Simone Inzaghi Has Decided Not To Risk Italian Defender Against Bayern Munich

Written By Onyeka Daniel

It promises to be an exciting clash at the Allianz Arena today in Munich when German League leaders, Bayern Munich face off against Italian Serie A leaders, Inter Milan in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final tie.

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It will be a two legged affair after Inter brushed past Feyenoord with a 4-1 aggregate scoreline in the round of 16, while Bayern eliminated Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen with 3-0 and 2-0 victories.

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For the Nerazzurri, they’re on course for a treble triumph this season and the UCL will definitely be a trophy that they would like to lay their hands on after recent failures, hence they will be looking to field their best stars for this encounter.

In a surprising twist, Simone Inzaghi has reportedly decided that Federico Dimarco will not start against Bayern today, but the Italy international should be available to appear off the bench if required as he continues to try and manage the squad in three different competitions this season.

Inzaghi mentioned during his pre-match press conference that four Nerazzurri players were substituted off during the 2-2 Serie A draw with Parma due to fitness concerns, with Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco among them.

Bastoni is expected to start, however, Dimarco was considered the team’s only doubt heading into the match. According to reports, the former Lazio manager has now decided not to risk the wingback against the Bavarians.

Consequently, he has reportedly informed the players of his decision during the morning’s meeting at the team hotel several hours ahead of kick-off, so Carlos Augusto is expected to start at left wing-back. AAlthough Dimarco could be deployed from the substitutes’ bench if required.

Matteo Darmian is likely to start on the opposite flank in place of the injured Denzel Dumfries. In a related development, Nine players between the two teams are at risk of suspension ahead of the second leg slated for 16th of this month at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.

According to UEFA regulations, players will pick up suspensions after accumulating three yellow cards in the UCL, Europa League and Conference League. Yellow cards are counted from the first match of the league phase until the end of the quarter-finals, at which stage the slate will be wiped clean.

For Inter, they’re Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolo Barella, Benjamin Pavard and Denzel Dumfries, but the Dutchman is injured, will not be involved and is therefore less of a risk than his three teammates, all of whom are expected to start tonight.

For Bayern, the players at risk are Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Konrad Laimer and Leroy Sane. Coman is injured too, but there is a chance that Goretzka, Laimer and Sane all start given the injury concerns that they’ve currently.

Meanwhile, Jürgen Klinsmann says that it is a shame that two of his former clubs have been drawn against each other, as he feels the two teams are both worthy of a spot in the eventual final. Klinsmann, who represented both sides during his playing career, is excited by the prospect of an Inter-Bayern quarter-final.

“I’ll be rooting for beautiful football. I played for both teams, but I want to be there. I want to come to San Siro to support Inter,” he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. “It’s a shame that this challenge has come so early, in the quarter-finals. It could have been the final, and in Munich as well. Imagine how beautiful that would be.”

This season’s Champions League final will be held at Bayern’s Allianz Arena, a detail which Klinsmann feels will bring an extra level of motivation for the Bavarians, but he still feels that Inter have what it takes to go all the way this year.

He explained: “Obviously Bayern wants to go all the way, at all costs, because there’s a special game, the final, at home. How often do you get the opportunity to play for the Champions League in your own stadium? But it’s time for Inter to win a European cup again.”

“In my opinion, they’ve created a proper squad. It’s a squad with two teams, they’ve doubled up in every position. Inter have a nice way of playing, in a 3-5-2 that sees the players constantly switching positions. I smile when I see Bastoni pop up on the left wing providing crosses. The only thing he lacks is that he can’t put it in the box for himself. Inter are beautiful to watch.”

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He later went on to explain that Inter do not necessarily need to outplay Bayern, as long as they outscore them. “Anything can happen. A small detail can decide it. A penalty, a corner, a free-kick. They have two different systems, but they have players who can always make a difference, at any time.” He further added.

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