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.