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.
PSV drops out; I think Perisc is coming now.
Diouf may not be good defensively, but he definitely can create something. He is like Fratessi last season who can be an unexpected variable.
Im pretty sure 10th play 23rd and its bodo glimnt
Why?
Cuz we are 10th
Ik that, but how do you know that 10th plays vs 23rd?
Searched it up
9/10 plays 23/24
Draw will determine details
Bodø or pavard
Nice, both easy games IMO.
In theory, that would be the case. We need to find out if there will be a draw.
its 9/10 against 23/24. i would prefer we avoid benfica with mourinho, they just beat real madrid and go through
What took a top 8 spot from us is Bastoni’s silly foul vs Liverpool. It cost us so much.
Stankovic 1 goal and 2 assists tonight.
I just can imagine Conte now. lol
We need this lad back.
Napoli WTF?! merda!
They’re acting like they’ve got top 8
It was never really on.
Wins a win
But we must concentrate on the scudetto.
They know this was considered a big game and a win is more symbolic
Agree. It is hulpful psychologically and a sign that the team is improving vs big teams.
A statement to Europe, at the very least. The Norwegian league has the highest avg distance covered per player, above every other league in Europe. They are the second best team in Norway at the moment – Bodø/Glimt slipped up in the league, and will use CL as revenge for not winning the Norwegian league…
The selection said otherwise
It was pretty meaningless like we could have won 10-0 or lost 10-0 and still be in the same situation.
I think they genuinely thought the might have sneaked in.
But like I say a wins a win.
And a clean sheet is always welcome with our defence and GK LOL
stupid napoli
Dang we are 10th now cuz sporting winning
Forza inter!!!
Great goal. A CL goal is precious. Diouf has a future at Inter
If Chivu had been more ambitious from the start of the game, we should have scored more than two goals.
The Guy has Heart!!!
Good job Andy. Nice goal!!
DIOUF!!! I like diouf and always have hopefully he gets more game time. Anyways I despise napoli. Worst italian team of all time. Frauds
Diouuuuf let’s goooo!!!
ANDYYYYY
Diouffffff
Conte did that shit on purpose
Is this considered a big team win?
Yes.
nope
You dont know much about that stadium then. I count it
thats because we lost to atletico madrid who are so bad that they are loosing to bodo glimt
or because Bastoni gave away a silly penalty vs Liverpool.
We need Napoli to score a goal. lol
Damn we’re back to 9
We would go against psg if this stays rhe same
We’re going to play Brugge and stankovic will score
Useless Conte in CL
i know all of you were expecting a pen there haha trauma
Hahaaa
Chelsea are winning so we are 9
yes Cunte will never help us
Please let’s be top 8. PLEASE
If new caatle and psg draw we top 8
Dimarco is a beast!!! Well done to Heno for earning the set piece.
If everything can stay the same we’re in the top 8!!
Dimarco once again saving Inter.
sensational goal
CMON DIMARCOOOO
Dimarco
Stankovic JUST SCORED AS WELL lol
Will likely mean nothing in the end But gotta love how Dimarco is back!!!
Inter have a true vice captain. What a goal
What a goaaaal
LMAOOOOO LETS GOOOOO
LETS GO DIMASH!!!!!!!
DiMarcooooooooo
Dimarcooooooooo
Why is a german team playing so defensive?
Adeyemi is dangerous, He can sink us.
A terrible game from both teams. It’s clear Chivu is playing for a draw. I hope we don’t pay for it. Besides, they’ve also been making poor substitutions.
Looks like if we win we can avoid the playoff
the chances are slim, so chivu decided to not risk it and admit we will play 2 more games and rest toro
Chances were slim to start but right now not so much. If other results stay the way they are and we win
Im still nervous because if they scrap a 1-0 win i will get so mad
WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THESE SUBS JESUS CHRIST
Chivu is looking for a draw here
and we’ll end up losing
Mark my words
This aged well
I psg paid us so we dont win
I hate CM’s who cant or wont run with the ball. That is your main job.
Yeah we’re cooked ademyi on
We need a win, mkhi is slow get him off, darmian in now, lautaro in NOW. it’s not rocket science
This guy is only good at diving sub him off chivu
I knew from that touch he would get tackled like that
Stankovic with 2 assists and Mou is destroying Real Madrid 😀
Level in the second half from both teams has dropped even more… Can’t give simple passes.
this passing is ATROCIOUS
Come on Chivu he can clearly see that Thuram and Bony is not working out both too sluggish
sucic and bonny leg seems heavy, too slow
this match is incredibly boring
Can we please sub some people on?!?!?!?!?
Put bisseck in thuram position and he will score for us
Zzz Zzz team cannot even score against midtable dortmund smh
Thuram literally offering nothing
Sub his ass and stick pio on
Napoli is in, good then they will be exhausted playing CL rest of the season. We need some fluke but there is a potential posibility for Inter finishing top 8!
We need changes, we need a win. We need top 8. Chivu wake up and make some changes
We can’t get top 8 mate
We need too many other results
Pretty tame game so far with Dortmund looking like the away side. Best player so far is Bisseck. Out of all mids best is Henrikh, the other two are simply invisible. So far, considering it’s 11 vs 10 like always, at least we are not losing.
Chivu gives me the impression of someone who is ready to sacrifice the entire team to integrate an average player. He is too stubborn and won’t last here for long if he keeps this mentality.
newcastle, chelsea, barcelona, and sporting all behind, chance to climb up to 8th spot is big if inter can win this game
True. Gotta win and hope psg newcastle is not a draw…atleti and atalanta can draw or lose and we’re in
Look at that shot from L. Henrique, kkkkk
Yeah, but his workrate is better today… dima is a bit off. Must be low on energy…should get carlos in on the hour. Pio for thuram too. And davide for susic…not really switched on for such battle like dortmund. Otherwise – good game so far. Im just missing the clear cut chances for us. Cause they had 2 pretty good ones. So we gotta draw before they get lucky
Forza Inter
Good attempt remember the guy never shoots so it took a lot of confidence to even shoot Lol. This season tho everyone has produced crazy shot off target but the problem with Henrique he doesn’t shoot even when inside the box he still looks to try to pass to someone like WTF they do review videos of him doing it yet he keeps doing it he must shoot more often. Dimarco shots this match have been terrible but everyone knows what he can do but for Henrique he’s looking for the next “safe” pass he can make
my eyes are bleeding watching this.. wtf was that starting line up. we are still 0-0 bcoz Dortmund have been more shit than us.
This Dortmund team is weak. Chivu made another mistake with the lineup. In the second half: Pio, Lautaro, and C. Augusto need to come on.
Who is better than Henrique in this game, even DiMarco look a little disinterested.
Henrique WTF!!!!
Thuram and Bonny have pretty bad chemistry together up front
Too similar
Even when running towards goal both wants to run and score themselves offering no support to each other. Like making space or getting ready to receive a pass. Very disjointed between them better to play them when finishing off a match that’s already won because starting them is a waste it has happened before and it was a waste as well
Captain is godsend, as he can play with anyone in pair. If we can replace Thuram in summer with someone younger, faster in team play, shorter player, it will be a good business.
That was a nice run by henquire tbf
Plenty of open space. What was he supposed to do? Pass backwards like always?
Chill bro
The only good thing he did for a number of matches so far. He could just run and deliver a dangerous cross inside the box but he often choose not to do so and leave the responsibilities to others. The very definition of flop mediocre player. Hopefully tho after the embarrassment sub in the last match it will push him to take more risks in attack like shooting
get darmian in after halftime and hail mary diouf for mkhi
Dont touch miki
asap is too late in his case
acerbi spirit is very high, no wonder he keep playing.
luis henrique’s cross lmfaoooo. get rid of him asap
kkkkk
asap is too late in his case
and his shot also at the end od the first half is a torture to watch. Put Diouf or Darmian or Augusto maybe
I’ve defended sommer somewhat – think it’s all an overreaction- although we should have succession planned better.
But him taking far too long on the ball, then booting it out of play (very regularly) then pulling a barella shouting at everyone else is not a good look
Just get rid of the ball!!
bisseck been our most dangerous player
I always say he’s better up top than CB
I say put him at rwb. 100x the player henrique is
My Nan is 100x the player Henrique is – and she’s been dead 6 years
Bastoni back, Bisseck – RWB, Diouf for Sucic and we can win this game. As it stands, just need 1 goal and clean sheet for top 8
Also Mkho, but nobody is there to score his low balls.
This “awaiting moderation” crap is bullshit on this site…
It was introduced due to some really bad language from some fans of other clubs ragebaiting here. Its a work in progress.
Dont pay too much attention to it. At the end of the day – Inter is having a pretty interesting season.
Henrique, Mikhi & Thuram we’d be better off with academy prospects!!
Just when you think they can’t get any worse and people mention gags or asllani these three are like “hold my beer”
dreadful
What are you on about? Miki already gave two dangerous crosses and nobody can hit the target…
What are you on about? Miki already gave two dangerous crosses and nobody can score…
can’t defend properly
can’t pass properly
and can’t do anything dangerous with the ball
Micky Mouse F.C whenever we play big teams
Stankovic is having himself a GAME right now for brugge lol 2 assist already.
Bisseck shot at the target more than Henrique’s entire Inter career.
Mikhi for the love of god
Don’t blame him, blame those who spent the money on Diouf. Mikhi is supposed to be a rotation option when veteran experience is needed. At his age he simply can’t keep playing every 3 days.
He is utterly sh*t though
And… once again easy fall inside opponents box, sick and tired of him
mkhi… what the hell was that?
Thuram just leave! (Diver!!)
And take Mikhi with you
we are playing awfully
Stankovic just provided an assist vs Marseille. We sold him for peanuts to buy Diouf for 25 mln.
He provided his second assist.
Chivu just doesn’t learn with Henrique… Another disaster incoming..
A win is vital today to avoid playing two extra games in the playoffs in the middle of winter that will make us even more exhausted for the serie a race….however, seeing that Henrique is starting that’s bang average, and 37 year old grandpa acerbi and no hakan or barella…. I don’t see us winning this one away.
I don’t understand why management is so cheap and don’t invest in one or two players even for a loan to cover us for ucl and serie a
Calhanoglu and Barella are both injured. How could they start the game?
However I agree with what you said regarding our management
Why Acerbi is playing
Acerbi on the left is kinda bothering me
Acerbi and L. Henrique are asking for trouble. Why not start with Pio as a starter? It doesn’t even seem like they need to win this game. Chivu once again has a bad lineup.
didn’t we learn from the last time thuram and bonny started together…
nearly all our loses this year were when Acerbi started in the middle.
literally.
Good luck boys!