UEFA Champions League Preview: Inter vs Club Brugge – Team News, Lineups & Prediction
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is the venue as Inter and Club Brugge both look to get their Champions League campaigns back on track. Both sides suffered narrow defeats on the opening matchday and will be keen to take three points here.
Despite a superb start to their Serie A title defense, Inter’s European journey hit an early snag when Real Madrid beat them 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Cristian Chivu’s men have since gone from strength to strength, winning two of their three league matches (D1), including a 3-0 rout of Parma last weekend.
Encouragingly for the Nerazzurri faithful, Marcus Thuram looks to be hitting his stride after a rough spell. The French forward has racked up three goals and two assists across his last four appearances for the club. He is likely to be one of the main threats to Yann Sommer, who returns to Meazza as a foe.
The Swiss veteran joined Club Brugge in the summer, yet he conceded three goals on his Champions League debut for the club as Aston Villa secured a 3-2 win at the Jan Breydel Stadium last time out. Still, the Belgian giants have wasted no time bouncing back, winning three consecutive league games by a combined score of 10-2.
Match Preview
Inter
Saturday’s emphatic victory over Parma served as the ultimate confidence booster for Inter, who are standing on the brink of an unwanted feat. The Nerazzurri bring a dismal three-game losing Champions League run into this showdown, meaning they could lose four successive matches in this competition for the first time in the club’s history.
That prospect looks far-fetched, especially given Inter’s formidable home form this season. Chivu’s charges have won all four competitive outings at Meazza this term, netting at least three goals on each occasion, which can spark optimism ahead of their first-ever meeting with Club Brugge.
It’s been 46 years since Inter last lost a home clash against Belgian opposition, and it’s worth noting that they’ve won three of their four such fixtures since (D1). Patience could be crucial to extending that streak with another triumph, as they’ve hauled 12 of their 19 competitive goals this season after halftime.
Thuram, who was on the scoresheet against Parma at the weekend, could be decisive here. The 29-year-old has been a talismanic figure for Inter lately, with the reigning Scudetto holders winning ten of his last 11 scoring appearances.
Club Brugge
Despite running riot in their domestic championship this season (W7, L1), Club Brugge have often struggled to translate their red-hot Jupiler Pro League form to Europe. Defensively fragile, Ivan Leko’s men have conceded at least three goals in their last three Champions League matches. But there’s more.
Club Brugge have let in 3+ goals in seven outings since the start of the last Champions League campaign, more than any other side in the competition. Addressing those defensive woes is imperative if they want to avoid losing their first two Champions League outings for the first time since 2018/19.
On a more positive note, the visitors have fared well on the road. Saturday’s thumping 4-1 victory at RAAL La Louviere marked Club Brugge’s third win in four competitive away games this term (L1), with two of those three victories coming by a three-goal margin.
Scoring may not be as troubling as keeping Inter at bay here. However, Sommer has registered five clean sheets in ten competitive appearances for the club, giving Leko’s side a reliable last line of defense.
Team News
Hakan Calhanoglu marked his return from injury with a bang, converting a penalty against Parma on Saturday. Yet, he could make room for Aleksandar Stankovic, who starred for Club Brugge last season. Meanwhile, Djed Spence made his delayed debut from the bench, leaving his England teammates Curtis Jones and John Stones as the only absentees in the Inter squad.
As for Club Brugge, Joel Ordonez remains the only missing player, with the sought-after defender struggling with a foot injury. The visitors’ hopes of breaching Inter’s defense will likely rest on highly-rated striker Nicolo Tresoldi, who has already tallied six goals this season.
Inter vs Club Brugge Team News
Inter (3-5-2): J. Martinez; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Stankovic, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, L. Martinez.
Club Brugge (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Sabbe, Mechele, Lee, Seys; Potts, Vanaken; Forbs, Vetlesen, Vergili; Tresoldi.
Inter vs Club Brugge Prediction
Given the fierce nature of the league phase, Inter’s pursuit of a top-eight finish is already in jeopardy. Therefore, the Italian heavyweights cannot afford a slip-up in this fixture, and we expect them to hold up their end of the bargain and get on the board in emphatic fashion.
Prediction: Inter to Win
