Inter Milan can guarantee their qualification for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League should they defeat Viktoria Plzen at the Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday
Italian giants Inter Milan can qualify for the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League when they take on Viktoria Plzen at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Simone Inzaghi’s side have got their season back on track following a streak of standout performances both in Serie A and in Europe. The Italians hold a three-point lead over Barcelona in the third spot, allowing them to finish above the Catalans in the group stages.
Inter can afford to lose on matchday six to Bayern Munich should they defeat Plzen on Wednesday. That way, even if Barcelona wins both of their games, they will finish level with the Nerazzurri on 10 points apiece.
Given the rules of the competition, Inter will proceed to the last 16 at Barcelona’s expense given their better head-to-head record this season. A trip to the Allianz Arena is never easy and the Nerazzurri have now been handed a major opportunity to decide their destiny in front of their home fans.
Plzen showed some vestiges of a fightback against Bayern last time out but are firmly the underdogs ahead of their trip to Italy. Inter have rediscovered their bottle the past few weeks and have once again shown the fighting spirit that saw them mount a staunch Scudetto defence last season.
The last-gasp 4-3 win over Fiorentina outlines this newfound belief within the team, and they will be keen to make life easier for themselves by securing all three points on Wednesday. As long as they manage to do so, their Champions League destiny will be in their own hands. The Italians will also take a draw on the night should Barcelona fail to beat Bayern.
The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactic they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
— Inter (@Inter) October 25, 2022
Inter will be without star midfielder Marcelo Brozovic who is still out injured. Inzaghi will have a decision to make on whether to keep faith in weekend hero Henrikh Mkhitaryan or bring in the fresher Kristjan Asllani.
Star striker Romelu Lukaku could also make the squad but is unlikely to start. Roberto Gagliardini is also set to be back in contention, but given the stakes, Inzaghi is unlikely to mess with the winning combination of Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella in midfield.
The Inter boss will keep faith in his 3-5-2 formation with Andre Onana keeping his spot in goal. He will start behind the back three of Milan Skriniar, Stefan De Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni.
The midfield three of Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella will provide the engine room energy in the middle of the park, with Robin Gosens and Denzel Dumfries providing width.
Lautaro Martinez is back among the goals and should be a shoo-in upfront. He is likely to be partnered by Edin Dzeko, who made a telling difference off the bench at the weekend.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Onana; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Gosens; Dzeko, Martinez
Viktoria Plzen
Plzen have a remote chance of qualifying for the Europa League should they win both of their remaining games. The Czech side will also need Barcelona to drop at least five points over their last two games to continue their tryst with Europe this season.
Pavel Bucha remains suspended, but Michal Bilek has an otherwise fully fit squad. With little to lose, it is unlikely that Plzen will adopt a defensive style. Plzen looks set to set up in a 4-4-2 formation that could give them a chance on the counter.
S A N S I R O 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/2jVeL9GrJ1
— FC Viktoria Plzeň EN (@fcviktoria_en) October 25, 2022
Jindrich Stanek will start in goal behind a back four of Milan Havel, Lukas Hejda, Ludek Pernica, and Vaclav Jemelka. Lukas Kalvach and Modou N’Diaye will form the double pivot giving the duo of Adam Vlkanova and Jhon Mosquera the chance to provide width.
Tomas Chory and Jan Kliment should start up front and will hope to take advantage of Inter’s occasional indecisiveness at the back. An unlikely win will outdo Maccabi Haifa’s defeat of Juventus as this season’s biggest shock in the competition.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Stanek; Havel, Hejda, Pernica, Jemelka; Mosquera, N’Diaye, Kalvach, Vlkanova; Chory, Kliment
Key Stats
- The matchday two game between the two sides remains their lone competitive meeting in history. Inter won the game 2-0 and could maintain their 100 per cent win rate with another victory on the night.
- Viktoria Plzen have won just one of their four trips to Italy, losing the remaining three. The lone win came against Napoli in 2016.
- Inter Milan have lost just one of their previous nine meetings against Czech teams. This lone defeat came against Sparta Prague in 2016.
- Inter Milan have lost just two of their last nine UEFA Champions League group-stage clashes.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
The Argentine is in a purple patch of form and is scoring for fun. This has sparked an upturn in Inter’s fortunes, and they look a much hungrier side with the 25-year-old baring his fangs.
A win on the night will see Inter qualify for the last 16 and Inzaghi is unlikely to rest his star man. Martinez has also built up a good rapport with Dzeko, and the duo could aid Inter’s cause with a quick start. Barella and Calhanoglu are also rediscovering their touch, and this augurs well for Martinez, who could find himself privy to an increased number of goal-scoring chances.
Prediction
Inter Milan 2-0 Viktoria Plzen
Inter Milan are in good form and have much to play for on the night. Securing a win will also give them the chance to take it easy on matchday six when they travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich. The home side are favourites and will be keen to give their fans something to celebrate. The Hard Tackle can see the Nerazzurri come out on top by two goals on the night.