Inter Milan will go into the UEFA Champions League clash with Union Saint-Gilloise as heavy favourites on Tuesday night.
An intriguing European clash unfolds in Brussels on Tuesday as Union Saint-Gilloise host Inter Milan in a Champions League showdown that could have significant implications for Group F. The Belgian champions will be aiming to recover from their heavy defeat last time out, while Cristian Chivu’s high-flying Inter side arrive in imperious form, chasing a seventh straight victory in all competitions.
Since suffering heartbreak in the 2025 Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan have rebounded with remarkable resilience under rookie manager Cristian Chivu. The Nerazzurri have rediscovered their trademark defensive discipline and attacking sharpness, winning 11 of their last 16 European matches while keeping 10 clean sheets in their previous 11 league or group stage fixtures.
Inter’s European campaign has been flawless so far. They began with a 2-0 victory away at Ajax, where Marcus Thuram struck twice, before easing past Slavia Prague 3-0 at San Siro, a game in which captain Lautaro Martínez continued his brilliant scoring run with a brace. That consistency at both ends of the pitch has once again made Inter one of the continent’s most formidable sides.
Their domestic form mirrors that dominance. A narrow 1-0 victory over Roma on Saturday lifted them to 15 points in Serie A, level with Napoli and the Giallorossi at the top of the table. Ange-Yoan Bonny, stepping in for the injured Thuram, grabbed the decisive goal at Stadio Olimpico, his fifth goal contribution in just two games, showcasing Inter’s enviable squad depth.
Chivu’s side have lost only once all season, the chaotic 4-3 Derby d’Italia defeat to Juventus in September, and travel to Belgium full of confidence, intent on extending their European winning streak to three.
After ending a 90-year wait for the Belgian league title last season, Union Saint-Gilloise have continued to impress on the domestic front. Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Charleroi kept them atop the Belgian Pro League, three points clear of Club Brugge, confirming that new head coach David Hubert has maintained the club’s momentum since replacing Sébastien Pocognoli, who departed for Monaco.
However, their step up to the Champions League group phase has delivered a harsh reality check. The Brussels club opened their campaign with a thrilling 3-1 victory at PSV Eindhoven, but their return to “home” soil, at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park, as their Stade Joseph Marien does not meet UEFA standards, ended disastrously. A 4-0 demolition by Newcastle United exposed the gap between domestic dominance and continental demands.
Despite that setback, Hubert’s men remain a team with spirit and tactical cohesion. Their aggressive pressing and fluid attacking patterns have yielded success against Belgian opposition, but facing a structured and clinical Inter Milan side represents an entirely different challenge.
The manager has made it clear that the goal remains pragmatic, finishing in the top 24 to secure a playoff spot for the knockout phase. Earning even a point on Tuesday would go a long way toward that aim. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Union Saint-Gilloise
David Hubert’s Union Saint-Gilloise enter their toughest UEFA Champions League test of the season with both good and bad news on the personnel front. The Belgian champions will be without Mohammed Fuseini, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
The Ghanaian forward has played an important role off the bench this season, and his absence slightly limits Union’s attacking flexibility. However, the return of Raul Florucz provides a timely boost, the forward is back from a one-match European suspension and is expected to go straight into the starting lineup.
Florucz’s comeback will support the in-form Promise David, who remains the focal point of Union’s attack. The Canadian striker, who netted 19 goals during last season’s title-winning campaign, will be looking to trouble Inter Milan’s disciplined back line with his strength, hold-up play, and intelligent movement in the box.
Defensively, Union continue to rely on the experience and leadership of Christian Burgess and Kevin Mac Allister in a back three. The pair’s composure and organisational skills have been central to Union’s domestic success. In midfield, Mathias Rasmussen remains a key creative outlet, tasked with dictating tempo and driving transitions from deep.
Hubert is likely to deploy his preferred 3-4-1-2 formation, which has brought stability to his side since he took charge. Kjell Scherpen will start in goal, protected by a defensive trio of Kevin Mac Allister, Christian Burgess, and Fedde Leysen. On the flanks, Anan Khalaily will occupy the right wing-back role, providing pace and width, while Ousseynou Niang will feature on the left, offering both attacking thrust and defensive discipline.
In midfield, Adem Zorgane will partner Mathias Rasmussen in the central areas. Rasmussen’s control and passing vision complement Zorgane’s energy and ball-winning ability, allowing Union to maintain balance between creativity and structure. Ahead of them, Anouar Ait El Hadj will operate as the attacking midfielder, the link between midfield and the front line, responsible for exploiting spaces between Inter’s defensive lines.
Up front, Raul Florucz will return to partner Promise David, forming a physically imposing and technically proficient strike duo. Florucz’s ability to stretch defences and drift into wide areas will create space for David to attack the box, making them Union’s main hope for a breakthrough against Inter’s rigid back three.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Scherpen; Mac Allister, Burgess, Leysen; Khalaily, Zorgane, Rasmussen, Niang; El Hadj; Florucz, David
Inter Milan
Cristian Chivu will be buoyed by the relative health of his squad as Inter Milan continue their outstanding start to the Champions League campaign. The Nerazzurri have only a few injury concerns to manage ahead of their trip to Belgium, giving Chivu the luxury of fine-tuning his rotation ahead of critical Serie A fixtures against AS Roma and Napoli.
The major absentee remains Marcus Thuram, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained earlier this month. The French forward’s pace and directness have been pivotal to Inter’s attack, but his absence has opened the door for others to shine.
In his place, either the in-form Ange-Yoan Bonny, who scored the winner against Roma at the weekend, or Francesco Pio Esposito, the young Italian striker who recently netted his first Serie A goal and first senior international strike, will partner Lautaro Martonez up front.
Elsewhere, the only other player unavailable for selection is Matteo Darmian, sidelined with a calf injury. His absence at right wing-back gives Chivu a chance to offer valuable minutes to fringe players, with squad depth proving a vital asset in Inter’s demanding fixture schedule. As a result, players such as Petar Sucic, Davide Frattesi, Piotr Zielinski, and Carlos Augusto could all be in line to start or feature prominently off the bench.
At the heart of Inter’s attacking success remains captain Lautaro Martínez, who continues to deliver on the grandest stage. The Argentine striker is currently the joint-top scorer in the 2025 Champions League, level with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, having scored ten goals in just nine appearances. His relentless movement, finishing instinct, and leadership have made him indispensable to Chivu’s side.
Tactically, Inter will line up in their tried-and-tested 3-5-2 formation, a system that perfectly balances their defensive solidity and attacking variety. Yann Sommer will take his place in goal, marshalling a back three composed of Yann Bisseck, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni. The trio have been a cornerstone of Inter’s clean-sheet record, combining aerial strength with composure in possession.
On the flanks, Denzel Dumfries will patrol the right wing, using his athleticism to push forward and support attacks, while Carlos Augusto is expected to start on the left, offering balance with his crossing ability and defensive diligence. In midfield, Hakan Calhanoglu will orchestrate play from deep as the regista, flanked by Petar Sucic and Davide Frattesi, who will provide energy, box-to-box running, and late attacking support. Their mobility will be crucial in breaking Union Saint-Gilloise’s compact defensive shape.
Leading the line, Lautaro Martínez will be partnered by Ange-Yoan Bonny, whose pace and physicality complement the captain’s technical sharpness and clinical finishing. Bonny’s recent form makes him the likely choice over Esposito, though the Italian youngster could be used later in the game to maintain intensity.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Sucic, Calhanoglu, Frattesi, Augusto; Bonny, Martinez
Key Stats
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Inter Milan have kept ten clean sheets in their last 11 group or league-phase Champions League matches, conceding only once in that period. Their defensive organisation under Cristian Chivu has been the foundation of their European consistency.
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While Union Saint-Gilloise were unbeaten in five straight games across all competitions before facing Newcastle United, they were completely dismantled in their last European outing, losing 4-0 at home. That was their heaviest European defeat since re-entering continental competition.
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Inter are currently on a six-match winning streak in all competitions and have scored 15 goals during that run while conceding just two. In the Champions League alone, they have won both of their opening fixtures without conceding, beating Ajax 2-0 and Slavia Prague 3-0.
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Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez is in phenomenal form, with ten goals in his last nine Champions League appearances, placing him joint-top scorer in this season’s competition alongside Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. He has also scored or assisted in each of his last five games in all competitions.
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Playing home fixtures at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park, Union Saint-Gilloise have struggled to replicate their domestic dominance. They have won only one of their last four European home matches, conceding nine goals across those fixtures.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
Few players in world football embody consistency and leadership quite like Lautaro Martínez, the beating heart of Inter Milan’s attack and their undisputed talisman. The Argentine forward has evolved into one of Europe’s most complete strikers, a relentless presser, clinical finisher, and emotional leader who thrives under pressure.
Entering this match, Martinez sits joint-top of the Champions League scoring charts for 2025, level with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe on ten goals from just nine appearances. His numbers only tell part of the story; beyond his finishing, the 28-year-old’s influence extends deep into Inter’s build-up play. He drops between the lines to link midfield and attack, presses defenders into mistakes, and inspires teammates through sheer determination.
Nicknamed El Toro (“The Bull”) for his bullish style and never-say-die attitude, Martinez’s game is built on intensity. Whether it’s outmuscling centre-backs, spinning in behind, or creating space for a strike partner, his versatility keeps opponents guessing. Against Union Saint-Gilloise’s compact defence, his movement off the ball and instinctive positioning will be critical in breaking through.
Beyond his on-field exploits, Martinez’s leadership has been pivotal for Inter during their current six-match winning streak. He has shouldered the goalscoring responsibility in the absence of Marcus Thuram and continues to be the man for the big occasion.
Having already scored twice in the Champions League this season, he will aim to extend that tally and lead the Nerazzurri to a seventh straight victory. Simply put, if Lautaro Martínez is at his best, Inter Milan’s attacking engine runs at full throttle, and Union Saint-Gilloise will find him impossible to contain.
Prediction
Union Saint-Gilloise 1-3 Inter Milan
Inter Milan head into this clash in imperious form, and everything about their recent performances suggests they have too much quality and tactical discipline for Union Saint-Gilloise to handle. With Lautaro Martinez in lethal goal-scoring form, Hakan Calhanoglu dictating the tempo from midfield, and a defence that has conceded just once in the Champions League this season, Cristian Chivu’s men look well-balanced and confident.
Union Saint-Gilloise will no doubt draw energy from their passionate home crowd in Brussels, but their heavy defeat to Newcastle United last time out exposed significant gaps at the back. While the Belgian champions possess attacking threats in Promise David and Raul Florucz, they may struggle to create many clear chances against an Inter side so adept at shutting teams down.
Expect Inter Milan to control the game through patient possession, sharp pressing, and clinical transitions. Lautaro Martinez is likely to find space against Union’s back three, while the wing-backs Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Augusto could exploit wide areas relentlessly. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Cristian Chivu and his charges.
