for Inter, who have now lost four of their last eight games.
With only 12 total points, Inter are now eight points behind Napoli, the current Serie A table topper. It is still early days in the season, but another defeat in an already tough Champions League group could spell trouble for Inzaghi at Inter.
Barcelona, on the other hand, have made a solid start to their La Liga campaign this term, dropping points in only one of their first seven games, a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano on the opening day of the season.
Since then, Xavi Hernandez’s men have only surrendered one league goal while scoring the most goals in La Liga (19). And after Real Madrid’s surprise 1-1 draw against Osasuna, Xavi’s men are sitting pretty atop La Liga thanks to their superior goal difference.
Barcelona emerged as narrow 2-1 victors when these two European heavyweights last met at San Siro. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides on Tuesday, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the UEFA Champions League encounter.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
L'allenamento dei nostri nerazzurri in vista di #InterBarcellona 👇
— Inter (@Inter) October 3, 2022
Marcelo Brozovic is the key player sidelined for the Nerazzurri, and he will be a huge loss for Simeone Inzaghi ahead of a big match against Barcelona. The Croat suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty, and the 29-year-old may not be able to return until after the World Cup.
Brozovic has been a staple under Inzaghi and has been carrying this uninspiring Inter side in recent games with his excellent performances. Kristjan Asllani, 20, is likely to take his spot in the midfield, with Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu flanking the youngster. It is vital that they not get overwhelmed by Barcelona’s midfield.
Calhanoglu will be Inter’s chief creative threat, with his proficiency from set-pieces, coupled with his crossing prowess, crucial to providing service to the forward line.
Romelu Lukaku’s return to the San Siro has been marred by injury, limiting the Belgian to only three Serie A appearances this season. He has also missed Inter’s opening two Champions League games and is not likely to return until the end of October.
Edin Dzeko will pair up with Lautaro Martinez up front for now, but both players have struggled for goals lately, although the former has already netted in the Champions League this season against Viktoria Plzen. Joaquin Correa is another striking option that Inzaghi can call upon to make an impact off the bench.
Inzaghi will look to utilize the pace of Denzel Dumfries to unleash quick counter-attacks, with the Dutchman lining up as the right wing-back. Federico Dimarco will also provide width going forward, and perhaps the ability to produce crosses, from the left flank.
Inzaghi will probably go with a back three comprised of Milan Skriniar, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni as they try to keep the Barcelona attackers at bay throughout the game. With Inter’s backline partly to blame for their poor start to the season, all three of them will need to be at their best collectively if the hosts want something out of the game.
Despite not having played in Serie A so far this season, Andre Onana has started both Champions League games for Inter this season, performing admirably. The former Ajax shot-stopper is not just a safe pair of hands in goal, but he is also very comfortable with the ball at his feet.
With No. 1 Samir Handanovic, 38, drawing extensive criticism for his recent performances, Onana has a big chance to impress here, and stake his claim as Inzaghi’s first choice pick in between the sticks.
Probable lineup (3-5-2): Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
Barcelona
Like his counterpart in the Inter dugout, manager Xavi will have to make do without a host of his key players ahead of their trip to Lombardy. The injured quintet of Ronald Araujo, Memphis Depay, Jules Kounde, Frenkie de Jong, and Hector Bellerin are still unavailable and, as a result, have not been called to the Barcelona squad that will be flying to Italy.
Barcelona will set up in their traditional 4-3-3 system but will make several personnel changes from the narrow win against RCD Mallorca. Marc-Andre ter Stegen surpassed his personal record for time without conceding a goal in La Liga on Saturday and will be eager to take that form here.
Xavi's 21-player squad list for #InterBarça in the @ChampionsLeague! pic.twitter.com/WsISqxcRte
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 4, 2022
Eric Garcia will continue to partner Andreas Christensen at the heart of the Barcelona defence. Young Alejandro Balde should retain his place on the left, as he continues to prove himself as the best left-back in the squad at the moment, ahead of more experienced options. Meanwhile, the fit again Sergi Roberto should get the nod on the opposite flank.
Captain Sergio Busquets will anchor the midfield alongside Gavi and Pedri, who will replace Franck Kessie in the starting XI after being rested against Mallorca. The trio will face a very tough battle against Inter’s midfield, with their duel with the ultra-talented Nicolo Barella set to be an intriguing watch.
Robert Lewandowski has carried over his impeccable goalscoring record from Germany to Spain from the off. He will be the biggest threat for Inter, with Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha forming an explosive supporting cast out wide.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Roberto, Garcia, Christensen, Balde; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Dembele
Key Stats
- Inter have won only once in five UEFA home games against Barcelona (D3 L1), and just two of their 14 European games against the Catalans.
- Barcelona have lost three of their last four away UEFA Champions League group stage matches (W1).
- Inter have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions, including their most recent games against Roma (2-1) and Udinese (3-1).
- Inter let in two or more goals in four of their last seven games, showing their defensive frailties this season.
- The Bayern defeat remains the only blot on Barcelona’s CV this season, as they have won seven of their last eight fixtures and lost just once in nine outings this term.
Player to Watch
Robert Lewandowski
When it comes to goals at Barcelona, there is only one player to look for. Robert Lewandowski has got off to a flying start at Camp Nou since moving from Bayern Munich. He scored the only goal of the game at the weekend in their 1-0 victory at Mallorca to make it 12 goals in just nine outings so far for the prolific Pole.
The 34-year-old goalscoring genius has already scored a hat-trick in the Champions League this season, be it against lowly Viktoria Plzen. Lewandowski has also been great in La Liga, leading Barcelona’s attacks and becoming a focal point for his team.
He has also important due to his leadership. Barcelona have arguably the best talent in the world in Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati, but they may lack the experience to handle the pressure of big games. The Pole will be looking to extend his tally of 89 Champions League goals against a leaky Inter defence.
Prediction
Inter Milan 1-2 Barcelona
Defensive issues have been the story of Inter’s season so far; they have surrendered the most goals in the top half of Serie A, with 13 goals conceded after only eight games.
The Serie A giants have shown a tendency to be unable to hold their nerve and succumb under pressure despite taking an early lead in games. While Inter and Barcelona will be missing some of their key players through injuries, an extravagant summer splash means Xavi’s side has better depth than the hosts.
Add to it the fact that Barcelona have been hugely impressive this season, winning five of their last six games and scoring goals for fun. The Hard Tackle, thus, predicts a 2-1 win for Xavi & co., leaving Inter with an uphill task for the remainder of the Champions League Group Stage campaign, piling further misery upon an under-pressure Simone Inzaghi.
Still, expect Inter to make life difficult for the visitors and make it an evenly-contested affair for long stretches of the game. Barcelona will be missing their top defenders, so it would not be surprising if the hosts get on the scoresheet once.
