UCL Match Preview, Day 4 (2023/24): RB Salzburg Vs Inter Milan
Written By Onyeka Daniel
At the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austrian side, RB Salzburg will welcome Inter Milan to their home ground for the 4th game in their group stage game of the UEFA Champions League with Netherlands referee, N. Gozubuyuk in charge of proceedings. Getting a result against Inter will be a tall order for the Austrian champions, but they’ve managed to turn their fortunes around since losing at the San Siro.
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Since losing to Inter at the end of October, Red Bull Salzburg have won each of their last three domestic matches, with a penalty-shootout triumph over Hartberg in the last 16 of the Austrian Cup sandwiched between two Austrian Bundesliga wins over Rheindorf Altach and WSG Tirol.
Teenage striker Karim Konate scores his ninth and 10th goals of the season in a 2-0 away victory against WSG Tirol last weekend to help Gerhard Struber’s side leapfrog Sturm Graz to the top of the table. Salzburg enter matchday four of the Champions League group stage sitting third in Group D after claiming three points from as many matches, all three accumulated in a 2-0 win at Benfica.
But they face an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout rounds as they are four points adrift of both Inter and Real Sociedad in the top two. To qualify, they would need a positive result from their next two games, starting with today’s encounter. Against an Inter side that is not showing any sign of weakness at the moment will be asking for too much.
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The Nerazzurri can cement their place in the knockout stages with a win in this game and also depending on the result from the game between Real Sociedad and Benfica. Currently top of the Serie A table and joint top with Sociedad, the Nerazzurri will be keen to keep their fine form going, but their manager has hinter at some changes for this encounter giving rest to some of his important players that have played more game.
He has already comfirmed that Alexis Sanchez will be starting, so one of Lautaro Martinez or Marcus Thuram should be playing from the bench. Ahead of the game, Simone Inzaghi spoke to the press, saying; “It’s the same as with any Champions League match.” “We know the quality of our opponent,” he said.
“They showed they’re a top-class side at San Siro.” “So we’ll have to play an excellent match in a difficult away stadium. But that’s how it is in all matches.” As far as whether the team can keep up their start to the season, Inzaghi mused that “Time will well.” “We started well and now we have to keep it up,” he went on. “We know that we’re judged every three days on the pitch,” the Inter coach added.
“So we know that we have to be ready, keeping in mind the difficulties that come with playing every three days.” He further added. The former Lazio manager also hinted at a possible start for young German defender, Yann Bisseck, owing to the injury suffered by Pavard and the fact that Dutch defender, Denzel Dumfries needs some rest, so Darmian and Bisseck could play the wing-back and centre-back role on the right.
Style Of Play
Salzburg manager, Gerhard Struber has alternated between the 4-4-2 and the 4-3-1-2 formation, depending on the opponent and for this game, he’s likely to go for the latter. They will be looking to put Inter under pressure and try to open up the goal. For Inter, the 3-5-2 formation stays, and for them, keeping calm will be the main purpose as they try to patiently build up play. Being able to attack from the midfield and out wide makes them unpredictable and dangerous too.
Recent Form
Salzburg in their last 20 games played across all competitions have 13 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses. They will be looking to make it four games without a loss after that loss to today’s opponent in October. For Inter, they’ve 15 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses. One of those loss is the UCL final loss to Manchester City from last season and the other was inflicted by Sassuolo this season. Since then, they’re unbeaten in their last 7 games with 6 wins and a draw.
Head To Head
Both teams have met 5 times, their meeting in the first leg that Inter won 2-1, twice in Europe (Europa League) and twice in friendly games and Inter have won all with a goal aggregate of 12-4.
Players To Watch
Oscar Gloukh, who scored in the defeat at Inter two weeks ago, will hope to retain his place in the number 10 role behind central striker Konate, while Mads Bidstrup could be recalled to play in midfield alongside Luka Sucic and Lucas Gourna-Douath. For Inter, there will be some changes to the lineup but expect the likes of Davide Frattesi and Alexis Sanchez to try and prove a point as they get to start.
Read Also: Lautaro Martinez Valued At €150m As Thomas Zilliacus Reveals His Plan For Inter Milan
Red Bull Salzburg Possible Starting Lineup: Schlager; Dedic, Solet, Pavlovic, Ulmer; Gourna-Douath, Bidsrup, Sucic; Gloukh; Simic, Konate
Inter Milan Possible Starting Lineup: Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Frattesi, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
Injuries And Suspensions
The home side have a host of injury worries, Fernando, D. Kameri, B. Okoh, S. Koita, M. Kjaergaard, A. Terzic, K. Piatkowski and J. Omoregie will be missing this game. For Inter, while Marko Arnautovic has made his recovery, Benjamin Pavard has joined Juan Cuadrado on the treatment table.
Verdict
Would be a tough game for the Italian giants but if they manage to keep things tight at the back, they’ve enough quality of to do the damage upfront and get the important win (0-2).
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