This evening UEFA Champions League resumes and the quarter finals commence with Inter’s home clash against German outfit, Schalke.
It has not been a fruitful season in Europe for Italian football with Inter the last remaining side from the peninsula involved in European competition. However, despite their heavy loss in the Milan derby over the weekend, the reigning European champions have good reason to believe they can make the quarter finals for the second consecutive season.
On paper the Benemeata are by far the strongest of the two sides. Leading their attack will be Samuel Eto’o who was unplayable in Inter’s dramatic victory against Bayern in the second leg of the last round. After a less than impressive derby showing, the Cameroon star will be eager to return to form and help his side take an early advantage in the tie.
Whilst Inter have been scoring freely since Leonardo took over the helm in January, they have shown weaknesses in defence that against the likes of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Raul, in particular, could prove problematic. With Lucio ruled out of the tie and with long term absentee Walter Samuel still on the sidelines, Leonardo will be forced to set out a makeshift backline with the vulnerable Christian Chivu expected to be pitted alongside the still developing Andrea Ranocchia.
Incredibly, this quarter final will see Inter take on a German side for the fifth time already in this season’s Champions League. In the group stage the Nerazzurri played Werder Bremen twice, beating them four nil at the San Siro before losing three nil to them in Germany. Then, of course, Inter traded wins with Bayern in the round of 16 and only managed to proceed at the expense of the Bavarians on the away goal rule.
Though Inter have fared reasonably well against German sides in the past year, with their historic two nil triumph over Bayern Munich last May easily the pick of the bunch, their record since the 2006 Champions League season is not all that impressive. In nine matches played against German opposition in this time, the Italians have only managed three wins, two draws and have lost four times. If there is one thing in favour of the Nerazzurri it is that their three victories have come in their last five matches.
In a year that has seen Germany’s Bundesliga take over the Serie A in UEFA’s Coefficient ranking system, Inter’s edge over Bundesliga sides and indeed their European triumph last May have served as a source of pride for Italian football.
The Nerazzurri will start as favourites and will look to continue flying the Italian flag into the semi-finals of the Champions League. In a tactical reshuffle, Leonardo is pipped to drop his favoured 4-2-crazy system that contributed to his side’s downfall in the derby della Madoninna in favour for a more balanced 4-3-1-2 system with Diego Milito to pair Samuel Eto’o in attack.
The Champions League quarter-finals promises much in the way of intrigue and drama. This tie between the Italian giants and the less fancied Germans promises just as much. Questions pertaining about Inter’s ability to retain their title and whether or not they will continue to be the bane of German sides will be answered come the end of this fascinating tie.
Frank Tigani is a writer for Italian Football Website, Serie A Weekly.com. He is also the creator of acmilanblog.net and is a editor for the Canadian Soccer Magazine publication, 11 Players. Originally from Australia, Frank covered Australian football and Australia’s World Cup campaign during the 2010 South Africa FIFA World Cup for, just-football.com.
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