Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid preview
The month of February all the time alerts the beginning of a busy schedule as groups begin getting ready for the tip of the season. This cycle begins with the UEFA Champions League knockout video games. And with the most important membership match returning, the remaining 16 groups compete to be topped as kings of Europe. Final season, Inter Milan got here on the cusp of being bestowed with the honour. Nevertheless, they got here up brief in opposition to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis. This season, although, they’re in even higher type and face Atletico Madrid for a spot within the quarter-finals.
Each the groups have had an excellent historical past within the competitors and have cast their reputations as opponents that groups discover very irritating to play in opposition to. This implies they need to be at their perfect, as each have the identical strengths and weaknesses.
Inter Milan are at the moment prime of the Serie A desk with a nine-point lead over second-placed Juventus. The present’s star has undoubtedly been Lautaro Martinez, scoring 23 targets in all competitions. Inter Milan have performed like champions within the sense that they’ve received a number of video games the place they weren’t at their finest simply by grabbing the opportune moments. In response to stats from xvalue, Simone Inzaghi’s males have been solely anticipated to win 51.84 factors however have managed to win 63 factors, an important overperformance on the metric.
In the meantime, Atletico Madrid are having one other strong season by their requirements. Supervisor Diego Simeone has discovered an ideal technique that has harnessed the skills of Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann, who’ve carried out the majority of scoring and creating for the staff. The staff is ranked the most effective in scoring accuracy and second in aim conversion in La Liga.
One other space the place Simone has reinvented himself is devising ways that accommodate some options of Gegenpressing. That is mirrored in the truth that they’re the third-best staff within the league on the Buildup Disruption Proportion (BDP).
Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid predicted lineups
Inter Milan lineup
Inter Milan have had few damage considerations this season with solely Juan Cuardado a long run absentee. Because of this Inzaghi could have an virtually match squad to select from. Inter additionally had a recreation in opposition to bottom-ranked Salernitana on the weekend, permitting them to relaxation a number of key gamers who will probably be again for the Champions League tie.
The principle onus for the staff will probably be on the attacking duo of Martinez and Marcus Thuram, with Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Federico Dimarco shouldering the accountability in the midst of the pitch.
Inter Milan beginning XI: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Atletico Madrid lineup
Simeone’s facet suffered a serious blow when prime scorer Alvaro Morata suffered an damage in opposition to Sevilla the earlier weekend. He didn’t play the current recreation in opposition to Las Palmas and can possible miss the primary leg in opposition to Inter, too. Memphis Depay or Angel Correa, each of whom scored in opposition to Las Palmas, will take Morata’s place on the staff. Different damage considerations for the membership are Gabriel Paulista and Thomas Lemar.
Marcos Llorente and Koke will probably be tasked with offering the incisiveness within the midfield, whereas Correa, who scored a brace on the weekend, might be the popular substitute for Morata.
Atletico Madrid beginning XI: Oblak; Savic, Witsel, Gabriel; Llorente, Barrios, De Paul, Koke, Lino; Griezmann, Correa
Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid predictions
On paper, Inter Milan seem to have the benefit given their type and the house benefit they are going to take pleasure in for the sport. Nevertheless, each groups have, through the years, crafted their fame as a staff that may win a match in an unsightly vogue.
The 2 groups boast of a defence that, on their day, can show to be insurmountable for even the most effective assaults. Nevertheless, Inter have blown away groups left, proper, and heart this season and appears more likely to come away with a win in entrance of their followers on the San Siro.
FootTheBall predicts a 2-0 win for the Nerazzurri.