Real Madrid are poised to begin their 2021/22 UEFA Champions League campaign on Wednesday when they face Inter Milan at the San Siro.
The competition’s record winners have failed to make it to the last four since last winning it in 2018 under the tutelage of Zinedine Zidane.
However, under Carlo Ancelotti, they will be hoping that the manager who helped broke their Champions League jinx in 2014 can do the same once again this season.
For Inter, European success has not been anywhere close to their reach since their success under Jose Mourinho in the 2009/10 season, when they beat Bayern Munich in the finals.
But after winning their first league title in over the decade last season, you feel the club could embark on another fairytale in Europe.
Inter Milan come into this game at the back of a frustrating 2-2 draw with Sampdoria over the weekend. Despite twice going in front, Simeone Inzaghi’s men were unable to walk away with the maximum points.
Madrid on the other hand has got a blistering start to their league season, winning three out of four games played while drawing the other.
The two teams met in the group stages of last season’s competition, the Spanish side beating Inter on both occasions as the latter failed to progress from the group.
Wednesday’s game promises to be a tricky one considering both teams are under a new manager and have had a good start to their respective leagues.
WHERE AND WHEN?
Venue: San Siro.
Date: Wednesday, September 15.
Time: 19:00.
TEAM NEWS
But for Stefano Sensi, Simeone Inzaghi has everyone else available at his disposal, though Alessandro Bastoni’s involvement is not assured as he is doubtful. The Inter boss could make some changes to the starting line-up that faced Sampdoria over the weekend.
Ancelotti on the other hand has been boosted by the return of David Alaba, who arrived from Bayern in the summer on a free transfer. However, Marcelo and Ferland Mendy have both been ruled out of the game after while Gareth Bale is also expected to sit out.
POSSIBLE STARTING XIs
Inter: Handanovic; Skriniar, de Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Perisic; Dzeko, Martinez.
Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Miguel; Valverde, Casemiro, Modric; Hazard, Benzema, Vinicius.
PREDICTION
Inter Milan vs Real Madrid: 1-2
