Inter Milan will travel to Spain for their UEFA Champions League opener against Real Sociedad, looking to continue their impressive run of form.
Inter Milan are coming into the game against Real Sociedad on the back of four comprehensive victories in Serie A. So, they will be full of confidence here. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad have made a disappointing start to the season, and they have picked up just one win from the last five matches across all competitions.
La Real will have to improve immensely in order to grind out a positive result at home. The Spanish outfit have been quite vulnerable defensively, and they will have to tighten up at the back in order to contain top-class attackers like Lautaro Martinez tomorrow.
Next stop 🔜 #UCL #ForzaInter #RealSociedadInter pic.twitter.com/VVZGDOcroL
— Inter (@Inter) September 19, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad will be without the services of Andre Silva and Martin Merquelanz due to a hip injury and knee injury, respectively. Carlos Fernandez is suspended after being sent off against Roma last season.
The hosts are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Alex Remiro in goal. Hamari Traore and Kieran Tierney are likely to be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to create counter-attacking opportunities along with their defensive responsibilities. Robin Le Normand and Igor Zubeldia will start as the central defenders.
Martin Zubimendi will be the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to protect the central defenders and control the tempo of the game. Mikel Merino and Brais Mendez will add creativity and control to the side. Mikel Oyarzabal will lead the line for the hosts, with Takefusa Kubo and Ander Barrenetxea on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Remiro; Traore, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Tierney; Merino, Zubimendi, Mendez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi will have a fully fit squad to choose from, and they should be able to field a full-strength line up here.
Yann Sommer is set to start in goal behind a back three of Benjamin Pavard, Alessandro Bastoni and Stefan de Vrij. Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco are likely to be deployed as the wing-backs, and they will look to help out offensively apart from protecting the central defenders.
In the midfield unit, Nicolo Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu will look to add creativity and control. Finally, Marcus Thuram will lead the line for Inter Milan against Real Sociedad alongside Lautaro Martinez.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Bastoni, de Vrij; Dumfries, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Barella, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Key Stats
- The only previous meetings between Real Sociedad and Inter Milan came in the 1979/80 UEFA Cup. The Nerazzurri won 3-2 on aggregate in the first round.
- Real Sociedad are winless in four of the last five matches across all competitions.
- Inter Milan have picked up four wins from the last four matches across all competitions.
- Inter Milan have scored 13 goals in the last four outings conceding just once.
- Real Sociedad have conceded at least once in four of the last five matches across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
The Argentine international has been in outstanding form in Serie A so far, scoring five goals in four league matches. Martinez is coming into this game with five goals and an assist in his last four outings. He will look to continue his rich vein of form against a defensively vulnerable Real Sociedad side. The 26-year-old should be able to get on the scoresheet here.
Prediction
Real Sociedad 1-2 Inter Milan
Real Sociedad have been quite vulnerable defensively, and they will struggle against Inter Milan forwards Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez. In addition, the Nerazzurri have players like Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan creating opportunities for the two strikers.
Real Sociedad are unlikely to be able to keep the away side quiet here, and this is likely to see some goalmouth action. Both teams could get on the scoresheet here, but the away side have enough quality to emerge victorious eventually. A 2-1 win for Inter Milan is on the cards.
