Both teams, who drew 1-1 in the opposite meeting in September, have advanced to the knockout stages unbeaten, and either will end their organizational crusade on an excellent note.
Coasting to a 15th win of the season in Serie A’s Saturday night kickoff, Inter regained top spot in Italy with an imperious performance against Udinese – a 4-0 success following last week’s 3-0 defeat of reigning champions Napoli.
Hakan Calhanoglu, who had already scored a fine goal against the Scudetto champions, Federico Dimarco and Marcus Thuram scored in the first half, before captain Lautaro Martinez scored his 14th league goal of last season.
Having lost just once this season (a surprise loss to Sassuolo in September), the Nerazzurri are battling arch-rivals Juventus for sensible top spot, and with a two-point lead after 15 games, they are the top experts’ favourites to win the championship. title.
Simone Inzaghi’s side have already qualified for the Champions League round of 16, with 11 Group D eliminations alongside Tuesday’s visitors, after a bumpy 3-3 draw with Benfica last time out in Europe.
Although Inzaghi’s much-changed side failed to pull off a remarkable comeback in Lisbon, having regained a three-goal lead to equalise thanks to plays from Marko Arnautovic, Davide Frattesi and Alexis Sanchez, they have lost just one of their last 12 games. at UEFA’s most prestigious club festival, against Manchester City in last season’s final.
They now conclude their glittering crusade at the organisational level at home in Milan, where they have won six of their last seven Champions League games at home, any of the games this season.
In fact, the last time Inter won all three of the organisation’s home games was in 2010, when they were protecting the champions, and they can equal that record this week by beating Real Sociedad in form, whom they host for the first time since a UEFA match. . That was 44 years ago.
On the other hand, La Real need just one point on their final matchday to secure top spot in Group D – and with it a potentially favourable draw in the round of 16 – as their goal difference is higher than Inter’s after five games.
Despite drawing at Red Bull Salzburg last month, San Sebastian had already won some of their away games in the Champions League this season, as many as in the last 12, when they had lost nothing short of new.
Head coach Imanol Alguacil has taken the plaudits for his team’s impressive progression in recent times, and they now sit inside La Liga’s top six after recovering from a shaky start to the season.
The Basque club were in the Copa del Rey last Wednesday, securing their place in the third round with a 1-0 win over Andratx, before beating Villarreal 3-0 in La Liga – goals from Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and Take Kubo sealed the set. fortune in the first half at the Madrigal.
Having picked up just one win in their first six games this season, Real Sociedad have since recorded 12 of their last 17 and are now unbeaten in seven games as they prepare to travel to Italy.
Real led for most of September’s match against Inter at Anoeta, but Brais Mendez had his opening goal disallowed thanks to a late equaliser from Lautaro Martinez: a repeat of the result in midweek would secure Alguacil’s men the maximum advantage in the organisational table.
With qualification already proven and a tough opponent against former club Lazio scheduled for Sunday, Simone Inzaghi could make some adjustments to his starting XI against Real Sociedad.
The Inter team that faced Benfica last month was unrecognizable, with number one goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who has kept 10 clean sheets in 15 league games since signing this summer, replaced by Emil Audero, and the starting forwards Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martínez. also rested.
The latter has accounted for 29% of the Nerazzurri’s shots in the Champions League this season (the percentage of any player in the festival), but Marko Arnautovic and Alexis Sanchez could be called up again.
Inzaghi will almost certainly rotate his resources in defence, as Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries and Benjamin Pavard have all been struck down by injury of late.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad will benefit from having key defender Robin Le Normand back in the fold, after the Spain international served a domestic suspension against Villarreal.
Mikel Oyarzabal is also expected to be available, but Mohamed Ali-Cho and Ander Barrenetxea remain out of action, while Brais Mendez will be sidelined due to an arm injury following Etienne Capoue’s horrific challenge at the weekend.
Imanol Alguacil may also be tempted to revamp his squad, with Andre Silva a frontrunner in the forward line, but midfielder Mikel Merino is still expected to be involved. The latter has won more duels (51) and more aerial duels (28). ) than any other player in the Champions League this season, and also scored and assisted in a 3-1 win over Benfica.
Inter Milan conceivable starting line-up: Audero; Darmián, Acerbi, Augusto; Cuadrado, Frattesi, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Sánchez, Arnautovic.
Possible Real Sociedad lineup: Remiro; Odriozola, Zubeldía, Le Normand, Tierney; Zajaryan, Zubimendi, Merino; Kubo, Silva, Oyarzabal
With little at stake, both groups would possibly have something in store, but it will still be a gripping war between the two most sensible and undisputed groups in Group D. Inter have only made one mistake at San Siro this season and have an impressive squad. Therefore, it is the Nerazzurri who will celebrate their most sensible point. For information on the most likely results, scores and more for this match, click here.