Inter Milan have been handed a “tough but doable” assignment in the group stage of this season’s Champions League.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who run down the Nerazzurri’s European campaign from Manchester City away to Monaco at home.
Like all big European teams, Inter are experiencing something new in the Champions League this season.
UEFA have changed the format of their marquee competition.
No longer will teams meet three different opponents home and away in the group stage. Rather, there is a “league phase” which sees each team play eight separate opponents.
Over the past few days, Inter have learned who their opponents will be, and then when they will face them.
Inter Milan Face “Tough But Doable” Champions League Group Stage
The big news is that Inter have their toughest match right at the outset. At least on paper.
Manchester City are not a team that anyone in the competition will have been keen to draw.
The Premier League juggernauts are, arguably, the strongest team on the continent.
Inter put in an impressive performance against City in the Champions League final two years ago. But they still lost 0-1 in the end.
The rematch against the Cityzens will take place away at the Etihad, to make matters worse.
So Inter’s very first fixture in this season’s Champions League group stage will be a massive ask.
But things do get easier from there. At least on paper.
Red Star Belgrade at home and Young Boys away are certainly fixtures from which Inter will expect three points.
More challenging fixtures against Arsenal, RB Leipzig, and Bayer Leverkusen await.
Then, Sparta Prague away and Monaco at the San Siro will see Inter close out their group stage campaign in January.
On balance, the Gazzetta argues, the hugely imposing first match means that Inter cannot regard their group stage as easy.
But over the course of eight matches, the Nerazzurri should be able to amass points.
