the Reds on fire, the Nerazzurri back at this level, tactical battle in the middle … the keys to this shock of the 8th Champions League

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But yes, you necessarily remember the last round of 16 of the Champions League played by Inter. One evening in March 2012, the whimsical Marseille striker Brandão eliminated the Nerazzurri after an improbable back control.

Ten years of weaning later, including three consecutive eliminations in hens, the Interists finally find a European spring. With a fierce menu, since Liverpool come to Meazza for the first leg, Wednesday February 16. Franceinfo: sport gives you the keys to this beautiful poster.

Form: Inter at a trot, Liverpool we fire

Hell was promised to Inter this summer, when the technician Antonio Conte and the centerpieces Achraf Hakimi (PSG) and Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) left the ship. But in a 3-5-2 pattern close to his predecessor, the new coach Simone Inzaghi has remobilized his group. Denzel Dumfries (PSV) and Edin Dzeko (AS Roma), although not the flashiest names, made people forget the summer departures.

Yes, but the Lombards are marking time at the start of the year. Of the last four outings, they have only triumphed once, in stoppage time against promoted Venice. Overthrown by Olivier Giroud in the derby (1-2), Inter lost the lead in Naples (1-1) on Saturday. Nothing prohibitive in the race for the Scudetto, but not ideal to prepare for this gala meeting.

Especially as opposite, Liverpool carbide. The Reds are undefeated in 2022 and flew over a tough Pool B (Atlético de Madrid, FC Porto, AC Milan). Not always brilliant but terribly effective, the Mersey club recovered this weekend Mo Salah and Sadio Mané, both CAN finalists.

In their absences, Diogo Jota, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and rookie Luis Diaz – just arrived from Porto – gave satisfaction. Not yet enough to worry Manchester City and its nine-point lead (with one more game) in the Premier League, but enough to maintain a cruising speed. “We are facing the strongest team in Europe at the moment.even praised Inzaghi.

Strengths: the collective of the Reds, the experience of the Nerazzurri

Haven’t followed Liverpool since winning the Champions League in 2019? Don’t panic, the update won’t take long. Nine of the eleven holders in the final are announced in the starting team at Meazza. Jürgen Klopp’s machine remains oiled and has a real common experience. Together, the backbone formed by Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Henderson, Mané or Salah – all arrived in 2018 or before – was European and English champion (2020). Since then, recruits like Jota or Thiago have joined a workforce that is constantly renewing itself.

Reigning Italian champion, Inter also relies on a large collective. But unlike Reds fond of youth in their recruitment, the Nerazzurri do not hesitate to poach experienced elements. Kolarov, Vidal, Dzeko and Sanchez, who arrived in the last two seasons, are all in their thirties. With an average age approaching 30, Inter have the oldest squad in Serie A. The few holders under 25, Alessandro Bastoni and Lautaro Martinez, have already played more than a hundred games with Inter.

The absent: Inter in the sauce without Barella?

He is Simone Inzaghi’s third most used outfield player and has only missed two games in all competitions. Centerpiece of the midfield, the Italian European champion Nicolò Barella will be absent, because of a red card received in chickens against Real Madrid. The experienced Arturo Vidal will replace him, but the Chilean is more used to coming into play. Above all, he projects less than the tireless Barella and his seven assists.

Opposite, Liverpool are expected to show up with Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in the middle of their 4-3-3. The latter will, except surprise, be responsible for cutting off the revival of Marcelo Brozovic, a real spearhead for Inter. With this “gegenpressing” dear to Jürgen Klopp, the Reds will certainly seek to monopolize the leather, as they do in the league (62% average possession). Inter are not outdone (56%) but willingly left the ball in clashes against Napoli, Milan, Juventus or Real. To better evolve against?

Tactics: the full-backs, the centerpieces of both teams

In this regard, Inter certainly knows how to do it. To support its counter-attacks, the Lombard club relies in part on its pistons. These corridor players – Denzel Dumfries on the right and Ivan Perisic on the left – in Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 have great attacking qualities and project themselves very quickly. Their crosses bring constant danger, and it is not uncommon to see them right into the opposing box. The Croatian, a training winger, has five goals in Serie A, a high figure for a piston.

If Dumfries and Perisic are good counter-attackers, what about Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson? Archetype of the modern side, “TAA” has already distilled 16 assists this year, and it is not uncommon to see him dezone to bring a surplus in the surface, even in the heart of the game. Even if his climbs leave spaces , its burst of speed is such that the consequences are often minimal. On the left, his alter-ego Robertson is barely less prolific (10 assists) but occupies a lower average position on the ground, ensuring a better defensive balance. Not a luxury, to counter the pistons nerazzurri.


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