90min

Inter predicted lineup vs Real Madrid - Champions League

By Grey Whitebloom

In the absence of Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez has emerged as Inter's chief goalscorer
In the absence of Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez has emerged as Inter's chief goalscorer / MARCO BERTORELLO/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

Inter host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday evening in a clash between the two clear favourites to qualify from Group D.

Robbed of their manager, top scorer (and assister), along with the agent of chaos that linked defence and attack, there has been a lot of change at San Siro since the Nerazzurri ended a decade-long wait for the Serie A title last summer.

It would be a stretch to argue that any of the replacements Giuseppe Marotta has sourced during the off-season are not downgrades on the departed personnel, but an unbeaten start to the season has garnered praise for the incoming Simone Inzaghi.

Here's who the former Lazio boss may call upon from his raft of new faces on Wednesday night.

Inter predicted lineup vs Real Madrid - Champions League

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Samir Handanovic (GK) - Now in his tenth season at the club, age has shown no signs of dulling the reactions and skill of Inter's 37-year-old custodian.

Milan Skriniar (CB) - A crucial cog in Serie A's best defence last season, Skriniar is no stranger to throwing his considerable weight around between flurries of technical talent.

Stefan de Vrij (CB) - Comfortably one of the most consistent and unflappable defenders in Italy's top flight in recent years. It wouldn't truly be an Inter back-three without the Dutchman at its centre.

Federico Dimarco (CB) - After five loans in as many years, the Inter youth product is set to make his bow in the continent's top-tier competition fresh from a debut goal on the weekend.

2. Midfielders & wing-backs

Hellas Verona FC v FC Internazionale - Serie A
Hakan Calhanoglu scored on his debut for Inter after leaving city rivals Milan in the summer / Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images

Denzel Dumfries (RWB) - Yet to win a match in the Champions League proper, Achraf Hakimi's replacement could be granted a first Inter start to try and rectify that record against Madrid.

Nicolo Barella (CM) - In one of the least surprising moves the club could make, Inter are looking to extend the contract of their midfield dynamo before they lose another key figure.

Marcelo Brozovic (CM) - The central hub of the team's midfield, everything goes through the owner of a bar imaginatively named Epic Brozo.

Hakan Calhanoglu (CM) - In what would be his first Champions League appearance in five years, the former Milan man has adjusted well to life in the other half of the city, already ensconced in the first team.

Ivan Perisic (LWB) - One of the scorers for Inter in last season's reverse fixture, Perisic is set to be lining up at wing-back rather than up top come mid-week.

3. Forwards

UC Sampdoria and FC Internazionale - Serie A
Inter's new number nine Edin Dzeko has lost four of his five previous meetings against Real Madrid / Getty Images/Getty Images

Lautaro Martinez (ST) - Now lumbered with the burden of Inter's goalscorer-in-chief, the Argentine has responded to Romelu Lukaku's departure with a goal in each appearance this season.

Edin Dzeko (ST) - After several summers of rumoured departures from Roma, Dzeko managed to score for Inter on the opening day of the season before the club had even officially announced him.

Home/Inter