Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan

February 20, 2024

Inter Milan are ready to face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie at the Giuseppe Meazza on Tuesday.

Atletico Madrid claimed a 2-0 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Super Cup game in 2010, with second half goals from José Antonio Reyes and Sergio Aguero.

Inter Milan Betting Preview (-133 at Everygame)

Having finished third last season, Inter Milan are flying high at the top of Serie A this term as the Nerazzurri hold a nine-point lead over second-placed Juventus.

Last season's runners-up in the Champions League, Simone Inzaghi's side are aiming to go one better this year. First, they must overcome a tricky last 16 tie against three-time Champions League runners-up Atletico Madrid, who have proven to be one of the toughest opponents in the competition over the past decade, especially under Diego Simeone.

Inter Milan head into this Champions League first-leg clash in excellent form, winning their last eight matches in all competitions and on a 10-game unbeaten run since a surprise Coppa Italia loss to Bologna just before Christmas.

With his goal in the 4-0 victory over Salernitana on Friday night, Lautaro Martinez had already reached 20 Serie A goals for a third season in a row. And with 20 goals in 22 top-flight appearances this term, Martinez has become just the third player to score 20 Serie A goals for the Nerazzurri in three successive seasons - and the first one in 70 years.

Furthermore, it seems that Martinez should manage to produce his most prolific campaign ever. The Argentine forward had scored 28 goals in 57 appearances across all competitions last season - his best record to date - while he already boasts 23 goals in just 31 matches in 2023-24.

Unlike his impressive domestic league record over the years, Martinez hasn't been that prolific in the Champions League. This season isn't an exception, with two goals in six Champions League matches.

Simone Inzaghi will have almost his entire squad available for Tuesday evening’s clash against La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, barring one injury and two players who have been removed from Inter Milan's European list.

The most notable absentee will be experienced defender Francesco Acerbi, who also missed the Nerazzurri’s last win against Salernitana due to a muscle strain.

The 36-year-old Italy international will have to be assessed, but it is understood that he will not be risked if there are any possible doubts, as Inter Milan also have an important run of Serie A matches against Lecce, Atalanta, Genoa and Bologna over the next two weeks, before their trip to Madrid next month.

In addition to Acerbi's injury, Stefano Sensi and Juan Cuadrado are also unavailable for the Serie A leaders, but Canadian international Tajon Buchanan is an option following his January arrival from Belgian side Club Brugge.

Matteo Darmian is currently tipped to start at right wing-back over Denzel Dumfries, who scored the third goal against Salernitana on Friday.

Atletico Madrid Betting Preview (+400 at Everygame)

Diego Simeone's side ended their three-game winless run (0-1-2 record, including back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla in the Copa del Rey and La Liga, respectively) in all competitions with an impressive 5-0 win over Las Palmas in La Liga on Saturday. Thus, Atletico Madrid remain fourth in the table, two points above Athletic Bilbao in fifth, and will be eager to extend their unbeaten Champions League run this season.

Los Colchoneros finished top of Group E with four wins and two draws, scoring 17 goals in their matches against Lazio, Feyenoord and Celtic.

Atletico Madrid are set to be without star striker Alvaro Morata, after the Spaniard suffered what initially appeared to be a nasty injury in the 1-0 defeat at Sevilla earlier this month.

Thankfully, the 31-year-old Spain international has suffered bruising on his knee bone, and a strain of his knee ligaments, and is expected to recover by the end of this month or the beginning of March.

Memphis Depay is the obvious replacement for Morata, and the Netherlands attacker has been in fine form since the turn of the year, boasting four goals and one assist in his last seven appearances for Atletico.

Anyway, Depay's style of play is different from that of Alvaro Morata, and should Simeone intends to prioritize shape without the ball, the Atletico Madrid boss will no doubt call on Angel Correa to replace Morata in the big games.

Correa bagged a brace against Las Palmas last time out and the Argentine forward will hope to keep his starting spot up front.

Diego Simeone is also without the injured Cesar Azpilicueta, Gabriel Paulista, and Thomas Lemar.

Possible Starting Lineups of Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid

Inter Milan: Yann Sommer - Benjamin Pavard, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni - Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto - Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram. (3-5-2)

Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak - Stefan Savic, Axel Witsel, Mario Hermoso - Marcos Llorente, Pablo Barrios, Rodrigo De Paul, Koke, Samuel Lino - Antoine Griezmann, Memphis Depay. (3-5-2)

Spooky Express Betting Prediction

Like their opponents, Inter Milan are also unbeaten in the Champions League this season. Yet, Simone Inzaghi's side were runners-up in Group D, where they finished level on 12 points (3-3-0) with La Liga side Real Sociedad, who had a superior goal difference.

All in all, Inter Milan have not lost a Champions League home match since September 2022, winning six of their last eight games (6-2-0) since a 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich.

Los Colchoneros, on the other hand, ended their four-game losing streak in Champions League away games this season when they drew at Lazio (1-1) and Celtic (2-2) before a 3-1 victory at Feyenoord in November.

Both sides can call upon plenty of European experience, quality and tactical discipline, so a tight game is to be expected (in both legs). Still, we are backing Inter Milan to edge past Atletico Madrid in the first leg.

Spooky Express Free Play: Inter Milan -133 at Everygame for 7/10 Units

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