Although we’re only a couple of months into the new season, it’s already shaping up promisingly for Inter Milan.
The Nerazzurri is not only doing well in Serie A but have also made a strong start in the newly revamped Champions League. This leaves Simone Inzaghi’s men in great form and full of confidence moving ahead.
Big games start to come thick and fast now though, and this means the next few months could define their campaign. Some of these key fixtures include:
Inter Milan vs RB Leipzig – UEFA Champions League on 26th November 2024
The second half of the team’s Champions League group stage campaign begins with a home game against RB Leipzig. As with most European games, this is a match that will draw large TV audiences and see lots of online bookmakers offering free bets to punters (as the ones you can check out by clicking on the link available a little while ago). UEFA’s top competition has expanded to 36 teams this year and the two extra matchdays in the group stages could bring more unpredictability heading into December and January.
The German side is currently languishing towards the bottom of the standings, which means Inter could pick up valuable points here towards qualification for the round of 16.
It could also be a good chance for them to rack up a few goals and send out a real message to other teams in the tournament.
Inter Milan Vs Fiorentina – Serie A On 1st December 2024
The UEFA Champions League might grab more headlines but Inter still needs to keep one eye firmly on their league form.
With this in mind, their game against Fiorentina could be season-defining. La Viola has been in sparkling form so far and is chasing Inter hard at the top end of the table.
Unless they have a dramatic drop in form before this early December match, they should provide a tough test for Inzaghi’s squad. A win here could help in Inter’s title defence and give them valuable points to battle Napoli for the crown.
Inter Milan Vs Bayer Leverkusen – UEFA Champions League On 10th December 2024
Playing against Xabi Alonso’s men will be a real test for Inter and will give fans a glimpse of whether they can come out on top against the biggest sides. While Leverkusen haven’t quite managed to hit the heights of last season’s historic campaign just yet, they are still a very dangerous side who have shown they can beat anyone on their day.
Inter Milan Vs Lazio – Serie A On 16th December 2024
A return to domestic action in mid-December brings the next season-defining test for Inter. Lazio has looked good in 2024/25 so far and we expect them to provide a stiff test for Inter. This is a key game because it rounds off a run of important fixtures in December for Inter.
A good result here could help them recover in the league if the Fiorentina match doesn’t go to plan, or it could further cement their title defence. It would also be a real confidence boost to round off a tough period with a victory over one of the better Serie A teams.
Inter Milan Vs Monaco – UEFA Champions League On 29th January 2025
Monaco has been in good form overall in the Champions League so far, with a matchday 1 win over Barcelona and a 5-1 thrashing of FK Crvena Zvezda standing out.
With the new format trying to eliminate the number of dead rubber games at the end of the group stage, Inter will likely need to play a strong side as they battle for the best possible seeding for the next round.
One thing in Inter’s favour is home advantage and it’s likely the San Siro will be rocking during this match.
What Improvements Do Inter Need To Make For Key Games?
Although Inter has enjoyed a good season to date, there are some doubts over their ability to perform in the biggest games. A recent loss to AC Milan is one example, as was the 4-4 draw with Juventus, in which they let slip a two-goal lead.
An improvement in mentality could help when big occasions arise. To succeed, players must really believe they can come out on top in these matches. This could be especially key on the major European nights, when quality teams like Bayer Leverkusen or Monaco are the opposition.
The team also needs to be harder to score against when playing against better opposition. The four goals shipped against Juve show a side that is too easy to breach for the top clubs. Comments from coach Simone Inzaghi after the recent 1-0 win over Venezia also highlighted the need for players to be more clinical in front of goal.
Big Matches Coming Up For Inter Milan
As the above shows, Inter Milan has some seriously big games coming up which could have an impact on their whole season.
It’s crucial that the team improve in key areas to get the most they can from these fixtures.