Two heavyweights of Europe, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, face off in UEFA Champions League 2020-21 on Wednesday at San Siro. Both clubs are sitting at the bottom of the table, and the losing side will find teh door closed for the knock-out stage.
Match Timings:Nov 26, 1:30 AM IST
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The game week four awaits Inter Milan and Real Madrid in the important clash in Group B of the Champions League. The most successful side in European competition, Real Madrid, find them at the third spot with four points from a possible nine. The La Liga champions started the campaign with a shocking 3-2 defeat to Shakhtar, and they held Monchengladbach for a 2-2 draw with a late equaliser from Casemiro.
They edged past Inter Milan in the first leg game at home to add vital three points. Milan pulled off a comeback after going two goals down in the first 33 minutes. Martinez found the first goal for the Nerazzurri, and in the 68th minute, Perisic netted an equaliser. Madrid was on the verge of another draw, but Rodrygo scored a winner in the 80th minute to help the Spanish club to get three points.
The Spanish champions recently played a 1-1 draw in their top-flight fixture against Villareal. Moreno’s second-half penalty assured Villareal to split the points with Zidane’s side. The 2019-20 winners sit at the fourth spot with 17 points, 6-points behind to table leaders Real Sociedad. The recent draw helped Villareal helped them to take the third spot.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan are at the bottom of the table in Group B, and they desperately need three points to find themselves on the second spot. The Italian giants started the European campaign with a 2-2 draw as Lukakau netted twice and his equaliser in last-minute saved the day for Milan. In the next outing, they featured in a goalless draw with Shakhtar, despite some effort from Lukaku. Recently, their 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid made their knock out hopes dull.
The Serie A club are coming off a 4-2 win over Torino, courtesy of Lukaku’s brace, including Sanchez and Martinez's double strikes. Antonio Conte’s men stand at fifth spot in the domestic top-flight, one-point behind Juventus. It’s not less than a do-die game for Inter, and defeat can close their knock outdoors in the Champions League. The Nerazzurri haven’t lost a single game against Real Madrid at home, winning five and drawing two.
Aleksandar Kolarov, Marcelo Brozovic, and Daniele Padelli are isolated, so Inter would miss the trio. Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij are expected to return to the Conte’s main XI. Christian Eriksen is also the latest absentee in the Inter’s squad. For Real Madrid, the captain Sergio Ramos will miss this fixture along with COVID-positives forward Luka Jovic and injured Federico Valverde. Eder Militao and Casemiro would get the recall in the main XI. Karim Benzema could also make a return in Zidane’s lineup.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Inter Milan
Lineup: Handanovic; Skriniar, Bastoni, De Vrij; Hakimi, Barella, Vidal, Gagliardini, Perisic; Martinez, Lukaku
Champions League Form: D D L
Real Madrid
Lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Militao, Mendy; Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Isco, Hazard; Benzema
Champions League form: L D W
Key Players
Inter Milan
Romelu Lukakau
7 goals in Serie A 2020-21
2 goals in Champions League 2020-21
Martinez
5 goals in Serie A 2020-21
1 goal in Champions League 2020-21
Real Madrid
Karim Benzema
5 goals in La Liga 2020-21
2 goals in Champions League 2020-21
Eden Hazard
1 goal in La Liga 2020-21
