Inter Milan vs Borussia Dortmund
Champions League
Date: Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Kick-off at 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET
Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) (Milan).
Team News
Inter Milan
Conte could make some major changes to the side that ensure a narrow victory over Sassouolo. Key midfielder Stefano Sensi is in doubt for this match. But, we hope he recovers in time and return to the starting lineup at the expense of Roberto Gagliardini. He will be partnered by Nicolo Barella and an ever-present figure of Marcelo Brozović.
Antonio Candreva also subbed off against Sassoulo. veteran will retain his role at right wing-back, with Kwadwo Asamoah replacing Cristiano Biraghi on the opposite side. Both players will play a key role to deal with Dortmund counterattack.
Diego Godin is likely to revert to a three-man defense, which had rested in the last game. Uruguay's experience will be invaluable, alongside the likes of Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij. They may be operating in the defensive block, with wingbacks play a more flexible.
And finally, the Inter Milan attack will be led by Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez. Both of these forward bagged a brace each in the win over Sassouolo. Lukaku, in fact, has netted five goals for his new club since joining from Manchester United in the summer and will be the presence of the key in this game. Alexis Sanchez, meanwhile, will continue to spend time on the sidelines while Daniel D'Ambrosio is a doubt.
Possible Lineup (3-5-2): Handanovic; Godin, de Vrij, Skriniar; Candreva, Barella, Brozovic, Sensi, Asamoah; Lukaku, Martinez
Borussia Dortmund
Mario Gotze and Jadon Sancho back in contention after missing the last match against Borussia Monchengladbach. Sancho, in particular, was suspended by the club for late return to training. He is a guaranteed starter in this one, however, replacing Achraf Hakimi.
Morocco, in turn, will shift to his preferred right-back role, ahead of Lukasz Piszczek, who will continue to spend time on the bench. Nico Schulz back to full fitness at the weekend and is expected to get the nod over Raphael Guerreiro on the opposite side.
The central defensive pairing will consist of Mats Hummels and Manuel Akanji. The latter will replace Julian Weigl after initially displays as a right-back on Saturday. Both have done very well in the Champions League so far.
Favre is not someone who likes to shuffle his squad a lot. That means duo Thomas Delaney and Axel Witsel will continue to form a double-shaft on Dortmund 4-2-3-1.
Guerreiro, although it is not possible to start the left, could occupy the role of the left wing, replacing thorgan hazard. Portuguese international will look to provide the service to lone striker Mario Gotze while Julian Brandt will fill in for Marco Reus in slot number ten. Dortmund captain will miss the flu.
Possible Lineup (4-2-3-1): Burki; Hakimi, Akanji, Hummels, Schulz; Witsel, Delaney; Sancho, Brandt, Guerreiro; Gotze
match statistics
Reus is Dortmund's top scorer in all competitions this season with six goals.
Sancho has three goals and joint-Bundesliga-leading five assists this term, but is still waiting for a first-hand in a goal in the 2019/20 Champions League.
Thorgan hazard also had five assists, game winning goal after being teed up Reus' on weekends. Belgium registered four goals and two assists in two previous Champions League campaign with Gladbach.
Dortmund conceded the fewest goals in the group stage last season (two) and kept the most clean sheets (five). They are yet to concede in this season's competition.
The defeat by the Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt in last season's UEFA Europa League round of 16 ended Inter's six-match unbeaten home run in European games (W4 D2).
Ivan Perisic, who played for Dortmund between July 2011 and January 2013, currently on loan to Bayern Munich from Inter.
Prediction: 2-0 Inter Milan
Unfortunately, this is precisely the scenario I can see happening. Borussia Dortmund has looked shaky recently, and the absence of Marco Reus and Paco Alc
