Inter Vs Crvena zvezda

After battling to a draw in their opening Champions League match, Inter Milan is eager to secure their first victory of the league stage this Tuesday, as they host Red Star Belgrade at the iconic San Siro stadium.

While Inter boasts a strong home record, Red Star is still in pursuit of their first away victory in UEFA's top club competition since the conclusion of the European Cup era.

Match Preview

Inter Milan's captain, Lautaro Martinez, leads the charge as they prepare for the upcoming fixture.

In the previous season, Inter reached the final of the Champions League, finishing as runners-up to Manchester City—their most successful campaign since lifting the trophy 13 years prior. This season, they faced the English champions once more in their opening match.

Under the guidance of coach Simone Inzaghi, Inter devised a solid game plan, defending resolutely and managing to become only the second team to prevent a Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City from scoring at home in the history of Europe’s premier competition.

The three-time European champions have established an impressive defensive record, achieving 13 clean sheets in their last 22 matches at this level, the highest of any club since the start of the 2022-23 season. Furthermore, they have suffered only two defeats in their last 16 encounters.

These statistics underline Inter's credentials as strong contenders for this year's title. They remain unbeaten in their last nine home games in the Champions League, marking their best stretch since their triumph over Bayern Munich in the 2010 final.

However, prior to their recent 3-2 victory against Udinese, the Nerazzurri had gone winless in three matches, which included their visit to Manchester. This win allowed them to rebound from a disappointing loss in the Milan derby against AC Milan.

After that heartbreaking derby defeat, midfielder Davide Frattesi calmed the nerves by scoring just one minute into the match, while captain Lautaro Martinez finally opened his account for the season with a brace against Udinese.

Red Star Belgrade’s Journey

On the other side, Red Star Belgrade, managed by Vladan Milojevic, has a challenging history against Italian teams. The two clubs have faced off only twice before, with Inter emerging victorious with a 2-1 aggregate score in the quarter-finals of the 1980-81 European Cup.

Moreover, Red Star has struggled against Serie A teams, failing to win any of their last eight encounters, including qualifiers. As they return to San Siro, they are determined to break a streak that stretches back to December 2005.

Last season, Crvena Zvezda finished fourth in their group, managing to win only one of six matches. However, they went on to clinch their seventh consecutive Serbian league title. They also triumphed over Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League playoffs to secure their spot in the current league phase.

In their opening match of this season, Red Star faced Benfica, falling behind 2-0 within the first half-hour. Although Felicio Milson scored a late goal, they were unable to earn a point at the Marakana.

In response to this setback, Red Star achieved their largest victory in the Eternal Derby against Partizan Belgrade in this century, winning 4-0. Following that, they continued their impressive form with a 2-1 win over Zeleznicar Pancevo, keeping them unbeaten in the Serbian league this season.

With eight victories out of nine matches so far, they have scored an impressive 27 goals while conceding only five, putting them back at the top of the Serbian league. However, replicating this form on the European stage has proven to be a significant challenge.

Historically, Red Star has struggled in away matches in the Champions League, having lost all nine of their fixtures to date. Only two teams have participated in more away games in this competition without securing a victory.

Conclusion

As Inter Milan prepares to take on Red Star Belgrade, they will look to build on their solid defensive record and home advantage, while the Serbian side aims to break their losing streak in European away matches. The clash at San Siro promises to be an exciting encounter as both teams strive for crucial points in the Champions League.