Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Round of 16
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THE FACTS
When is Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid on and what time does it start? Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid will take place on Tuesday 20th February, 2024 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid on in the UK? Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid in the UK? Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
INTER MILAN
Inter are full of confidence heading into this round of 16 tie having won their last eight games in all competitions, not to mention the fact they are unbeaten in their last eight home games in the Champions League.
The Nerazzurri are firing on all cylinders at the moment having scored eight goals in their last two games, while they have kept clean sheets in five of their last six games across all competitions.
ATLETICO MADRID
Atletico Madrid topped Group E with relative ease having won four and drawn two of their six matches, although they did concede in all three away matches to Lazio, Celtic and Feyenoord.
A heavily rotated side won 5-0 over Las Palmas on Saturday, although that followed defeats to Atletico Bilbao in the Copa del Rey and Sevilla in La Liga so there is a fair degree of inconsistency in their performances right now.
THE TEAM NEWS
INTER MILAN
Simone Inzaghi’s chief concern in terms of player availability is regarding Francesco Acerbi, who is currently trying to overcome a calf injury. Should the centre-back fail to make it, Stefan de Vrij should line-up in the back three alongside Benjamin Pavard and Alessandro Bastoni.
Davide Frattesi comes into contention after recovering from a thigh complaint to take his place on the bench for Friday’s Serie A victory over Salernitana.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martínez, Thuram
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Acerbi (Injured)
ATLETICO MADRID
Diego Simeone will likely set his side up to match Inter’s three-at-the-back system, although the Argentine is without defensive option Cesar Azpilicueta to injury.
Alvaro Morata, currently the joint-top goalscorer in the Champions League this season, is sidelined, so Antoine Griezmann – also on five goals – could well partner Marcos Llorente, who impressed in a striker role over the weekend. Memphis Depay and Angel Correa offer alternative options.
PREDICTED XI (5-3-2): Oblak; Molina, Savić, Giménez, Hermoso, Reinildo; De Paul, Koke, Saúl; Griezmann, Llorente
UNAVAILABLE: Lemar (Injured), Azpilicueta (Injured), Giménez (Injured), Morata (Injured), Gabriel (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE KEY STATS
• Inter have lost only one of their last 13 UEFA Champions League matches (W7 D5).
• Inter have won six and drawn two of their last eight home UEFA Champions League matches.
• Inter have lost only three of their last ten matches in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 (W6 D1).
• Inter have won only two of their last 16 UEFA club competition matches against Spanish teams (D4 L10).
• Inter have scored a total of 298 goals in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history (includes qualifying).
• Inter have kept eight clean sheets in their last 13 UEFA Champions League matches.
• Inter have kept six clean sheets in their last eight home UEFA Champions League matches.
• Atlético are unbeaten in their previous six UEFA Champions League matches this season (W4 D2), they have won each of the last three.
• Atlético have lost only three of their last 17 UEFA club competition matches against Italian teams (W10 D4).
• Atlético have won the first leg in each of their last three UEFA club competition two-legged ties against Italian teams.
• Antoine Griezmann has scored five goals in his last five UEFA Champions League appearances.
THE PREDICTION
This is an intriguing tie between two sides who would have certainly wanted to avoid each other at this stage of the competition. Inter have undoubtedly been the more consistent side this season, with Simone Inzaghi’s men seemingly headed towards the Serie A title and generally performing well on all fronts. Atletico boast personnel with plenty of experience in Europe though, and they will not lie down easily. Inter are the bookies’ favourites in this first leg, and while they may well come out on top, we’re expecting it to be a low-scoring encounter.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
