Legendary former AC Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta believes that Inter can get the better of Real Madrid in this evening’s Champions League group stage opener.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, the Rossoneri legend gave the view that the Merengues are not at their best and that they can be defeated, a potential springboard to finishing top of the group for the Nerazzurri.

Inter and Real both come into this evening’s Champions League clash as different sides from the ones who met in last year’s edition of the competition, with the likes of Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane having made way for Simone Inzgahi and Carlo Ancelotti on their respective benches.

Both teams have started their domestic seasons in solid form, each having dropped only two points so far, but Costacurta believes that Real currently have a vulnerability to them, highlighting in particular a key injury in their midfield.

“This is the best time to face Real Madrid,” he said.”I expect progressionand also first place from Inter. They can win, Kroos is out, there are players who are not fully fit, and in four games they have conceded six goals so in my opinion this is the best time to try to win against Real.”