The year 2020 has been an unpredictable one and the introduction to this season’s La Liga domestic competition has joined the strange. After four matchdays Madrid is sat in fourth place and are seeking a turnaround in form. Their Champions League efforts have also been mixed, but a 3-2 aggregate score over Inter Milan could give them the edge they need.
The First Encounter
Luckily for Real Madrid, their misfortune during the new season has been matched by Inter Milan’s UCL performances. Matchday 3 saw the Italian outfit travel to Madrid for the 1st leg of their Group B encounter as they suffered a 3-2 defeat and are now in severe danger of exiting the tournament.
Real Madrid was successful on the night but not without drama, a late 80th-minute goal from Rodrygo put the Spanish side in front.
This 3rd and final fixture took Madrid to four points, one point behind the group leaders Borussia Monchengladbach and level on points with Shakhtar Donetsk. While Inter Milan remain winless and are still hunting for their first three points sat in the last position.
The History
Matchday 3 between Real Madrid and Inter Milan was the two teams first encounter since 1998 and their sixteenth meeting in football history. Four of their historic matches came in the semi-finals, winning claiming all four on aggregate. Madrid has also claimed European Champions Club Cup semi-final wins on two occasions versus Inter and have won five of their previous two-leg ties against the Italian giants.
With that said, Inter Milan has never been defeated on home soil versus Real Madrid.
Form, mentality, Real Madrid & Inter Milan trends
- This will be Inter Milan’s fourteenth visit to the UCL group stages, they have failed to qualify for six consecutive years between 2011 and 2018.
- Milan has only won two of their previous thirteen UEFA Champions League matches.
- The first-round loss in Madrid for Inter made it twenty defeats in Inter’s forty-five meetings between Spanish clubs and seven from their previous nine.
- This will be Madrid’s twenty-fifth UCL appearance, a joint-record alongside rivals Barcelona. They have also qualified in all 25 seasons and remain a competition best.
- Madrid has placed in 2nd position in their group stage for the past two years consecutively.
- This will be the 13-time champions 51st European Cup appearance, more than any club in history.
- Madrid has lost six of their previous 14 UCL fixtures.
- The Spanish giants have won 16 from their last 27 European away fixtures.
- Madrid has won 9 of their previous ten fixtures versus Italian clubs, and have succeeded in their last four visits to Italy.
Final thoughts| Champions League Outcome Preview
Madrid’s domestic failures could put their confidence in jeopardy for their return to UEFA Champions League action once the International break has ended. A 4-1 defeat to Valencia before the break saw a Madrid defence fall apart.
The Madrid defence was an embarrassment as Valencia tore them apart. But the more significant problems lay in their Champions League qualifying opportunity, a loss to Inter Milan could potentially see Real Madrid fail for qualification for the first time in their club’s history.
The current problems at Madrid are undeniable, but I doubt we’ll see the starting twelve that fielded versus Valencia again. And Zidane is no stranger to a comeback, guiding Madrid to three of their thirteen Champions League titles.
The available odds between them are quite close, and with the current shaky form of each club, it’s no surprise. Inter Milan will lose Aleksandar Kolarov and Marcelo Brozovic due to positive coronavirus tests which is a considerable blow to Antonio Conte’s squad, but ideal for Madrid on their travels.
I expect Zidane to sit back and relax in this one; an open style of play will be avoided as Madrid score differentials could be the tiebreaker during the final matchday. Fewer goals and more worry should be on the cards, and a drawn fixture would make sense.
Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan Score prediction: Inter 1 – Madrid 1
