Inter Milan, the 2022/23 Champions League finalists, are looking to maintain their momentum with a fourth consecutive victory as they prepare to face Young Boys in the prestigious tournament on Wednesday. The Nerazzurri began their campaign with a goalless draw against Manchester City, a rematch of the final they lost two seasons ago. They followed that up with a commanding 4-0 win over Red Star Belgrade and secured two Serie A victories against Torino and Roma, significantly boosting their confidence ahead of this match. With a challenging fixture against Juventus coming up in the Derby d’Italia this weekend, coach Simone Inzaghi may consider making some adjustments to his lineup for the trip to Bern.
In stark contrast, Young Boys have struggled at the start of their season, both in domestic play and in Europe. With only two wins in the Swiss Super League, they currently sit tenth out of twelve teams. Their Champions League campaign has been equally disappointing, marked by heavy defeats of 3-0 to Aston Villa and 5-0 to Barcelona, leaving them at the bottom of their group after matchday two. Interim head coach Joel Magnin will be without several key players, including Facinet Conte, Saidy Janko, Tanguy Zoukrou, and Patric Pfeiffer. However, he managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Luzern despite these absences. Sandro Lauper, who was suspended for that match, may return to the starting lineup against Inter. The pressure will be on Portuguese forward Joel Monteiro to score Young Boys’ first goal of the league phase, as he has already netted four times in the Super League.
Inter are likely to rotate its squad for this match against a struggling Young Boys team, but some changes may be necessary due to injuries. Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi both had to leave the game against Roma due to injuries, with Calhanoglu playing only 12 minutes and Acerbi just 27. Both players are unlikely to be risked in Switzerland and will join midfielders Piotr Zielinski and Kristjan Asllani on the sidelines. While both Zielinski and Asllani are nearing returns, they may also miss this midweek clash. Tajon Buchanan’s availability is uncertain as well.
To bolster their attack, Mehdi Taremi and Marko Arnautovic could form a partnership up front, allowing Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez some rest before facing Juventus. Additionally, Carlos Augusto, Yann Bisseck, and Davide Frattesi might step into the starting XI.
As Inter Milan prepares for this crucial encounter with Young Boys, they aim not only to extend their winning streak but also to solidify their position in the Champions League standings.
Young Boys (4-4-2): Von Ballmoos; Blum, Camara, Benito, Hadjam; Ugrinic, Niasse, Lauper, Monteiro; Itten, Ganvoula
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, de Vrij, Bisseck; Dumfries, Frattesi, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto; Arnautovic, Taremi
