Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter Milan predicted lineups and team news
Two of the top eight in the Champions League table meet on Tuesday when Bayer Leverkusen host Inter Milan.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter Milan predicted lineups
Bayer Leverkusen (3-5-2): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Andrich, Grimaldo; Tella, Wirtz
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Clubs finishing in the first eight positions will qualify directly for the last 16. Which means that there is a lot at stake in the match between sixth-placed Leverkusen and second-placed Inter. This game kicks off at 8pm (UK time) and will be shown live on TNT Sports 2.
It promises to be an intriguing clash between Xabi Alonso’s attractive team and an Inter side with the best defensive record in the competition.
Leverkusen looking to breach impenetrable Inter
Inter have yet to concede a goal in their five Champions League games this season.
Unsurprisingly, that defensive solidity has proved beneficial in picking up points, with Inter claiming 13 from a possible 15, having won four and drawn one of their matches.
Inter’s run of clean sheets is all the more impressive for the fact that they have faced some tough opposition. Leading Premier League sides Manchester City and Arsenal have both failed to find a way through against them.
They are also faring well in Serie A, with a 3-1 weekend win against Parma keeping them in contention to retain the Scudetto. They have conceded only two goals in their last seven games in all competitions, a run which includes clean sheets in their last two Champions League matches. Even Parma’s consolation goal in Friday’s 3-1 defeat was an own goal by Inter’s Matteo Darmian.
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Bayer Leverkusen won 2-1 against St Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday, which was their fifth consecutive victory.
That included a 5-0 win in their most recent Champions League outing at home to Red Bull Salzburg.
Leverkusen have won both of their matches at the BayArena in the Champions League this season as they also defeated Inter’s city rivals AC Milan 1-0 in October.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter Milan team news
Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso is having to be creative to provide solutions for his side’s attacking injury crisis.
Strikers Patrick Schick and Victor Boniface are both sidelined, as are forwards Amine Adli and Jonas Hofmann.
Germany’s Florian Wirtz has been used in attack in their absence and he grabbed the first goal in the win against St Pauli, with defender Jonathan Tah also on target.
Both teams are expected to employ a 3-5-2 formation.
Benjamin Pavard is a major absentee for the visitors, with the French defender on the injury list alongside goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro. Francesco Acerbi has returned to training and could be named on the bench.
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi was able to name Carlos Augusto and Davide Frattesi in his squad for the win against Parma, leaving him with few lingering selection issues.
Inzaghi may even consider some squad rotation, with Mehdi Taremi an option up front which could allow either Lautaro Martinez or Marcus Thuram to be rested.
