JAKARTA - Inter Milan will try to complete their work in the last 16 of the Champions League when they host Feyenoord in the second leg which will take place at the San Siro Stadium, Tuesday, March 11 local time or Wednesday morning WIB. After winning two goals from the first leg in De Kuip, the Nerazzurri are in a very favorable position to advance to the quarter-finals.
However, Feyennoord certainly will not just give up. Despite facing a mission that is almost impossible against Europe's best defense, the Dutch team will try to turn things around and create surprises.
Inter Milan have again shown their strength in Europe this season. They finished fourth in the Champions League league phase and immediately qualified for the round of 16 without having to go through a playoff like Feyenoord.
The consistency of their game can be seen from the impressive record: just conceded once in nine games in this competition, and that too happened when they lost slightly to Bayer Leverkusen.
Simone Inzaghi's team is also in a positive trend in domestic competitions. At the top of Serie A's standings, they just won a dramatic 3-2 win over Monza after being two goals behind. With high confidence and a qualified squad depth, Inter are clearly the favorites in this match.
Meanwhile, Feyennoord came to this match under ideal conditions. They did make it to the round of 16 for the first time in the Champions League era, but their journey was full of challenges.
The 0-2 defeat in the first leg further increased their steps. In addition, their recent performance is less consistent, with three defeats in the last eight matches at the Eredivisie.
Robin van Persie, who is now trusted to handle the team, faces a tough test at the San Siro. The club, who won the 1970 Champions League, had to score at least two goals to force an extension of time a very difficult task, especially given their poor record in Italy. Feyennoord never won in their last eight matches when they traveled to the country of pizza.
Inter Milan
Coach Simone Inzaghi is likely to return to lowering his best squad after making some rotations in the match against Monza. Marcus Thuram, who was rested in Serie A's last match, will return in a duet with Lautaro Martinez on the front lines.
Martinez is in outstanding form, with six goals in the Champions League this season. The record saw him only three goals adrift of Hernan Crespo's record as Inter's top scorer in a Champions League season.
However, Inter still have to face the absence of several players in the wing position. Matteo Darmian, Federico Dimarco, and Nicola Zalewski are still injured, while Carlos Augusto has just recovered and is likely to play as a starter. On the back lines, Alessandro Bastoni, who had filled the wing-back position, could return to his original position as a centre-back.
One important decision Inzaghi had to make was under the crossbar. Yann Sommer's main goalkeeper has recovered from thumb surgery and returned to the bench against Monza. However, it is not certain whether he will return to replace Josep Martinez as a starter.
Feyenoord
The injury problem still haunts Feyennoord. Some of their main players are confirmed to be absent, including Hwang In-beom, Bart Nieuwkoop, Gernot Trauner, Calvin Stengs, Justin Bijlow, and captain Quinten Timber. In addition, Ibrahim Osman must also undergo suspension after receiving a yellow card in the first leg.
The good news is that young defender Givairo Read can return to play after serving a ban on competing. He is expected to go straight into the Feyenoord defense which will be tested completely by the Inter attack.
In attack, Igor Paixao will be a key player. This Brazilian winger has contributed to four goals in five Champions League away games this season. He will receive support from Luka Ivanusec and Santiago Gimenez in an effort to break into Inter's goal.
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Inter Milan will almost certainly appear more cautious in this match. With a two-goal advantage in hand, they don't have to take too big a risk. The three-back system implemented by Inzaghi allowed them to remain solid on the defense as well as dangerous in counter-attacks.
Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez will be the main threats up front, especially with their speed and sharpness in leveraging space. Inter also have creative midfielders like Nicol totaling Barella and Piotr Zielinski who are able to create opportunities from midfield.
On the other hand, Feyenoord had to play attacking from the start. They need a quick goal to keep the hope of qualifying. However, the weakness in the back could backfire, especially if Inter were able to take advantage of the gaps.
With so many key players absent, Robin van Persie may have to rely on fast play through wings to exploit the Inter defense side left by some of the core players.
The Nerazzurri are predicted to control the game and secure tickets to the quarter-finals without too much difficulty. Feyenoord may be able to score one goal, but Inter's quality and experience will be the main difference in this match.
Estimated Player Formation
Inter Milan (3-5-2):J. Martinez; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Zielinski, Augusto; L. Martinez, Thuram.
Feyennoord (4-2-3-1): Wellenreuther; Read, Beelen, Hancko, Bueno; Moder, Smal; Hadj Moussa, Paixao, Ivanusec; Carranza.
Score Prediction: Inter Milan 2-1 Feyennoord (AGG: 4-1)
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