Antonio Conte's Inter will face Real Madrid in the Champions League, a match that the Italian coach describes as a "final" because both teams need a win. This match is played on Wednesday from 21:00 and Conte believes that his team will triumph. He has insisted that Inter already has the recipe to triumph in this "final", which consists of "concentration, hunger and cunning", writes Reuters.
According to Conte, Inter have no other option but to win if they want to continue beyond the Champions League group stage. Two weeks ago, in the duel played at the "Santiago Bernabeu" stadium, the Inter team lost to Real Madrid with the result 3:2.
Inter takes the last place in Group B with two points collected after three games and is hoping to enjoy the first victory this edition of the Champions League against Real. The Spanish team occupies third place with four points, as well as Shakhtar Donetsk, which is second, while Borussia Moenchengladbach leads the group.
"After the last results we have no other choice, so the match with Real Madrid is the final for both us and the Madrid players. We can win and we will try to do it by being focused, hungry and cunning throughout the game. There are no more conversations, but facts and the responsibility lies with everyone, starting with me, the footballers and the staff of the club", said Conte in the conference held on Tuesday. "We need seven points, maybe even nine to qualify beyond the group stage. It's a tough group, but we deserve to be in a better position. When I say this, I think of the victory against Real Madrid, which is necessary".
Along with Conte, Inter's captain, Samir Handanović, believes in victory over Real. Handanoviqi has admitted that it will not be easy at all, but added that Inter are maximally prepared, motivated and focused for victory in this match.
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After the duel with Real, until the end of the group stage, the Inter team will also face Shakhtar and Gladbach, teams with which it drew in the first matches.
"The next three matches of the Champions League, starting with the duel with Real, are important for our qualification. We have to win to progress further as this is the aim of the whole club. It will not be an easy match at all, but we are ready to prove ourselves. We need seven more points to be safe and we will do our best to get them", said Handanoviqi.
As long as Inter will be complete, there will be shortages at Real Madrid. Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Eder Militao have been left out of the squad for this match. The French striker and the Spanish defender are injured, while Militao has tested positive for COVID-19. Luka Jovic is also out due to COVID-19, while Federico Valverde and Alvaro Odrizola are also injured. Real Madrid have never failed to go beyond the group stage in the last 24 editions of this competition, precisely since 1997.
The midfielder of Real, the Brazilian Casemiro, is convinced that this season the Madrid players will have no problem qualifying for the knockout phase.
"In the last match, we beat Inter thanks to our mentality, even though it was not easy at all. So again this time it will be a difficult match, but we have to win to move on. We are ready to continue with victories in the Champions League and ensure as early as possible the qualification in this difficult group", said Casemiro. "I am confident that everyone will perform their duties with the greatest responsibility, despite the shortages we have."
The next match of this group will be the one between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Shakhtar, which takes place in Germany from 18:55. In Germany, the Group A match between Bayern Munich and Salzburg will be played on Wednesday, but from 21:00. The Bavarians are determined to continue the positive series in the Champions League as they lead the group with maximum points after three games played. The first duel between Bayern and Salzburg, played two weeks ago in Austria, ended with the victory of the Bavarians with a score of 6:2.
"We have problems with injuries, but we have to continue in order to secure the qualification to the next stage as soon as possible", said Bayern's coach, Hansi Flick.
Bayern in this match will be without defenders Niklas Suele, Lucas Hernandez, Alphonso Davies and Joashua Kimmich, who are all injured. Corentin Tolisso and Bouna Sarr are also missing. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will take revenge on Lokomotiv Moscow after the 1:1 draw in the last match. The Spanish team occupies the second place with four collected points before Lokomotiva (2) which is third and Salzburg which ranks last with one point. In Salzburg, the Albanian attacker Mërgim Berisha is expected to be activated from the first minute in the duel against Bayern.
Wednesday
Group A
Madrid – Lokomotiva M. (21:00)
Bayern M. – Salzburg (21:00)
1. Bayern M. 3 9
2. Atl. Madrid 3 4
3. Locomotive M. 3 2
4. Salzburg 3 1
Group B
Borussia M. – Shakhtar D. (18:55)
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Inter – Real Madrid (21:00)
1. Borussia M. 3 5
2. Shaktar D. 3 4
3. Real M. 3 4
4. Inter 3 2
Group C
Olympiacos – Man. City (18:55)
Marseille – Porto (21:00)
1. Man. City 3 9
2. Porto 3 6
3. Olympiacos 3 3
4. Marseille 3 0
Group D
Ajax – Midtjylland (21:00)
Liverpool – Atalanta (21:00)
1. Liverpool 3 9
2. Ajax 3 4
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3. Atalanta 3 4
4. Midtjylland 3 0
