Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has decided to start Kristjan Asllani and Piotr Zielinski in tonight’s away match against Feyenoord. This evening’s Champions League last-16 clash kicks off at 18.45 CET.
Inter are looking to secure an all-important first-leg lead after locking down automatic last-16 qualification.
The Nerazzurri enjoyed a near-faultless league-stage campaign.
Indeed, except for a 1-0 loss at Bayer Leverkusen on Match Day 6, they kept a clean sheet in seven remaining league-phase fixtures.
However, Inter Milan just drew 1-1 at Napoli last Saturday in the Serie A.
Furthermore, with games every three days, the Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi has often rotated the squad.
Injuries to several key players also forced Inzaghi’s hand in recent matches.
Nothing should change tonight, as the Italian giants will miss several first-team stars.
Kristjan Asllani & Piotr Zielinski Start For Inter Milan Vs Feyenoord
Firstly, in defense, injuries have caused havoc to Inzaghi’s system. Center-back Alessandro Bastoni must switch to the left wing to cover for Federico Dimarco’s absence.
Therefore, Italian veteran Francesco Acerbi starts in his place.
Secondly, Benjamin Pavard and Stefan de Vrij complete the defensive trio. Then, rising German star Yann Bisseck starts on the bench.
Meanwhile, in midfield, there are further changes. Kristjan Asllani deputizes for the injury-hit Hakan Calhanoglu.
Furthermore, Nicolo Barella and Piotr Zielinski start in the middle of the park. Therefore, Davide Frattesi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have been benched.
In goal, meanwhile, Josep Martinez gets the nod over Yann Sommer, who has just recovered from thumb surgery.
And on the flanks, there are more changes. In-form Denzel Dumfries starts at right-wingback, with Matteo Darmian and Nicola Zalewski injured.
Carlos Augusto and Federico Dimarco are unavailable with Alessandro Bastoni starting.
Moreover, in attack Inzaghi has given the nod to Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram. It means Marko Arnautovic begins on the bench.
Finally, Joaquin Correa and Tomas Palacios are not part of the Inter Milan Champions League squad.
Official Starting Lineups: Feyenoord vs Inter Milan
FEYENOORD (4-2-3-1): Wellenreuther; Mitchell, Beelen, Hancko, Bueno; Moder, Smal, Paixao; Hadj Moussa, Carranza, Osman.
Bench: Andreev, Ka, Ivanusec, Giersthove, Van den Elshout, Sliti, T’Zand, Ueda, Redmond, Kraaijeveld.
Coach: Van Persie.
Suspended: Read (1).
Unavailable: Bijlow, Nieuwkoop, Gonzalez, Trauner, Timber, Hwang, Zerrouki, Stengs, Nadje, Milambo.
INTER (3-5-2): Martinez; Pavard, De Vrij, Acerbi; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Zielinski, Bastoni; Thuram, Lautaro.
Bench: Sommer, Di Gennaro, Bisseck, Aidoo, Motta, Quieto, Calhanoglu, Frattesi, Mkhitaryan, Arnautovic, Taremi.
Coach: Inzaghi.
Suspended: none.
Unavailable: Carlos Augusto, Darmian, Zalewski, Dimarco.
Referee: Eskas.
Assistants: Engan and Bashevkin.
Fourth official: Kringstad.
Var: Dingert (Tiago Martins).
completely missed this match, as I thought it was at 8…
Well done boys, what a lovely game
Despite Zielinski missing the penalty he’s much better at holding the ball and finding space than Mikhi who would produce a a number of missed passes. The only difference is Mikhi is good at defending as a unit
Definitely prefer Zielinsky overall. Mkhi is past his best years, but would be great as a sub
Exactly him coming on when Inter need to hold on a lead is a great solution to have both against smaller and big teams
The first 30 mins were atrocious but then we got the win and 2-0 is good but not great so we can’t relax yet. Zielinski missing a penalty was really bad I don’t understand why Inzaghi didn’t let Taremi take the penalty, he doesn’t miss for Iran or for Porto and is a good pk taker.
Still it’s a good win and we should go through. I’m hoping to get Leverkusen instead of Bayern
This season is strange. We’re first in Serie A (without winning a single game against Napoli, Juve or Milan), Coppa Italia semifinals, and we’re close to making it through to the CL quarter finals. All of this while playing way below last season’s level.
I’m not sure what to make of it, if I’m being completely honest.
Easy game, easy life.
How do you guys feel about Martinez starting the rest of the season in goal?
In general good, he needs to do a bit more with the ball and get rod faster. The rest is very good impression tho !
imo, then we will need to find a forward to replace him lol joking. He has good reflexes, but kinda frustrated now especially when playing with legs.
Good result. Now I want 5:0 against Monza.
Please stop that in football we don’t do that if you do that you’re giving the team pressure.
We need to make it a 3-goals difference.
Can Inzaghi please just stop using Terami.. My dead grandma is better than him
Thuram lost his mojo somehow or got too cocky ? His playing style much diffrrent from before 🙁
Zielinsky, my God -.-
P.S. we are definitely not missing Mkhtarian in the first lineup
He’s not fully fit still.
I hope you are right that only the hairstyle is new, and not Thuram
C’man man, gotta put the tie away
C’mon Zielinski…
it’s a pinalty!
it’s weird to see only few comments (less than 50) here
Penalty!!!
oh man.. zielinski could not make it.
But at the same time you have to see how people actually comment. It’s basically 2002 version of the comment section
Martinez!!!! goooaaalll!!!! At last, both our strikers score in the same game!!!!
Great forst half, and nice goal by Thuram. lets add another cpuple next half please!
You Shoot, You Score!!! goooaaalll!!! Thuram!!! Get in!!!
You Shoot, You Score!!! goooaaalll!!! Thuram!!! Get in!!!!
somehow we scored
Finally
The intensity of a second string team from the local retirement home. My eyes hurt from watching this horror show.
The first coach I ever had said to the team… “if you have 20 shots, you might score 4 goals, but if you have 4 shots, you probably won’t score any….” point being, we never shoot!! Thurams breakaway being a classic example! If we’re through on goal, and within 18 yards of the net, F**kin shoot!!!!!
This looks like a conference league group stage match no quality
game is ending 0-0
again no effing urgency…goi and try and score!!!!! why are you looking to pass when you the furthest player up
What’s wrong with Thuram.WTF
he’s scoring tho
Where is the urgency with these players, Even with the manager screaming press up everyone is moving back. PRESS!! These players are way too calm for me.
We’re playing like absolute dog shit.
Why in the hell is ASSlani playing ??? All he does is side passes that’s all. He’s so useless !!!
If we don’t go through against a weak Feyenoord who is missing several players and just got a new coach, a newbie van persie.. then it’s a fiasco
with ASSlani we lose control of midfield even against serie C clubs let alone champions league
Inter fan, that would be awesome, but we ask too much. They eliminated Milan, so not easy. I’m OK with 2:1 win for us.
Ik, we can’t beat them 7-1. But they did not play well vs Milan. Milan shot themselves in the foot. lol
Please do what Arsenal did last night to the other Dutch team.
Forza Inter. Weird: Sommer in bench. I thought he is still recovering. Anyway… let’s win. Draw would be nice too.
Need a result here at least, definately don’t want to lose this. Not massively confident like start of season. we’re going through a difficult phase at wrong time of season. Come on guys!
Without Calhanoglu, midfield doesn’t tick but I hope we play well today
Injuries or not (Feyenord have at least 10 players out!), this should be more than enough of a strong line up to get the job done!! We need a good performance to gi with the result tonight, and try and build some momentum for the final stretch of this season!!