Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu has decided to start Petar Sucic and Luis Henrique against Borussia Dortmund in Matchday 8 of the 2025/2026 Champions League season.
The official lineups for tonight’s Champions League match, which kicks off at 21.00 CET in Dortmund, have been published.
Inter Milan dropped nine points in their last three European matches against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
Therefore, the Nerazzurri face a must-win contest, with their pursuit of a top-eight finish hanging in the balance.
Furthermore, Cristian Chivu lost star midfielder Nicolo Barella to injury a couple of days before the team’s trip to Signal Iduna Park.
Therefore, the 45-year-old had to change his starting lineup tonight.
Borussia Dortmund Inter Milan – Petar Sucic Makes Back-To-Back Champions League Starts
After a promising start to life at San Siro, Petar Sucic has tumbled down the pecking order.
However, the Croatian midfielder has recently returned to form, taking advantage of Hakan Calhanoglu’s absence to re-establish himself.
Despite featuring in all six Champions League games this season, the 22-year-old only started two matches.
Yet, the former Dinamo Zagreb scored a sensational equalizer in last week’s 3-1 home loss to Arsenal.
Therefore, Sucic slots next to Piotr Zielinski and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the middle of the park.
Borussia Dortmund vs Inter Milan – Chivu Continues to Trust Luis Henrique
The main talking point comes on the right flank, where Luis Henrique continues to be Chivu’s go-to option to replace Denzel Dumfries.
Despite Matteo Darmian’s recovery, the Brazilian remains the first choice in Dumfries’ absence. Therefore, Andy Diouf starts on the bench.
Meanwhile, Federico Dimarco starts on the left wing at the expense of Carlos Augusto.
At the back, Chivu leans on youth with Yann Bisseck starting between Alessandro Bastoni and Manuel Akanji. Therefore, Francesco Acerbi stays on the bench.
Furthermore, Sucic returns to the engine room alongside Mkhitaryan and Zielinski.
Therefore, the Polish midfielder takes Calhanoglu’s role as a deep-lying playmaker.
Finally, Ange-Yoan Bonny and Marcus Thuram lead the line despite the Frenchman’s poor run of form.
Inter Milan vs Arsenal – Official Starting Lineups: Sucic & Henrique Start
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Mane, Anton, Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Bensebaini; Adeyemi, Beier; Guirassy.
Bench: Meyer, Ostrzinski, Emre Can, Couto, Kabar, Chukwuemeka, Brandt, Fabio Silva.
Coach: Kovac.
Suspended: Svensson (1).
Unavailable: Süle, Özcan, Sabitzer.
INTER (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Sucic, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Bonny.
Bench: Martinez, Taho, Acerbi, De Vrij, Carlos Augusto, Darmian, Cocchi, Bovo, Frattesi, Diouf, Lautaro, Esposito.
Coach: Chivu.
Suspended: none.
Unavailable: Di Gennaro, Dumfries, Calhanoglu, Barella.
Referee: I. Kovacs.
Assistants: Marica and Tunyogi.
Fourth official: S. Kovacs.
VAR: Dieperink.
Assistant VAR: Kwiatkowski.
Didn’t think we would win today with some important players missing for us so I’m happy we won, good job team. Sadly one point from no playoff game and Napoli lost again to focus on the league completely smh
Didn’t think we would win today with some important players missing for us but I was wrong and happy we won, good job team. Sadly one point from no playoff game… and Napoli lost again to focus on the league completely
In next stage we face either benfica or bodoe,
(23-24), if we make it through them Man city or Sporting (7-8)
This game is a shining light that we need dribblers. The football and the determination is there but the legs aren’t. If we go out in the round of 16. The club need to really consider reinforcements, and a particular focus should be on the wings
Glad for Jose that he goes in next round, once more again Real. We are up against Bodo, they were tricky in league phase, but couldn’t have asked for easier opponent in last 8 teams. Good job for getting clean sheet tonight
You mean R16
Next round, as in knock-out phase, same as us. I’m just not sure if we won vs Bodo are we going up against Sporting in round of 16 as they were 7th place?
Ok…we’re playin bodø or benfica and then sporting of city. Everything else is fantalk. The draws have not taken place brothers
Oh, i thought it was fixed 9th-24th, 10th-23rd… and so on. Either way we are favorites, but hopefully we go against Sporting if we pass
Mou is knocking us out next round
We’re playing bodø or marselle
Bodo or Benfica. Both easy for Chivu’s playing style.
Wow…i missed that late goal
Napoli are in all time low in confidence. They’ll find it hard to win matches. They might think less matches but their really low on confidence and small teams know this as well
Guys 10th plays 23rd we are plating bodo glimt
Yeah but we have either Bayern or Arsenal if we advance
Well
Inter going to Norway – and when they do, the travel is farther away from me than San Siro…
easy win
Bodø Glimt is one of the last teams I wanted to meet. They don’t have other games than the CL ones, as the league starts in March. They played 2-2 away to Dortmund… beat City at home, and today they beat Athletico at home. The team is in really good form.
With Chivu’s playing style, I am sure we would easily beat Bodo. IMO they are the kind of team we need to play against.
They will meet us man to man. Maybe you are right, this is what we are used to against lesser Serie A teams. Maybe we only play one game at San Siro? They lost 1-2 vs Juventus at Aspmyra, Bodø…
Thank you Mourinho,Benfica, Davide Massa Grazie.
I am happy that mourinho and benfica made it through to next round – maybe we will face them even 🙂