Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid tips and predictions: Goals in short supply at Guiseppe Meazza
- Sergiu Baltuta
- 19 February 2024
Inter Milan will be oozing with confidence as they face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday evening (2000 GMT).
The Italians will be will need to be well prepared as they go up against former player Diego Simeone and his robust squad of Spanish title challengers.
Curiously, the two teams have faced each other only once in a UEFA competition. In 2010, Atletico managed a 2-0 win against Inter in the European Super Cup final.
Notably, Inter has struggled in games against the Spanish opposition, losing 23 times and drawing 14 of 42 meetings. They’ve failed to win 14 of 16.
On the other hand, side Atletico has a better record against teams from Serie A. They’ve won 17, drawn six and suffered just 10 defeats in 33 meetings.
However, it’s worth adding that Los Rojiblancos have qualified just four times in nine knockout-round encounters against clubs from Italy.
Inzaghi’s side beat bottom-of-the-table Salernitana 4-0 on Friday to solidify their place at the summit of the Serie A table. The Black and Blue have 63 points from 24 rounds, and the best attack in Serie A, with 59 goals scored.
Inter are on an eight-game winning streak, with five clean sheets during that span.
The team's last home defeat in 90 minutes occurred against Sassuolo in September 2023, a 1-2 loss in Serie A.Inter were undefeated in the group stages with 12 points but three draws cost them the top spot and a potentially easier tie in the knockout stages.
Their games in the Champions League this season didn’t offer much of a spectacle as there have been under 2.5 goals in four of six games.
After suffering two consecutive 1-0 defeats against Athletico Bilbao and Sevilla, Atletico manaromped to a 5-0 win against Las Palmas last time out.
The team from Madrid easily won their UCL group without losing any games. They picked up 14 points, four more than second-place Lazio and scored no less than 17 goals.
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Key stats
Lautaro Martinez has scored 20 goals in Serie A and two in the Champions League
Memphis Depay has scored four in seven and will need to maintain that form given the absence of Alvaro Morata
Inter have won eight of their previous 12 home Champions League fixtures
In the last 13 away games of the Champions League's knockout stages, Atletico have secured just three victories
